Slavery and Racism in Early American History - Essay Example

?Slavery and Racism in Early American History The characteristics of social phenomena are often difficult to be identified not only because of the potential time since between the appearance of these phenomena but also because of the lack of theoretical frameworks for explaining the interaction of these phenomena in the context of modern societies. In this paper, two key concepts have been set under examination: racism and slavery. The paper has been divided into two parts: in both parts, the elements of racism and slavery are set under examination. In the first part, two key sources are used: Winthrop Jordan's book, The White Man's Burden, and Stannard's book, American Holocaust. The second part of the paper is based on the following sources: Senator Lincoln's speech of September 18, 1858, and Frederick Douglass' 1852 speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" In both parts of the paper the following fact is made clear: racism is closely related to slavery; the relationship between these two concepts is so strong that, often, the terms of their interaction are too difficult to be identified. Moreover, the following issue needs to be highlighted: both racism and slavery have been highly developed in America; the intervention of these concepts in the country’s social and political life is still high. The elimination of racism and slavery would be required for securing social justice. The terms of elimination of racism and slavery in America would be differentiated across states because of their different legal framework, at least up to a level, compared to the legal rules of federal government. Racism seems to be well established in the American history. In any case, the historical development of racism has been related to slavery. In order to understand the role of these two concepts in the American history, it would be necessary to refer to the initial perceptions of Englishmen on blacks. According to Winthrop (3) the first visit of Englishmen in West Africa took place about at 1550; it was then that Englishmen had their first contact with blacks (Winthrop 3). However, it seems that at that period, Englishmen did not perceive blacks as potential slaves but rather as buyers of goods (Winthrop 3). This phenomenon continued up to the mid seventieth century (Winthrop 3). However, it seems that the color of natives has attracted the interest of Englishmen (Winthrop 3), meaning that the difference in regard to physical characteristics implied also differences in terms of physical performance. Also, the difference in color implied the existence of other characteristics, meaning especially the dirt (Winthrop 3). It was in this context that the first ideas on the low social status of blacks were developed; the potential use of blacks as slaves followed (Winthrop 3). However, slavery, as a social phenomenon, has not appeared before the 17th century, a period where the initial cases of use of blacks as slaves were reported. Indeed, as Winthrop notes, the enslavement of blacks has started almost since their arrival in America (Winthrop 26). Indeed, the first blacks arrived in Virginia in 1619 (Winthrop 26). A few years later, approximately by 1640, the first signs of enslavement appeared (Winthrop 26). In fact, it is noted that ‘between 1640 and 1660 there is evidence of enslavement’ (Winthrop 26). Reference is made to ‘the statute books of colonies’ (Winthrop 26), as evidence for proving the appearance of slavery in America. Through the decades, slavery was highly expanded across America (Winthrop 148), up to the elimination of the particular phenomenon due to its prohibition by the law (Winthrop 148). The term racism, as a term reflecting the rejection of equality among human no matter their physical characteristics (Winthrop 15), has appeared much later, approximately at 1950s (Winthrop 15), a point where the study of Winthrop (15) is aligned with that of Stannard (270). According to the issues discussed above, racism and slavery have been common concepts in American history. At this point, the following problem should be resolved: did slavery precede racism in America or vice versa? Answering this question would help to understand which of these two concepts has mostly influenced the social and political life of America. According to Stannard (270) the specific issue has not been highlighted in America at least up to the twentieth century. The following fact seems to be the key reason of this phenomenon: American historians did not wish to focus on the chronological order of appearance of racism or slavery since ‘historians’ own low regard for blacks was a second nature to them’ (Stannard 270). In other words, historians perspectives on blacks and their role in America’s social, political and economic life were negative; in this context, historians in America avoided in studying the order of appearance of slavery or racism in America (Stannard 270). Being influenced by this belief, American historians seemed to be convinced that the enslavement of Africans had started almost since the ‘involuntary arrival of Africans in the first colonies in 1649’ (Stannard 270). In other words, the enslavement of Africans has been considered as expected, taking into consideration their social and economic status. The above view just verifies the fact that slavery is closely related to racism; it does not explain which of the two concepts appeared first in the context of the American history. At the next level, Stannard (270) explains that ‘it was only around 1950’ (Stannard 1970) that the view that ‘slavery had preceded racism in America’ (Stannard 270) appeared. The above view is supported giving the following explanation: in America, slavery ‘has emerged gradually as an institution’ (Stannard 270). As for racism, the specific concept appeared later, when slavery has been already established in American society. It was in the context of this society, that racism was developed, in order to reflect the views of people on the society, which had become too depended on slavery (Stannard 270). In other words, in America, racism, as a concept, appeared as a result of the expansion of slavery, as a social phenomenon, across the particular country. The context of slavery and racism in America can be made clear through the speech of Lincoln in 1858 and the speech of Douglass in 1852; these speeches are based on different perceptions in regard to social inequality between blacks and whites and can help to understand all aspects of racism and slavery, as developed in the