Question

How did World War 2 change life for many women and African Americans ??? Keep it simple please

Answer 1

Most white people don't like to talk about race. Their white guilt and fear of being called a racist discourages any serious discussion, especially with African Americans. Even in Oak Park.

Most white people do have opinions about race. They feel bad that blacks lag behind whites in most socio-economic indexes, but feel good that things seem to be getting somewhat better. However, there is an undercurrent thought that maybe African Americans should somehow try harder to improve their situation. After all, the law of the land has prohibited discrimination for decades. In addition, there are many social programs that benefit black Americans. Lots of money and energy has been expended to help African Americans for a long time, and yet they still lag the population as a whole. Why is this?

The answer is slavery. No other immigrant group came to this continent as slaves. Beginning in 1619 and continuing until 1863, millions of Africans were imported to these shores as commodities to be bought and sold. A vast legal, social and economic infrastructure was created to preserve and maintain the right of one man to own another.

This awful history is powerfully brought home in the film 12 Years A Slave, the story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped in 1841 and sold as a slave until his release 12 years later. He's a decent man who endures unspeakable treatment by brutal slave traders and masters. At one level, the movie is Mr. Northup's story. His ultimate reunion with his family is a teary relief, but this is not a feel-good movie about white people helping black people. 12 Years A Slave is nothing like Lincoln or Amistad.

It is a journey into the nightmare dungeon of slavery. It forces us to confront exactly what slavery was. There is a scene in which Mr. Northup is suspended with a noose around his neck and his arms tied behind his back. His toes barely touch the ground as he seeks a tentative purchase to avoid hanging. The other slaves and the masters go about their daily tasks while this good and decent man just hangs there — the perfect metaphor for the life of a slave.

The movie indicts the whole ecosystem of this monstrous institution. It is only a short mental step to the realization that the African-American experience has been and continues to be negatively impacted by the legacy of slavery. The achievement gap, absent fathers, gangs, gender roles, rap music, speech, art — everything continues to be impacted by the stain of slavery.

Anyone interested in understanding race and racism in this country must learn about slavery and its continuing pernicious influence on our country. Going to see 12 Years A Slave would be a good place to start your education.



Reader Comments

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John Jackson

Posted: February 10th, 2014 9:36 PM

I see a lot of lost people on here. Everyone wants to talk about slavery and how it's been over since 1865 but fail to mention that they were just beating the pellet out us 50 years ago. White people you are not God you cannot create harmony in 50 years through legislation. Whites need to realize that there is still a problem here in America with race and black Americans need to realize that we have to play the biggest role in fixing it. There's no reason for us to be hateful....


aguiar from lawton

Posted: February 10th, 2014 7:39 PM

my great . . . were slaves on a farm in germany, or so the written history goes. after the farmer wars things got . . . german king george went to england . . . what a history for the english, lol


Rob from Virginia

Posted: February 10th, 2014 6:42 PM

So your attempt to educate us on slavery revolves around a movie? I expected a history lesson, ethical argument, or political debate...but a stinking movie review? Did it ever occur to you that someone other than a wide-eyed teenager might read this?


Jonas from Potomac

Posted: February 10th, 2014 3:13 PM

John, this is an obsolete issue. No one wants to talk about slavery anymore, it is over with. Also, if we are going to talk about any culture being oppressed it is Jewish people, black people need an education on that if anyone at all needs to be educated by anyone, which no one should be taught anything in this country because it is just a bunch of fools giving their input on blogs. Sorry.


Jim Coughlin from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: February 10th, 2014 2:32 PM

I join John Hubbuch in recommending 12 Years A Slave. It's tough finding a theater in our area currently showing the film but the dvd is scheduled for release on March 4.


col from alicante

Posted: February 10th, 2014 2:29 PM

It was the top 1% that benefited from slavery, family dinasties have stayed in power even today. The rest of the population didn't and dont. why live in the past. I'm white, I have a distant black relative, almost everyone has some mix. The holocaust was surely worse, and involved higher numbers, but that isn't thrust down every blond haired person's throat. Plus, slavery would NEVER have existed without some cooperation of the population that sold it's own people for beads.


information to consider

Posted: February 10th, 2014 12:35 PM

Many interesting comments regarding this topic. I would encourage everyone to consider the "numbers" provided in the article that is linked below. While each factoid is interesting, one might specifically consider numbers 1, 9, 17, and 19 with respect to this ongoing conversation: http://www.theroot.com/articles/history/2014/02/slavery_statistics_28_to_know_for_black_history_month.2.html


Ed

Posted: February 10th, 2014 12:12 PM

For the White Slavery Advocates I say this, "you're right!" I guess the difference is that when they were freed they were just white in America. But the African freed slave became black in America. ASTRONOMICAL DIFFERENCE! LOL!!!!


Ed

Posted: February 10th, 2014 11:52 AM

Don't expect a handout. No one cares what happened in our people's past. Except this fact. Forgive your enemy. Teach your children the truth so they never let the legacy of slavery and Willy Lynch triumph over what is right. All men are capable of evil, but only a few repent and repay their debts. Lick your wounds, stand up and put your big boy pants on. Remember, No One Cares But Us. Just smile and say thank you when they talk bad about us. Rejoice. Only a few know what I mean. :-)

Answer 2

keep it simple feather

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Never that but thanks for the "Insult" i guess...

Answer 5

it's simply the truth i can tell from your profile picture

Answer 6

we already know

Answer 7

So because the profile picture you can magically tell that my vagina stink ???

Answer 8

ahahah yes