The Convict Lease System Relation to the Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome - Book Report/Review Example

The Convict Lease System Relation to the Book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome This article seeks to discuss how people whohave been oppressed, face their experiences to focus on enduring trauma and healing in the United States. The main focus of this essay is discussion on the theme, The Convict Lease System as relates to the book by (Leary, 2005). It presents the plight of those oppressed and traumatized by their past and analysis on how their problems can be voiced to help in structuring healing process. Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome is a theory developed by Dr. Joy DeGruy Leary, which explains the etiology of many of adaptive continued existence traits in African American communities throughout the United States and its Diaspora. (Leary, 2005) incorporates both America and Africa. It seeks to expound on how trauma experienced by citizens influence status, class, and racial accord of the American society over generations. The book discusses the Atlantic Slave Trade which allowed persistence of racism and efforts at repression to keep on to date. Challenges brought about by the slave trade are key topics in the book. Due to the challenges, people formed adaptive behaviors for survival which were both beneficial and harmful. These behaviors have been successively evident throughout new generations. Suggestions are also made for embracing behavior change to sustain healing and healing for people to uphold and improve the African American culture. It is very important in developing tools to transform negative mind-sets and deeds to embrace positivity. In discussing on the theme convict leasing in relation to traumatic experiences, there are key areas that need critical examination. They include; impact of the experiences in different races, slavery and forms of slavery, and other cultural issues. All these are important in understanding why there has been witnessed racism and segregation between African Americans and Whites as (Blackmon, 2009) observes. It is also helpful in giving the current and future generations proper guidelines and reforms that unite states no matter the differences between people and groups. The 21st Century has seen people face different forms of trauma. These forms recur from generation to generation. It is therefore critical to emphasize and develop alternative behaviors that can be adopted by those oppressed and traumatized to help their healing. Understanding Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome Theory is important for knowing the real problem. This theory proposes that centuries of slavery, together with systemic racial discrimination and oppression have made people adapt behaviors that are both positive and negative. The positive behavior reflects resilience while the negative are harmful and destructive. Approaches and models which are evident-based are included in seminars in (Leary, 2005). They bring out differences of values, customs and traditions of people which make them unique and different from other groups. It focuses on the culture specific representation of service and practice delivery. It helps to strengthen and support individual, family units and society from a specific cultural group. The discipline of anthropology helps in defining character traits specific to a particular group and the people’s general way of living. Convict leasing was a term referring to a system of punitive labor put into practice in the Southern United States. According to (Mancini, 1996), prisoners were sold to private parties due to convict leasing. Reasons for doing so were to use them as cheap labor for farming and corporations such as Rail Road Company. Those buying them or lessee would take care of their basic needs including; food, housing and clothing. Convict leasing became traumatizing due to corruption, racism and lack of monitoring of the leasing process. Mistreatment of leased worker and coercive labor systems which were unfair became a huge problem in America. (Blackmon, 2009) describes labor systems as a form of bondage strictly different from that of the antebellum South. This is because the men and women involved in slavery were mortal but slavery, which oppressed innocent people entitled to freedom, were forced to work without compensation, were exchanged like commodities, and coerced to perform their master’s duties unwillingly. The idea violates the rights of a person concerning freedom and is a major factor which facilitated post traumatic slave syndrome. States, on the other hand, gained more revenues from convict leasing due to acquiring of funds without paying for labor or paying below market rates. It led to hate and a division between African American men, who were made slaves, and the Whites who took advantage of them. There were successful interventions to stopping slavery. (Blackmon, 2009) observes that during the 20th century, there emerged increased opposition to the system of convict leasing. This opposition encountered challenges from state politicians who were benefiting from the system, and had witnessed revenues rise nearly four times the usual cost due to convict leasing. Disadvantages of convict leasing increased until employers became alarmed and stopped the system. Reasons for its termination included exposure of the inhumane treatment of convicts and additionally, legislative reforms formulated in the events of politics. Although convict leasing was said to have ended, there are forms of the same evident in the 21st century. They include; using and hiring cheap labor in prisons, farms and chain gangs. Slavery is a system. It is where people are treated as tradable commodities being bought and sold. It is a practice that was common in the society according to the African-American pamphlet on slavery. Primary sources showing slavery include recorded historical events in the nineteenth century. There are speeches, articles and essays, letter and other media sources which provide outlooks of slavery. Colonization of African countries is also a major contributor of slavery. Slavery was seen as inhumane and breaching cultural norms of togetherness and fostering love and peaceful co-existence. There were methods formulated to counter slavery. One is abolitionism by which William Lloyd Garisson was a radical in its implementation. He called for immediate termination of slavery and advocated on equality of races. It was necessary for the African Americans to be assimilated into the White society. The reforms he pushed for started taking shape in 1846. It led to formation of slavery laws that helped end slavery. In the view of The Convict Lease System (Mancini, 1996), it shares similar views with the anti-slavery society pamphlets of slavery being seen as an evil towards humanity. It instead advocates for the right to freedom of individuals. In the history Unites States and healing process of post traumatic disorders, Frederick Douglass is a key figure in the same. This is because he was born a slave, as Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy records. He was able to escape from slavery in 1838 and went on to become a primary head and representative for the United States Abolition Movement. He later became a towering influencer for the United States Civil Rights Movement. His life and legacy itself portrayed a person who was at the heart of pushing for change in the American society. A distinctive role such a person plays is to bridge the gap between slaves and their employers because of his achievements in doing the same. In relation to (Leary 2005), Frederick Douglass in his accomplishments was able to show the society desired change agents in him. The fact that he himself was born a slave and was able to rise and help abolish slavery is a big encouragement to the society. When fighting slavery, he had three main reasons. They included: writing narratives exposing the evil of slavery, honoring natural rights of slaves since they were humans and accounted for in the constitution, and lastly, he countered all apologists drawing arguments from his own life’s experience. In conclusion, the major theme discussed in the book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome is very essential. The convict lease system is a nice way of exposing various factors that led to oppression of people and trauma from past practices including slavery. The two factors are important for an individual, communities and the society at large. Approaches identified in the essay and challenges from the past should be the driving force for change. This is to say that all America’s past mistakes and negative actions should provide a platform for drawing lessons to embrace positivity. This will greatly help enhance togetherness of races, adoption of a culture of unity and ensuring laws of a country favor each and every citizen. References Leary, Joy D. Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. New York: Uptone Press, 2005. Blackmon, Douglas A. Slavery By Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans. Atlanta: Random House Digital, 2009. Mancini, Matthew J. One Dies, Get Another: “Convict Leasing in the American South, 1866-1928”. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1996. From Slavery to Freedom: The African-American Pamphlet Collection, 1822-1909. Douglass, Frederick. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 1845. Web 13 June 2012. Read More