pull down to refresh
30 sats \ 3 replies \ @Undisciplined 2 Aug \ on: The Complexity of Historical Narratives econ
I think it's hard for people to wrap their heads around the historical normality of slavery.
It makes a lot of sense to me that most of these interpersonal relationships would resemble the ones we have today with the people we regularly interact with.
Some people liked their slaves and treated them well (to the extent that makes sense when talking about slavery). Most of their slaves probably felt some degree of reciprocal affection and perhaps a sense of loyalty. Humans bond with the people they spend time with.
I think that one of the big points is that the numbers of slave owners was not very high, in fact, made up a small minority of people in the south at the time. Another small fact to look on is who the owners were. Which part of the demographic they represented. They were the same part of the population that was buying the slaves from slave traders in Africa, transporting the slaves, auctioning the slaves and by-and-large owning the slaves, however, the blame for slavery has fallen on different people. Most of the slaves coming across the Atlantic on the middle passage did not come to the US, but went elsewhere.
Another consideration on slavery is that it existed almost everywhere and where almost anyone could be a slave or a slave owner from time immemorial. Everyone has ancestors that were slaves and some of them were slaves for verrrry long times. Everyone has ancestors that were probably slave owners, at one time, too. The only deal that is really being made is to cast guilt on only some people over slavery.
reply
Even on that last point, as I understand it, the vast majority of slaves from that region didn't even cross the Atlantic. They crossed the Sahara into the Ottoman Empire.
reply
Yes, they went East not West for the majority under some really horrendous conditions and informal surgeries before they left. The slaves died like flies but some made it to MENA to become slaves in the caliphates. The ones that went West may have been the lucky ones, although you couldn’t say the luck was very great!
reply