Why do African Americans forget that their ancestors were sold into slavery by their fellow man?
Posted December 26, 2009
By The African Art Store
White people did not go to Africa and kidnap black people to be slaves. They bought them off of tribal leaders. Why the blind loyalty for the homeland when they sold you out? The suffering of blacks in the U.S. is undeniable. However this many years after slavery it should not be dwelled upon. Always remember it, but move forward. Every ethnic minority group has been discriminated against in this country.
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You clearly don’t know the history of slavery in Africa or even in Europe for that matter. It was the English and the Americans who decided slavery should be based on race AND that it should be for life.
People, Educate Yourself !
Can I get an AMEN? thank you brother. My Irish bros are still being persecuted by the English
The American government has been pretty much like the English and the French.. gotta have their noses where it doesn’t belong.
Gotta step in and take over. Policing of other nations.. nation-building. Specific items that George W said in his campaign for president.. that he wasn’t going to do.. didn’t want to do. WHATEVER.
Our government doesn’t give a big rat’s patoot about Iraq or Afghanistan.. nor any of those other countries. Just what they can get out of them. If they have something we need or want, we go over and have our way with those people.. all under the guise of doing something nice or good.
I’ve not been following the current administration.. but, the last administration was a joke.. and caused a self-inflicted catastrophy (911) to justify invading Iraq and Afghanistan to set up perminate oil drilling/refineries in order to make a select few here in the US filthy, bloody rich. Bush Sr, Dubya and Cheney form the nucleus of the “Axis of Corporate Evil.”
We went over to Afghanistan to knock out the Taliban because of their fanatical religious and woman oppression.. whatever! Fact is.. the Taliban was cleaning up all the corrupt activity over there.. almost fully eradicating the poppy growth.. hence, cutting into our drugs and drug money. We killed them out before all the poppy growers were fully put out of business.. therefore, there is a new wave of cheap, highly, highly potent heroin coming into the US through the northeast that would make the stuff 25 years ago seem like Bayer baby aspirin.. and it’s cheap as dirt. Mission accomplished George W!
I suppose that what I’m saying here is.. no matter what our race, we’d best band together as a common people that make up a country.. thats going to be ‘belly-up’ if somethings not done. We need to bring those responsible to justice.. and they’re not anywhere in the Middle East… but, right here in our the USA.
But not every ethnic minority was forced into slavery. See the difference? I doubt it.
But then it’s easy for you to say “get over it” when you don’t have recent ancestors who were slaves.
You want to know why people don’t like you? It’s because you revel in your ignorance.
I think you’d have a better point if black African tribal leaders invented segregation.
Actually, they were taken both ways. In some parts of Africa, local merchants sold them as slaves, but in others, they were taken by force. Regardless, when the Europeans began to voyage to sub-Saharan Africa in the 1400s, they began to purchase slaves in large numbers–its hard to justify that, isn’t it?
And yes, every ethnic minority has suffered to some extent, but it is “undeniable” that blacks have suffered more. Try being black for a day and see how difficult life can be.
Tyler, many would argue that Jews in Israel practice the same type of discrimination they were victims of before. No one is denying persecution of Jews but it is not as bad for Jews in the US as it is for blacks.
History shows that the trend is for the victors to write history in their favor. Slavery in Africa was and is still totally indentured. That is until Europeans decided to use Africans to do their manual labor which culminated in the building of the US on the blood, sweat and tears of Africans. The type of slavery practiced in the US has never appeared on the face of this earth. Let’s admit the devastating, dehumanization of man by caucasians has left a negative and debilating impression in the racial memory of Africans in the US.
Very true! My husband’s Irish grandmother remembers vividly how hard it was for her to find a job (good, bad or otherwise) in the United States when she was a young woman just because she was Irish. A lot of people thought the Irish were drunken thieves back then she said. She laughs now at how popular St. Patrick’s Day has become here!
As far as being discriminated against in this country, I don’t think any group has had it as bad and still does than the Native Americans! When was the last time you even saw a Native American working at McDonald’s or running for a political office?
Still, it doesn’t make 300 years of slavery go away. Or the institutionalized racism all over the US. Can Lynch mobs, cross burnings, school bombings and seperate fountains, washrooms and swimming pool dont alleviate things.
Slavery and racism has imprinted a dark scar on the African American story in America. Probably one that will never disappear considereding racism was used for 200 years to keep Africans down in the US.
Oh and by the way, the Portuguese actually kidnapped blacks from Angola and the Congo where 20-30% of Blacks in the US come from. Just so you know.
Black people are Still discriminated against in this country. That makes moving forward a little more difficult.
Well, you might start with the fact that slavery among African tribes was quite different then the institution of slavery by Europeans and Americans. Among African tribes a person captured might eventually be absorbed into the tribe through marriage and then receive the rights of all tribe members. Even if the slave wasn’t considered a full member of the tribe, the offspring would be considered full members. Multi-generational slavery was virtually unheard of in Africa. Funny, I don’t remember slaves being treated in the same manner by Europeans and Americans.
Your comment proves that you are extrapolating a great deal from one fragment of information. You need to understand African cultures (they are not all one monolithic group) before you can understand their form of slavery, which was vastly different than ours.
You are completely right. Younger people today, do not want to learn about history. It is easier to say “Oh poor me”. A lot of people came to this country from Ireland, England, and practically were slaves too, my ancestors for instance. But we are Americans. That is the reason they came here. So their children and grandchildren, would have better lives. Most people do not want to know, how their ancestors got here.
What often would happen was stronger tribes would take over weaker ones and keep whomever they wanted and then sell the rest of the people to slave traders. There were 2 triangles of slavery…the one we’re most familiar with that brought slaves to the Caribbean and America and then the other one that took slaves to India and China – they would castrate them there so they couldn’t mix with the rest of the population.
