The idea of European superiority and dominance drove the social structure of the "new world", (consisting mainly of North and Latin Americas and the Caribbean). Because of this dominant racial ideology, the native peoples of both regions were often subjects of discrimination and oppression. The extent of their mistreatment differed, as in North America they were simply pushed aside or confined to a certain area to live, while in the Caribbean and Latin America they were forced into servitude and labor. The dominant racial ideology of Europeans also fueled the slave trade that was prominent in the time period of 1500-1830, which involved shipping African slaves to the the Americas to increase the productivity of the colonies. In both areas, slaves were basically property, bought, sold, and traded to do specific and often labor intensive tasks.
Identify and discuss the evidence presented by Dr. Ivan Van Sertima that there was an African presence in Ancient America before the coming of Christopher Columbus and the Europeans in 1492. The first diaspora was the African diaspora. Studies prove life started on the continent of Africa. Africans then dispersed voluntarily and involuntarily. There has always been controversy about whether or not Africans were first in the Americas through slavery, which has been proven to be false.
Although Thoreau was not the first to introduce these ideas, he may have been the first to bring it to the attention of many Americans. They both effectively illustrate their philosophy that civil disobedience is a necessity. As I said before, Thoreau was writing during the transcendentalism era in America during the mid 1800s. The main issue behind “Civil Disobedience” is slavery that is taking place in America. By this time, slavery is a very hotly debated issue in America, even eventually leading to the Civil War.
1518 - First boatload of slaves brought directly from Africa to the Americas Cause: Europeans accustomed to slavery were coming to the Americas. Effects: Slavery helped owners gain wealth and property. The United States grew and slavery eventually became a necessity for the Southern Plantation owners. Driven by humanitarian and economic reasons the country became divided and erupted into Civil War. Significance: Slavery brought Africans to America, challenged this country to look at all men as equals and made us leaders in the world for civil rights of mankind.
De’Ja Moore African-American Slave Trade 25 January 2012 11:00-11:50 De’ja Moore The African slave trade was made to dehumanize and demeaned the black man but I can’t figure out why people believe it was so harsh. Although I may have not been able to live in such harsh conditions but at the same this slave trade makes me who I am today. Although I don’t know where from, I am a decedent of an African slave that was once in slavery. I do believe that slavery was harsh and unimaginable but why should we only focus on the negative. The Europeans must had felt some type of superior to the Africans because why else would you want to dehumanize a person.
November 13, 2013 Before America was her own country, the white settlers owned slaves and when American became her own nation, her citizens still owned and kept slaves. America became divided on the issue of slavery between the North and the South. Slavery affected the United States politically, morally, and economically. Politically, America was affected by dividing the government and citizens. Morally, America was affected by the citizens’ personal feelings on slavery on slavery and how the citizens handled those emotions.
West Africans looked to the Americas as a source of trade, commerce, a place to settle and a place to build new civilizations. The History of African civilization and Africans in Latin America is an important beginning to African American’s because; in world history these two regions were the first areas of the Americas to be populated by African immigrants and we’re also the first people to become African Americans. Africa has been portrayed in popular culture and academic discourse as a continent without history. Africa has history that was once overlooked but, as historians went back to reanalyze African history, they have represented the fact that Africa has changed over time, and that it has been a place of diverse groups of people throughout a long and rich history. Africa, in all of its regions, has a rich, diverse, and dynamic history.
During the Slave Trade, many slaves came from different slave ports: Eastern Africa, Guinea Coast, Southern Africa, Western Sudan, and Central Sudan. The Middle Passage was used to describe slave trade from Africa to America. Approximately 10 million slaves came to America between 1603 and 1863. Some people also call it the Triangular Trade, because the ships traveled on ways that formed a shape of a triangle. The trips from these different countries to America were tremendously awful.
Racism goes back to “800 B.C. where the view of racism was an epidemic in the white society and the only solution was to separate black people from the whites in order to defend themselves and protect their interests.” (-800BC-today: A very brief history of racism) “Libertarians view racism to be a product of capitalism.” (-800BC-today: A very brief history of racism) The libertarians felt that racism grew out the early capitalism, because the use of slaves had create a world that was justified but white governance had started dividing the working class by ethnicity. However, the society before was capitalism was able to do without the form of persecution. “The first clear evidence of racism occurred at the end of the 16th Century with the start of slave trade from Africa to Britain and to America.” (Nittle) Racism had reached its ultimate high over the years and because a lot of wrong doing was being done to blacks and other ethnic cultures and therefore a program was created called affirmative action. Affirmative action was implemented in different societies for minorities so they can have access to jobs and educational opportunities.
Oroonoko: Portrayal of Slavery and Colonialism Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko is often viewed as one earliest forms of literature that looks at the pressing issue of slavery. Upon reading Oroonoko, you receive a cloudy view on her view on slavery. One has to dig in deep to examine her rationale and criticism of the slave trade. She often portrays Europeans and their culture in a negative light. Throughout this work, we learn that the narrator is the daughter of the high-ranking Englishman who was “Lieutenant-General of six and thirty islands, besides the Continent of Surinam.” The narrator is clearly of a higher class.