An Enslaved Nation

How does the population feel about slavery in our country's history? I watched a film today in English 334, and it was extremely disturbing. There was a man whose flesh on his back was scarred so terribly that it made me tremble. These wounds were inflicted by the slave whip. Slavery was an industry, which made whites tremendously wealthy off the tiresome labor of blacks. Some had so many slaves that their revenue was numbered in the millions of dollars. I often wonder what it would have been to live within that four hundred year period. And think of that! Four Hundred Years of Slavery. Thomas Jefferson said that the black man and woman were inferior to whites, that they were of a belittled mind, ignorant and debased by God to perpetually be slaves. Do you know that this bloody stain of slavery is upon the heads of the sons and daughters of the slave owners? If you are not moved by the horrible injustice of slavery, you don't have much of a heart, or even conscience. It lasted for four hundred years, and I imagine that those four hundred were years of infinite pain and lament for the slave. There was a statement that if a slave gets caught escaping, he'll be beaten with 100 "cool" lashes. What the hell is a 100 "cool" lashes?! What is "cool" about 100 lashes?! I could go on and on about the disgust that I have for what my culture inflicted upon the original peoples of the planet, but emotions don't go far enough in the literary world. There must be evidence, must be a position. I think I've stated my position, but I still lack enough evidence to accurately depict for the uneducated mind what exactly happened. "Roots" is a great series on the issue of slavery in America. The Supreme Court even voted that blacks would never be considered equal to whites, but I am not sure of when that particular ruling took place. How do whites feel about slavery? How do you blotch out four hundred years of bondage and cruelty towards blacks? I have a feeling that we as white Americans will have to carry this burden into the next generation, and the successive generations, as a brand on our conscience. But, there were great men such as Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought for the rights for black and white to unite, to share this land we call America. There were proponents of this right, and opponents equally. We as Americans have to address this issue if we are to ever move forward as citizens of this land united as one people, because until then there will continue to be division between black and white. But, some would say that is what should be done. How would that impact the nation if blacks migrated back to Africa, and whites migrated back to Europe? The origins of slavery began here in America, and it must be remedied here in America, or else there will be an explosion where both sides will face losses. And this is sad, because had not slavery existed, we might be a greater nation, with a more amicable and noble history. Black or White, this issue must be addressed, so that we can walk among each other peacefully.

keep the peace.

Dr. Stephen Strange