Olaudah Equiano Comments are due before November 6, 2013. Take note: 2 questions must be answered. How do we account for the horrible cruelty by human beings Equiano told about in his autobiography? What might be happening in our society today that tells us that human nature hasn't changed?
11 Comments
BryanF
10/28/2013 09:23:49 am
The slave traders were most likely only trying to make a living, this does not justify selling human beings like they are property, however. Since the slave traders did not see them as humans, but animals or property, they would abuse and/or neglect them constantly. One man was flogged until he died, over a matter that was to be expected out of a person who wanted freedom! If it was not physical abuse, the traders, mainly the European/white traders, were very prejudice and racist in their thoughts and actions towards the Africans. In today's society, similar behaviors are still exhibited, but not so much the beatings we saw back during slavery times. People are still racist, prejudice, and just sometimes plain cruel to other ethnicities on almost an everyday basis. Human nature had only let slavery rise to power during those time periods because the majority of people were less educated and were "starving for money". When it was at its peak, racism had already seeped into thousands of people's minds, white and black, and never went away. The human mind, being corrupt and sometimes destructive, will never change and will continue to live in society today.
Brittanie
11/4/2013 05:24:56 am
I agree with Bryan, The only reason the slave traders were trading slaves for a living. Not saying that its a good choice because its not and you can make money other ways. During this time education was basically a privilege, not many people got to attend, the rich were the only of many to attend. African Americans were not taught and if they were, they were considered lucky and were taught by their owners. Many Americans don't here the bad in other countries like Bryan said, people are still racist, prejudice, and just sometimes plain cruel to other ethnicities on almost an everyday basis. Knowing that these horrific comments and happenings are still accruing are mind blowing. I think we the people should take charge.
CheyenneA
11/4/2013 05:48:09 am
The slaves traders were trying to make money, but it did not have to be made by selling off people. The slave traders looked down very low on the slaves because to them, they were nothing more than a price to be sold at auction. It is wrong for someone to be flogged to death unless it was a serious incident.During this time the people of America were racist against more than African Americans. Today people still are racist because they believe only a certain type of people should be here and the rest should go back to wherever they came from. To others though, America is a place that people can come to be free and live happily.
TylerM
11/5/2013 08:52:26 am
I love what Bryan said here. What he said is so awesome, Bryan is my dude he did great! Racism is still alive and well today. Especially in the corporate world. Being a minority is a huge struggle. Even in baby dolls, parents should stop giving their child a baby doll that is their same race. But I digress, racism back then was all physical. Now racism is more verbal and far more behind closed doors. Its not talked about as much because it is not a very popular thing to be found racist, thus people do it and sweep it under the table.
Brittanie
11/4/2013 12:46:00 am
Slave traders had no heart or feeling about how people felt, they seen the slaves not as people but animals. Slave traders used violence and abused the slaves, they were racist to the same man kind. In todays world, i think there are many slave traders in other countries that we don't hear about or learn about because in todays society they want us people to think it still does not happen. The behavior is beyond me and i will never understand how you could abuse a human being that has the same abilities as others. People still use foul language and use physical abuse to African Americans today, there are a group of racist people called the kkk. Equiano was a strong courageous man and dealt what he had to deal with to make his life last. He wanted to become a worrier but that is definitely what he was, a worrier of his own.
CheyenneA
11/4/2013 05:54:34 am
I agree with Brittanie, then slave traders had no heart. Slaves traders would take incidents that happened to the extreme and used beating them to death as an excuse to make this place free of trouble. The best way to destroy an enemy is to make them a friend but no person wanted to be seen with another ethnicity. Those who deny freedom to others, deserve no freedom for themselves. Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery, it is man made and can be removed by the actions of humans today.
CheyenneA
11/4/2013 05:42:47 am
We account for the horrible cruelty by human beings Equiano told about in his autobiography because we as the people could have changed every event that happened. Slave traders only wanted money and better workers. Most slave traders used their slaves as pets and treated them even worse than an animal. I believe that people do deserve punishment at times, but not to the extent of getting scarred from it. In today's society there is still people who are racist and don't care what others think about them. They still believe in the problems that occurred in the past. Whatever happened then is still held against a lot of races today.
Autumn Pollock
11/4/2013 01:18:34 pm
We account for the cruelty of human beings because the events could have happened differently. A human being should not be treated as property. They should be treated as a person. Slave traders and slaves are both real people. Why should a slave trader be treated any better when they are abusing and manipulating an innocent person. The slaves work their lives away and are never once given a reward. They don't get to really live.
TylerM
11/5/2013 08:31:33 am
I honestly could not agree more,Autumn did a wonderful job in her response she did great. Slave traders where horrible to the slaves. The blacks didn't even receive anything even though they where so wrongly done. The native American's got money via scholarships, but the blacks got nothing. That is because today they are still done wrong in all most all communities in one way or another.
Autumn Pollock
11/4/2013 01:26:08 pm
I agree with Bryan. In society, some people still judge other people by their ethnicity. It may be rare for anyone to push someone to work so hard, like the slaves, but there are times where people are pushed to their fullest. Most often, it is just the ethnicity judged and treated badly.
TylerM
11/5/2013 08:24:39 am
As humans of today we almost feel responsible. Even though we are far different person than the beings of old, we still feel slightly accountable for their wrongdoings. Should we not do our best so things like this never happen again? The reality though is the fact that even though we talk of change few people actually do so. Even though that was over a hundred years ago we still have barely changed! We just recently in the last decade finally got a black president. It's borderline disgusting that not only blacks but all minorities aren't being treated as equals. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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