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Willie Lynch Theory

Decent Essays

Jasmine Kennedy-Lee
1.18.11
English Pd. 3

The Psychological Breakdown of a Black Man.

“DISTRUST IS STRONGER THAN TRUST AND ENVY STRONGER THAN ADULATION, RESPECT OR ADMIRATION.” – Willie Lynch William “Willie” Lynch is a British slave owner in the West Indies, who came to the United States to advise American slave owners on how to keep their slaves restrained. Lynching or Lynch law is actually attributed to him since it derives from his last name. Lynching initially referred to the hanging of the black man. His main purpose in life is to teach white society how to convert a man into a slave. Willie Lynch’s theory is classified by different categories such as, the economy, “Keep the body, Take the mind”, and “Negro …show more content…

Sally is trained as a lady's maid, and in addition is tutored in the French language. Some of Sally's duties includes "waiting on" Jefferson's daughter, Martha and seeing to the needs of young Maria. She is paid the equivalent of $2.00 per month for her services. She attends Martha in public society and is accordingly dressed. These examples of her life are relevant to Lynch’s theory because this shows how mixed women slaves get better treatment than regular slaves. If she did not physically show any signs on being mulatto and being beautiful, she would have been treated inhumane. What slave gets paid to do slave work? Slaves are enslaved against their will and they shed blood, sweat and tears without being reimbursed with profit. Given these facts, one can conclude that based on today’s events, this theory is both tragic but yet there is improvement. It is tragic because, white society still has that negative and stereotypical view of black people being ignorant, criminals and self degrading. For example, there are tendencies of authorities and the media in general to take the conception of black criminality to demonize young black men and racial profile them. Blacks are always put in a negative light because of history, so the mindset of white people will never change. As far as the improvement, like today, the black community is still dragged in the same way that the Lynch's doctrine

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