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Not News, But Am I A Racist?
My wife and I have just returned from a 'come as your hero' party.
I went as Rick James who, in my opinion, is the most unrecognised piece of brilliance ever to have uttered a note (Google Fire and Desire - just superb).
Anyway, I blacked-up. And about 45 minutes ago was told I was racist for doing so. I tried to explain that as Rick James is a hero so how on earth can it be racist, but it fell on death ears.
So, an I wrong or, if as I suspect, is my accuser a complete moron?
I went as Rick James who, in my opinion, is the most unrecognised piece of brilliance ever to have uttered a note (Google Fire and Desire - just superb).
Anyway, I blacked-up. And about 45 minutes ago was told I was racist for doing so. I tried to explain that as Rick James is a hero so how on earth can it be racist, but it fell on death ears.
So, an I wrong or, if as I suspect, is my accuser a complete moron?
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There are many misconceptions about African history and nowhere is this more true than the topic of the slave trade. We should not walk around with the assumption that the slave trade was some bilateral agreement between Europeans and Africans. It's way more complex than that.
To speak of the slave trade as Africans selling each other is a gross oversimplification of what was a complex historical event, partly because the 'partnership' between the traders and buyers was an uneasy one.
The European slave traders often betrayed those who supplied them with slaves. A famous case of this was the African slave trader Daaga who was tricked and captured by slave traders. He was taken to Trinidad where he would eventually lead a mutiny.
Another example is given by Anne Bailey in her book African Voices in the Atlantic Slave Trade. She mentions the story of Chief Ndorkutsu who had been providing captives to the European traders. Eventually some of the Ndorkutsu’s own relatives were tricked into boarding a slave ship and then taken as slaves to Cuba. In some cases, such as that of Madam Tinubu in Nigeria and Afonso of the Kongo Kingdom, those Africans that initially gave African captives to the Europeans came to resist the slave trade.
Tinubu had a change of heart when she realized how inhumanely the slaves were treated. Afonso was almost assassinated by the Portuguese after he demanded an end to the slave trade in his kingdom.
To speak of the slave trade as Africans selling each other is a gross oversimplification of what was a complex historical event, partly because the 'partnership' between the traders and buyers was an uneasy one.
The European slave traders often betrayed those who supplied them with slaves. A famous case of this was the African slave trader Daaga who was tricked and captured by slave traders. He was taken to Trinidad where he would eventually lead a mutiny.
Another example is given by Anne Bailey in her book African Voices in the Atlantic Slave Trade. She mentions the story of Chief Ndorkutsu who had been providing captives to the European traders. Eventually some of the Ndorkutsu’s own relatives were tricked into boarding a slave ship and then taken as slaves to Cuba. In some cases, such as that of Madam Tinubu in Nigeria and Afonso of the Kongo Kingdom, those Africans that initially gave African captives to the Europeans came to resist the slave trade.
Tinubu had a change of heart when she realized how inhumanely the slaves were treated. Afonso was almost assassinated by the Portuguese after he demanded an end to the slave trade in his kingdom.
Typically wars in West Africa were relatively short affairs that left a small number of causalities. The introduction of European weapons made these wars more drawn out and destructive affairs. Moreover, the only way Africans could acquire these firearms was through the trade of slaves. A king of Dahomey once requested that Europeans establish a firearms factory in his nation, but this request went ignored. Firearms became necessary for African nations to defend themselves both from African rivals as well as from European intrusion, but the only way to acquire these weapons was through the slave trade. This situation only benefited the competing European powers that were able to play Africans against each other.
AOG
Some Africans did play a role in the slave trade and the trade could not have been as large as it was without cooperation from Africans.
With that being said, many people who have not properly studied the slave trade have a tendency to overstate how involved Africans were in a misguided attempt to shift the blame of the slave trade on Africans.
Perhaps this applies to you?
(Much of the above was cribbed from Dwayne Omowale, an author who has written a number of books on the history and experiences of African people).
Some Africans did play a role in the slave trade and the trade could not have been as large as it was without cooperation from Africans.
With that being said, many people who have not properly studied the slave trade have a tendency to overstate how involved Africans were in a misguided attempt to shift the blame of the slave trade on Africans.
Perhaps this applies to you?
(Much of the above was cribbed from Dwayne Omowale, an author who has written a number of books on the history and experiences of African people).
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sp1814
Here is where you do need to be educated, sp.
It is not a convenient untruth, as you stated.
This from the Guardian no less:
https:/
Here is where you do need to be educated, sp.
It is not a convenient untruth, as you stated.
This from the Guardian no less:
https:/
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AOG
That piece is absolutely right, but the point I'm making is that certain factions play up the role of African colluders in an attempt to detract from the bigger story that Europeans facilitated and expanded the trade.
I think most people will understand that the story of the slave trade is far more complex than good/evil on one side or another.
That piece is absolutely right, but the point I'm making is that certain factions play up the role of African colluders in an attempt to detract from the bigger story that Europeans facilitated and expanded the trade.
I think most people will understand that the story of the slave trade is far more complex than good/evil on one side or another.
sp1814
/// With that being said, many people who have not properly studied the slave trade have a tendency to overstate how involved Africans were in a misguided attempt to shift the blame of the slave trade on Africans. ///
That is of course dependant on who studies the slave trade.
First you tell me that it is a "convenient untruth" then you go to considerable lengths to try and dilute the involvement that the Africans had in the slave trade.
They even transporting them from the deepest interior to the coast at the cost of many, many lives.
No the African are not squeaky clean when it comes to the slave trade, but I can't see them being made to forever apologise over something that happen over 200 years ago.
But then why not continue to solely blame the white man, it gives that bit of power over them.
Yes any kind of human slavery is to be condemned no matter who carries it out, why we even have slavery today,
But to bring matters up to date, the ancestors of those who were taken from Africa, are now living much better lives that the ancestors of those who escaped slavery.
Just quoting a fact, you understand?
/// With that being said, many people who have not properly studied the slave trade have a tendency to overstate how involved Africans were in a misguided attempt to shift the blame of the slave trade on Africans. ///
That is of course dependant on who studies the slave trade.
First you tell me that it is a "convenient untruth" then you go to considerable lengths to try and dilute the involvement that the Africans had in the slave trade.
They even transporting them from the deepest interior to the coast at the cost of many, many lives.
No the African are not squeaky clean when it comes to the slave trade, but I can't see them being made to forever apologise over something that happen over 200 years ago.
But then why not continue to solely blame the white man, it gives that bit of power over them.
Yes any kind of human slavery is to be condemned no matter who carries it out, why we even have slavery today,
But to bring matters up to date, the ancestors of those who were taken from Africa, are now living much better lives that the ancestors of those who escaped slavery.
Just quoting a fact, you understand?
AOG
Your perspective is what I imagine it would be, and there's no point derailing this thread any further.
What freedoms of the past do you yearn for a return to?
v_e...I have to admit, I find discussing with AOG more fruitful than our little back and forths, so if you don't mind, can you give the dates, and I'll just agree with them?
Your perspective is what I imagine it would be, and there's no point derailing this thread any further.
What freedoms of the past do you yearn for a return to?
v_e...I have to admit, I find discussing with AOG more fruitful than our little back and forths, so if you don't mind, can you give the dates, and I'll just agree with them?
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