African American Era - Term Paper Example

Task AFRICAN AMERICAN ESSAY Introduction During the pre-colonial era, there was an increase in demand of goods and services both in Europe and America and as a result, there was need for high production in both the regions. Workers were needed to work on the plantations; Africans needed machinery which eventually led to slave trade, Atlantic trade as they call it. It was carried out on three continents. Africans were transported right from the sub-Saharan Africa to America. They were exposed to dehumanizing human rights, racial persecutions and many more atrocities upon their transportation and walk long distances as narrated by the slaves in the videos. However, even though blacks had to go such conditions, the diverse African culture was still embroidered in their emotional state which remained apart of them as observed by Margaret Walker in her quotes, i.e. they still practice and held their norms from the past centuries to the present, avoiding the white culture despite the humiliating actions they were put through. The Middle Passage and Early American Slavery (pre-1793) This happened in the 1700 era where there was massive slave trade in the West African region. Millions of African descend were sold to the America and European countries. It was carried out in three parts hence the name Middle Passage. First, the Europeans carried goods such as firearms, iron, clothes and many more to the West African countries. On arrival, millions of people were captured and taken by force inform of slaves for exchange of goods. In fact, one of the slave narrates how her mother was forcefully taken and the only message she left that he be a good boy. The slaves were then shipped to America where the Europeans exchanged them for commodities such as sugar and cotton which were shipped to European countries. Captives were then left in America. Here they were exposed to various oppressions by the whites. First, whites had big tracks of land which were to be cultivated. The slaves were forced to work on those plantations producing crops while suffering severe tortures. Indeed they worked tirelessly on the plantations, with almost no food offered to them, while any complain would result into ruthless agony which caused them physical pain, castrating many deaths among the captives. This is shown from the slave narrative video where the slaves were subjected to thrashing while they were naked. The slaves were also made to bear inhuman housing conditions. Many people were put into small rooms. They had to excrete in containers provided to them in the rooms if not cubes, it was irritating and pathetic (Inikori and Stanley, 1992). Rooms had no windows, it was hard to emerge how air circulation would be and as such they were exposed to poor ventilation. This led to increase in diseases among the captives and since there was almost no medical care, majority of them fall seriously sick and many of them perished. Furthermore, they were denied rights to socialize among themselves, no democratic participation. This actions hindered unity among them. It was like they employed divide and rule tactics on the slaves. They hence could not articulate their grievances, champion for their rights and get better terms from their jobs (Inikori and Stanley, 1992). This made them to be oppressed more and suffer extra from the inhuman acts of the Americans, as a result they could not save the rest of the population from being enslaved and Africans continued to suffer as a result of the slave trade. Effects of racism on Africa America during the middle passage Due to color disparity, it led to suppression of slave trade as the congress enacted strict laws to reduce the importation thus making the trade illegal. There was a rise in ethnicities in United States as each group tried to isolate themselves from others. Upper south comprised majorly of blacks with African origin, those from Caribbean, Brazil settled in North America. It also led to brutality among people and emergence of activism. However, there is always light at the end of the tunnel or at least a beginning always has an end. Various measures were developed by both parties to initiate a resilient on the slave exploitation. First, the slaves had a rich and diverse culture among themselves in America that they carried from their mother countries. This can be demonstrated by geographical location of West Africa countries. Situated along the rivers, they were exposed to fertile land hence were practicing extensive agriculture. They were hunters and gatherers hence had a mixed culture. Americans on the other hand had their own beliefs and systems (Inikori and Stanley, 1992). The two emerged to form Africa America culture as they developed one another’, is making Americans developed animal husbandry from Africans. These actions led to unification of the two parties making the whites to have soft spots for the blacks. There was a change in perception by the church that helped to solve the slavery. African Americans believed in God more, entrusted their faith towards Him. They devoted themselves to spiritual healings, emotional attachments that helped them to persevere harsh conditions. The churches perception that wrong doers will be punished made the whites to change their attitude. Through the church, captives were able to receive treatments, food and many more services that reduced marginalization’s and enhanced their participation in the social activities. Indeed from the slave narrative video, slaves are portrayed to dancing in circles worshiping God. This showed how much they entrusted in Him. There emerged strong organizations in the Africa America people. These organizations included slave movements, human rights activists, increased desire by blacks to participate in the leadership of the Africa America society (Inikori and Stanley, 1992). This helped to champion for their rights, improved working conditions, better housing facilities and democratic participation. Due to increased pressure, the whites gave in to their demands and relaxed their inhuman behavior and treated blacks with more respect while enhancing cohesion. Conclusion African American era was characterized by misdeeds, prejudice where the slaves were humiliated. Racism was at its peak as the whites continued to enjoy their leverages. Racism led to fight of color in the United States and discrimination on various fronts. Slaves narrates how there was break of war in the regions that began the path to resilient.The civil wars were due to different opinions and ideas. Institutions became stronger in the United States that works against slavery which led to positive change among the African American people. In fact, in the modern era, many immigrants from Africa have migrated to the United States. Work cited Inikori, J E, and Stanley L. Engerman. The Atlantic Slave Trade: Effects on Economies, Societies, and Peoples in Africa, the Americas, and Europe. Durham: Duke University Press, 1992. Internet resource.. Read More