Human slave trade (Blog #4)

While I find the idea of slavery disgusting and inhumane, I found it interesting how the human slave trade worked within Africa and other countries. It was really surprising to me that individuals, including Americans, justified enslaving Africans because of their lack of stuff and because they 'have attributes that are quite similar to those of dumb animals' (480). This surprised me because in order to enslave millions of people, the Africans had to be dehumanized and "animal-like". What struck me even more was the idea that the African authorities were the ones who regulated the slave trade with other countries. I understood that many of the Europeans that traveled to Africa became ill because of their lack of immunity to jungle diseases, but what I didn't understand is how they could consider Africans dumb and animal like enough to enslave mistreat and even kill them, while others, with the same physical characteristics, were considered humanlike enough to do business with. It’s not like the African authorities were white or different looking than the slaves they were trading, so what made these authorities more human than the slaves?

Another point I found interesting was that America seemed to have a more strenuous and unforgiving lifestyle for the African slaves than any other country at the time. I never realized that other countries often freed their slaves after some time, or at least would consider children born to slaves as free people. In America life as a slave was cruel, dangerous and all children born to slave women were considered life-long slaves as well; generally it was ideal for slave women to bare children because it provided slave owners with “free” slaves. I never realized that of all those involved in the slave trade, America seemed to be the most inhumane, this thought not only made me disappointed but it made me ashamed of my ancestors. It is not a good feeling to learn that your country was founded on the backs of others, especially when these actions continue to cause hardships and racism within America, long after slavery has been outlawed. All I can hope is that with education of our past behavior, we can head towards a stronger and more united future.