Slaves in America
The great civil right leader, Malcom X, once made a statement in one of his speeches concerning the mistreatment of African American citizens in the United States. In that speech, he stated “we didn’t land on Plymouth rock, Plymouth rock landed on us,” referring to African American ancestors who were captured by the Europeans and forced into slavery by the United States. Although this is a very true statement, the African slaves did not ask to come here to the New World nor did they deserve the brutal and inhumane treatment that was brought upon them. However, I am one who believes that we must return to scene of the crime.
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| Slave hunters in Africa |
And the crime scene sometimes leads back to an African tribe ruler who calls himself, Grandy King George, one of the most powerful leaders of the Efik people. Grandy King George owned hundreds of slaves whom he employed to capture and trade for still more slaves in the African Interior. He sold these slaves to Captains of European slave ships. Grandy King George nearly monopolized the Old Calabar slave trade during the 1760’s, allowing him to live in luxury, surrounded by British trade goods such as gold-headed canes, fancy mirrors, lace-trimmed clothing pewter chamber pots. In others words, the Grandy King George was living large at the expense of innocent Africans. So I’m not sure who landed on Plymouth Rock or who Plymouth Rock landed on, But I believe that there were a mutual business partnership between the European and the Native of Africa.
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| The horrors slaves faced if they defied their master. |
i like this post, you did a great job explaining some of the origins of slavery. The part I don't understand it the last sentence when you say "So I’m not sure who landed on Plymouth Rock or who Plymouth Rock landed on, But I believe that there were a mutual business partnership between the European and the Native of Africa." You believe that African where in business with the Americans? Come on, that's just an assumption. There is no proof and you must expound on that statement if you want to be taken seriously. I'm afraid your one sentence is very vague and fails explain whether or not the Native of Africa where deceived into sending their people to The New World. The last sentence is very captivating, I'm just wishing you could have continued the post and supported your claim by either a expanding your own opinion or using facts.
ReplyDelete-Grace Pittman
Why do you believe there was a mutual business partnership between the European and the Native of Africa? I agree, you left the readers hanging at the end as to what you believe and why you feel that way. I also enjoyed this post and the gained knowledge about slavery I did not previously possess. The picture you chose at the end really gives the reader perspective in to how horrifically slaves were treated. We read about it in books, hear it in class but to actually visualize the extent of abuse makes me cringe. Great post, gives the reader a lot to think about.
ReplyDeleteTeam 5
Ok I am a little confused here. Why is the United States singled-out as the only mentioned destination of African slaves? I thought only about five percent of African slaves made it to the United States. Why does the first paragraph it indicate that the African’s were forced into slavery by the United States and then in the second paragraph it indicates that African’s were forced into slavery by Grady King George? And what does the mistreatment of African citizen’s have to do with Plymouth Rock?
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