Slave and Citizen's Point of Difference

       In the book Slave and Citizen, Frank Tennenbaum writes about the differences of slavery between the great ol' USA and places like Brazil. His main point in the book is that although slavery was practiced in both countries; the slaves in Brazil were treated better and were allowed more freedoms of their own. What were the reasons for their different ways? In class some said religion; others said science. I, on the other hand, believe it was due to the color of their skin. Although there were white men in Brazil, they had a different viewpoint on the women of color there. Many actually made families with them and were wed to them. In the U.S., this would be thought of as blasphemy.
       Since one can buy their own freedom in Brazil, they were also able to purchase their own slave workers. If one former slave could buy another slave; they would be more lenient to them due to the fact that they've been in their shoes at one point. Treat others how you would want to be treated. Thats the reason slaves in the South were allowed so many opportunities to get out of that lifestyle. The married colored women surely had an effect on the way their white male husbands saw the slaves they owned as well. No one can know for sure, but one can always speculate.
     In the U.S. at the time, there were surely more whites than any other race and they believed they were the top of the food chain and the most evolved. In Brazil, people of color could walk around without any worries. In the United States however, they were surely to be stopped and questioned. In some cases they were taken in custody and beaten. Brazil saw people of color as what they are; people. The United States saw them as merely property and a source of income. They could never open their eyes, and see that the men they use and abuse are men that were created from the same "God" and should be treated as men.

1 Ounce of Violence Throughout History

     All throughout history there have been many cases of violence and bloodshed among people of different race and cultures. In the 1800's, European settlers began to travel the world in search of new lands and what they found there was not what they expected. In many cases such as when the British landed in Tasmania, the white travelers saw the aboriginals they found to be nothing more than beasts. Thousands of "aboriginals" were settled over the years all around the world, just due to the fact that they did not share the same ideals as the Europeans.
     Even though this has gone on for many years, i've never really taken the time to really think about it. Just reading about these things and hearing it told by others has really opened my eyes to the world and how damaged it is. I mean even the Declaration of Independence, which i see everyday at my place of employment, speaks of bloodshed that must be spilt to ensure happiness and freedoms. When you really listen to the words written, it really seems more like a campaign to recruit men in the 13 colonies to rise up against the British and fight for the rich landowners in the "pursuit of happiness". According to the Declaration, all men are equal and it is their "God" given right to fight for their freedoms and liberties.
     Like most campaigns, it was based on lies. "We hold these truths to be self-evident" has to be the biggest lie of all, which is quite humorous. This quote says that what they say is truth just because they know its true, and yet they do not practice what they preach. They "know" that all men are equal, and yet they treat african americans as slaves? Are african americans and others of color other than white not men? They were created by the same "Creator" and made equal, so why are they not treated equally? David Walker said it best in his appeal to all men of color. "Are we MEN! ! -- I ask you, 0 my brethren I are we MEN? Did our Creator make us to be slaves to dust and ashes like ourselves?" That line of his appeal really hit me harder than most because you can really feel the tension and emotion in what he was saying. In his appeal he stresses to other men of color to rise up and fight for what is right. The white slave owners have no right to be called their master, since their only master is Jesus Christ.
     Even today, there are still many who believe people of color are not comparable to them. However, i would sure love to know what it is about them that makes them any less of a man? We are all equal and should be treated as such. Hopefully one day everyone will think this way. Perhaps its time for a new declaration to be made? Perhaps its time to let go of the past full of bloodshed and move on to a future with a true pursuit of happiness and freedom for all despite the color of your skin.