particular country. In his speech of September 18, 1858, Lincoln seems to promote a view of inequality between whites and blacks. His view is justified by referring to the differentiation between whites and blacks in terms of their physical characteristics. Using this argument, Lincoln promotes the idea that ‘I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races’ (Lincoln 1858). According to Lincoln, the differences between whites and blacks in terms of their physical characteristics impose the separation of the two races, so that social conflicts are avoided (Lincoln 1858). At the next level, Lincoln supports that whites have a significant advantage in terms of their physical and mental capabilities, and for this reason they should be ‘at a superior position compared to blacks’ (Lincoln 1858). An important part of Lincoln’s speech in regard to race, is the following one: Lincoln promotes the idea that the superiority of whites against blacks should be appropriately supported, in terms of legislation (Lincoln 1858); the above suggestion has been made probably for securing the validity of differentiation between whites and blacks. More specifically, Lincoln (1858) supports that the differentiation between blacks and whites ‘would be promoted mostly through the State Legislature and not the Congress’ (Lincoln 1858). In other words, Lincoln presents the inequality between blacks and whites as supported by the law, while no such case can be identified. It is assumed that the above view reflects the personal perceptions of Lincoln in regard to the social status of blacks and whites. A different perception of the social status of blacks and whites is presented in the speech of Douglass of July 1852. Douglass tries to explain the unfairness of inequality between blacks and white by referring to the rules of American society, as related to the 4th July, a day critical for American independence. In fact, it could be noted that Douglass refers to the value of July the 4th for highlighting the validity of his comments in regard to race inequality, as developed in American society. Douglass begins his speech by referring to his personal experience in a slavery plantation (Douglass 1852), a reference made for showing the validity of the comments made. At the next level, Douglass sets the following question: what the 4th of July can mean for a slave? The answer given is the following one: ‘a day that reveals to him the gross injustice and cruelly to which he is the constant victim’ (Douglass 1852). In other words, the day of independence, as celebrated in America, can negatively affect those people that have to face inequality and unfairness because of their race. Douglass continues with more details on the expansion of slavery across America: he refers to the internal slave trade, as developed in most regions across America (Douglass 1852). It is noted that this practice cannot be accepted: people were arrested with no notice and were sold as slaves even if they had families (Douglass 1852). The expansion of internal slave in America in the 19th century, as described in the speech of Douglass, reveals the inability of the country’s government to control the phenomenon; it also reveals the important social problems in America during the particular period (Douglass 1852). An important notion of Douglass in regard to the above problem is the following one: the rapid expansion of internal slavery in America in the 19th century has been highly supported by the political system of the country (USA), as defined by the country’s social ethics during that particular period (Douglass 1852). In other words, Douglass promoted the idea that social belief on race in America in the 19th century favored social inequality and slavery. In this context, based on the view of Douglass on social inequality, slavery in America would not be effectively confronted unless the country’s social and political rules were alternated. At this point, Douglass is differentiated from Lincoln, who promoted the idea of the inequality, by nature, between blacks and whites, a fact that, according to Lincoln, would justify the exclusion of blacks from most civil rights. In America, the historical development of slavery has been different from that of racism. The former has been in progress for centuries, where the latter has appeared rather recently, approximately at 1950s, for explaining the causes of social inequality in terms of race. In other words, the development of slavery and racism in American history has been based on different criteria: slavery, as a concept, has been developed in order to show the transformation of American society, as influenced by the phenomenon of slavery. As for racism, this seems to be related to the efforts of theorists to explain the negative behavior of people under the influence of differences in regard to the racial characteristics of people across America, meaning especially the conflict between white and black people. In any case, it has been proved that slavery has preceded racism, as this concept has affected the perceptions of Americans on slave (Stannard 270). The differentiation between slavery and racism is a critical issue analyzed in this paper. Another important finding of this study is the following one: the perceptions of people on slavery and racism can vary; no standard criteria have been introduced for evaluating the importance of racism and slavery in a particular society. This fact has been made clear in the speeches of Abraham Lincoln (1858) and Frederick Douglass (1852). Lincoln supports the inequality between whites and blacks as of their civil rights, where Douglass promotes the idea that inequality based on race can lead to severe social conflicts and unfairness, being opposed to the basic principles of the American constitution. In other words, in the past, slavery and racism may have been unavoidable; still, today, their expansion should be appropriately controlled so that the violation of the American constitution to be avoided; similar practices should be promoted in other countries worldwide facing such social problems. (Words 2056) Works Cited Abraham Lincoln. Political Debates Between Lincoln and Douglas. September 18, 1858 Frederick Douglass. ‘What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?’ July 5, 1852 Stannard, David. American Holocaust: The Conquest of the New World. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993. Winthrop, Jordan. The White Man's Burden: Historical Origins of Racism in the United States. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1974. Read More