Seid
Salih
Over the years there have been much
written, much discussed on the subject of race. Race has been used as one of
the most effective tools in weakening the unity of all the people and directly
benefiting the White or “pure” social group. When trying to comprehend the idea
of Race in the American history one must understand the process of
racialization. This is a well-established political and economic system
specifically targeting and forcing dark skin men to do the dirty work for those
group seen as “pure”. This system bases on creating perception for individuals
based on visible aspects. However, when creating the biracial society, the
color of a man was only the beginning. The system precisely used religion as
well as culture to stir up the pot of a biracial society and strip the freedom
of the black men.
It is true that slavery has existed in
many of the great civilizations. It is understandable to think that one would
enslave another powerless person. It is who we are as a human being. We tend to
look for our advantages in circumstance. It is easy to see how having an
enslaved person doing work for us, for free, could be a tempting idea. What
differentiate the biracial society created in areas like Barbados, Virginia,
and Maryland was the fact that it dehumanized the entire Black social group for
years to come. This capitalism society demanded for black slave workers.
knowing humans by nature wouldn’t submit to such system, the creation of laws
such as slave codes were critical in controlling the enslaved. Places like Barbados
went as far as saying that the enslaved were just property and nothing more. (P. 63).
Of course, there had to be some sort of justification to why this system is
being implemented to cover up its evil means. The justification varied but,
centered around the idea Africans weren’t “civilized” and “pagans”.
This system ” first introduced a
race-based classification of humans, which established a framework for
analyzing race and racial differences for the next hundred years.” American Anthropological Association . Most
of the work of creating a framework for racialization was done in the
Trans-Atlantic slave trade era. We still do feel the effect of this system
today in 2016. Our arms and legs may not be chained the same as the enslaved
were in the 18th century.
Yet, I wonder how free we truly are or if we even know what it means to be “free”.
It is
obvious those enslaved in the 18th century were not “free”. That
was the extremist way of mentally as well as physically imprisoning a specific
social group for years. In fact, when the enslaved were “Freed” founded institutions to
provide for their spiritual and physical needs in search of freedom.Historical Overview . I have
always been intrigued with the idea of being “free” yet I still don’t have a
concrete definition of what freedom is. Some relate freedom to making their own
decisions, some are happy when they are freed from social obligation. I think
the kid wearing old and ripped shorts and running after his goats with the
biggest smile on seems freer than most.
I chose this picture because Bob Marley in my view is one of the most freed people i have come to know. I totally relate to his philosophy, and admire his simple way of living.
The picture is a collection of the Retro Rebirth. June 24, 2010
BOB MARLEY – JAH SOCCER HEAD
Reference
Andres, K. (2016). Source
Analysis of 'The Barbados Slave Code of 1661' Retrieved October 03, 2016, from
https://medium.com/@kennethandres/source-analysis-of-the-barbados-slave-code-of-1661
Boston, N., & Hallam, J. (n.d.). Freedom &
Emancipation. Retrieved October 02, 2016, from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/freedom/history.html
Scott, W. R., & Shade, W. G. (2000). Upon
these shores: Themes in the African American experience, 1600 to the present. Psychology
Press, 65.
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