the slavery essay topics

 the slavery essay topics

The Impact of Racism and Slavery on Society

1. Historical Background of Racism and Slavery

Slavery has been in America since the time of the colonial government. It was an established work form in most cultures. Negro slaves were first brought to America in 1619 to Jamestown, Virginia. At first, there were no laws regarding lifetime slavery of Africans. It was only in the later half of the 17th century where a black servant was charged with the lifetime service of another servant that the first state sanctioning of slavery occurred in Virginia. This later spread to all colonies, and in 1705, the Virginia assembly declared that all non-Christian servants imported into the colony would be slaves. This directly tied servitude to the Negro race. Lifetime slavery was now inheritable based on the matrilineal descent of the mother. This could be considered one of the most powerful examples of institutionalized racism.

Dr. Pilgrim stated that European beliefs that native people were subhuman savages caused them to act in inhumane ways. He says that the natives were killed for bounties, with the pelts of Indian men, women, and children being exchanged for money. Later, in many places, the bounties were exchanged for prisoners of war, who were used to provide forced labor. This shows how one race’s belief that they are more superior than another leads to racist acts and oppression.

How has it all begun? Racism and slavery were still present in society many years ago. The people of the world are still upset about the fact that slavery was considered to be normal many years ago. The factors for racism and slavery varied. Often, racism and slavery were caused by economic factors. It was cheaper to use slaves than to pay for free labor. It is argued that this is the most common factor, but it is not the only cause. Dr. David Pilgrim stated that racism and slavery are widespread problems that affect almost all societies. It is these shared problems that underlie the story of slavery in America.

2. The Injustices of Slavery and its Lasting Effects

This idea was derived from the differences between slaves and indentured servants. The inheritance of slave status, increasing numbers of African slaves, and the perceived cost of lifetime servants were key factors that prevented these two groups from ever becoming equal. But the worst form of racism came from the fact that the slaves themselves were the property of their masters, which meant they were bought and sold, traded, and given away at the will of the master. The splitting of families for sale was not uncommon. This was a heavy blow to the black male and the image of black people as parents. This resulted in behavior from slaves who became afraid to establish loving relationships in fear that they could be taken away at any time.

Using a persuasive tone in the text, we may elaborate on the unjust lifetime of slavery and its negative impact on slaves and slave owners. The growth of anti-black stereotypes portrayed blacks as sub-human. From here, it has escalated. Slave owners established a slave code which disallowed the slaves to possess any firearms, liquor, or any form of medicine and to leave the plantation without permission. It also took away any legal rights from the slave and provided the master with near absolute authority, consisting of life and death dominion over his slaves. Also, the development of the idea of white supremacy provided poor relations between slaves and poor whites, who were often in competition for work.

3. Racism in Modern Society: Systemic Discrimination

One profound study of modern racism was the “resume study”. Fictitious resumes, some with typically white-sounding names and others with typically black-sounding names, were sent out to help-wanted ads in the Boston Globe and Chicago Tribune. The results showed that a “white” name yielded as many more callbacks as would an additional 8 years of experience for a “black” name. The study provides strong evidence that today, despite outward appearances, African Americans are still not on equal footing with their white counterparts.

Systematic discrimination is not as simple as the Afrikaner regime in South Africa or the slavery and segregation laws in the United States. It is a lot more subtle and is today often exercised by people who are not overtly racist. Social scientists have documented the extent to which Black Americans and other non-whites are victims of institutional racism. During the era of civil rights, black unemployment was about 2 times that of white unemployment. During the 1980s, blacks on average were at the same economic standing as they were in 1948, years after slavery and before the implementation of equal educational and job opportunities, which were to allow for economic improvement. Today, there are fewer African Americans on the school honor roll and more in special education classes. There are still large discrepancies for the same numbers of educational qualifications between blacks and whites for job attainment, hence the current situation where the median income for a black family is 60% that of a white family. The above are indications of systemic discrimination, in this case using the economical and educational systems to keep a certain race in an inferior position.

Racism in modern society is often brushed off as a minor problem with few consequences. Put a white person, a Hispanic person, and a black person together in one room, and from common observance, most would say that the three would be treated equally without affliction to any party. However, to assume this in a world where 22% of black and Hispanic people live in poverty, as compared to only 8% of white people, would be to assume falsely. Racism in the modern world is often “sugar-coated” and exists in complex forms, which bring us to the issue that says whether or not the United States has been successful in removing the legacy of slavery and the heavy impacts of racism.

4. Overcoming Racism and Promoting Equality

Perhaps the most important benefit of multicultural education is the impact it has on the school achievement of students from diverse groups. It is well documented that when students’ cultural and language differences are considered as strengths, rather than as deficits, their school achievement is greatly enhanced. An ethnically and culturally sensitive curriculum has been shown to promote a positive self-concept and a feeling of academic competence among students from diverse racial and ethnic groups. These psychological factors are important predictors of school achievement. As students begin to experience success in the school setting, they are more likely to develop aspirations for higher education and careers. A more inclusive and accurate teaching of American history will also dispel the myth of the “model” or “acceptable” minority, by showing that the oppressed and oppressed peoples have made significant contributions to society. This can be a powerful factor in reducing the drop-out rate among minority students.

An integrated, multicultural approach to education is becoming increasingly necessary in order to prepare children to live and work in a global society. Promoting a desire for understanding and for relationships among diverse groups must begin with the young people within the schools. It is imperative to infuse multicultural content into the curriculum throughout the content areas and at all grade levels. This will help to ensure that all students will have an opportunity to learn of the heritage, history, and contributions of diverse groups in America. Materials must represent the diversity of our society and provide positive role models of all groups. Text and trade books as well as folk tales, legends, and myths can be used to show the universality of human experience and to teach an appreciation of and respect for cultural differences. Audio-visual materials also play a major role in the teaching-learning process.

5. The Importance of Education and Awareness in Combating Racism

The government also has a role in the fight against racism in education, one of which is by creating policies or programs that support the creation of a tolerant society and free from racial discrimination. The policy is in the form of special laws, social engineering, or support affirmative action. Support for affirmative action can be seen in funding education programs for poor black students. With a special education fund, a black student can have the same opportunity as white students in obtaining higher education and stopping the chain of slavery experienced by their people. Later, from a well-educated black slave generation, it can change the stereotype of white society towards the black race as a race that has low intelligence. As a result, educated black people have the same job opportunities and rights as white people and can improve the economic level of their people. This shows that education has a long-term effect in eradicating racism from various aspects of life.

As a complex of thought, domination, and practice originating from a racial group used to justify the unequal treatment of another racial group, the fight against racism in education is a very important effort. With education and its awareness, we could see the true picture or perspective of race itself because in the world, there are many myths and stereotypes of race that are developing and becoming recognized as common truths. Through the education of people who previously have stereotypes about a particular race, they will change because they know the true nature of the race. Furthermore, education makes a person able to understand the importance of respecting the rights of others and realizing equality, which is the main capital in fighting racism. People will feel disadvantaged if they are treated unfairly or not given their rights, and this is in line with what happened to the black people who were being enslaved for 246 years. Through education, there will be a growing public awareness of the adverse effects of racism and the importance of preventing it.