And yes, just about every ethnic group is in the US to escape some kind of persecution or has been discriminated against. From the Puritans to the Native Americans, the Irish, African Americans, Jews, Chinese slave labor that built the railroads, etc…we’re all in it together.
I think of all the people…the Jews have suffered the most in this world. Heck, just in the period between Joseph and Moses and their period of slavery in Egypt it was 400 years. That’s just a fraction of the persecution they’ve faced in the history of their existence.
Right on. And if people want to look further into history, white people were slaves in the Roman days. Geez, people need to get over the whole slavery thing. Not one black American living today was ever a slave. It’s sad that their own black leaders are the ones preaching that they are victims (like Rev. Wright).
And yes, every ethnic minority has suffered to some extent, but it is “undeniable” that blacks have suffered more. Try being black for a day and see how difficult life can be.
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Go through the Jews 5000 year history and say what you just said with a straight face.
It has become politically correct to blame the white race for everything that has occurred that was wrong. You can no longer expect anyone to take personal responsibility for things that are done that are wrong, you can only blame the white race. It does not matter if you are taking about slavery in Africa or any of the other countries. It does not matter if you are talking about genocide. It does not matter if you are taking about the economy. You can only blame the white race for these things. In fact blaming everything on the white race allows you to avoid your own responsibility for things that you have done wrong as well as anything you may do wrong in the future. Hatred of the white race is the only thing that is permitted in our politically acceptable society.
First I am not loyal ta Africa I am an American and I am loyal to America. Secondly if the the white people had not been there to buy them they would not have been able to sell them so there you go. I do not dwell on it I just do not act like it never happened.
Wow this question is amazing and so are all these other laughable posters comparing the plight of Irish immigrants to being a black slave. Holy cow, how ABSURD can this be???
ROTFLMAO
White people DID go to Africa and kidnap black people for slavery. Many were bought off tribal leaders but many were hunted and captured.
Even if they were all bought off of tribal leaders, it doesn’t make buying them and then bringing them over to America and “breeding” them like livestock for 400 years excusable.
I love how so many white people start calling black leaders racist because they have the NERVE to call you on your racist attitudes and actions without being polite enough about it for your taste.
I don’t feel the least bit guilty about slavery or lynchings or the lack of civil rights up until 1965, yet reading some of these RIDICULOUS answers by undereducated overpriveledged white children, I’m embarrassed to be white.
Those were the way things were then. If something/someone is for sale, why would you yell at the purchaser? You should pehaps be just a little irritated at those who were doing the selling, for a profit.
Where I come from, we call those types “sell-outs” aka “betrayers”..
‘Displaced aggression’ makes a person seem rather stupid.. wouldn’t you agree
people forget that there are black racists in this country too. ever go to macdonalds, and all these blacks are working there? a black family walks up and stands behind you in line. you order and there all grumpy and crap, then the black family steps up and the worker suddenly goes, “How may i help you?” and is all nice. people dont seem to notice that kinda stuff.
Excellent point. I was just reading about that a few days ago.
See how much heat you take for this post.
You are absolutely correct, and Obama’s mother’s side were actually slave owners, which makes Obama the descendent of slave owners. I can E you the link if you like. LOL
EDIT: Space Case is NOT white. LOL
The whole reason I’m in the USA is b/c my white anscestor was brought here as a slave and, guess what, I don’t care. It had absolutely nothing to do with me and the people who owned him owe me nothing. I really don’t get the whole whoa is me use this as an excuse thing, but I guess it works for some people. For me it is an interesting story to tell my daughter, to show her how far we as a family and country have come.
The middle man in those transactions were typically Arab and muslim. So why do many Afro-Americans name themselves or their children with Arab names?
lots of white people have been slaves in the past.
What about white males in this country, and your females too? What has their contribution been to not only slavery, but to every sort of bigoted, hatemongering filthy outrage that has plagued this country since its inception.
Laws were put on the books that prevented Black people from having the same rights and equality that whites were born with.
Don’t go there, boy. Get a grip and realize and stop thwarting blame. The blame lies with your kind and also, have led up to what we see now in this country when it comes to not only socioeconomic unequality, but just overall “we can and you cannot” attitude that Obama will wipe out.
After Obama is elected, he will annihalate this way of thinking for the most part, but not all dummies will be saved.
OBAMA 2008!
I know people who dwell on the aftermaths of slavery which are still occurring, no one is still whining about their 6 times great grandfather being a slave.
There was traditionally slavery in Africa. It was when say you killed a member of their tribe your child or someone would have to go to live with them. They were basically a part of the family and even though they could never go back, their children were not automatically slaves.
Lots of people have had slaves. I don’t know anyone who still dwells about it’s occurance in this country except some very afro-centric people, and those people are very rare.
My time in Cameroon it was made aware to me what Africans don’t like or want Black Americans to move there.
I’ve not lost a thing in Cameroon.. just so long as the US keeps importing cameroon tobacco for wrapping premium cigars.. ha!
Yes, guys… even chicks can appreciate a fine smoke from time to time
You in a PC world are considered a racist sir… and will be tried in a court of law for a thought crime! I don’t give a damn if you are telling the truth!
You’ve gotten some really great answers, and I hope they have meaning for you.
It’s kind of interesting to me whenever a white person presumes to know what another group of people have forgotten or how they look at things. I don’t know a single black person in America who has forgotten the facts you mention. The fact that there were instances in which one tribe sold members of another tribe really has nothing to do with the treatment slaves received once they got to this country. Also, I object to the phrase “blind loyalty.” Who are you to assume anyone has blind loyalty? It’s patronizing, to say the least, to think that you can see inside a group of people’s minds and hearts to ascertain how they view things.
Whenever someone says racism is over or it was long ago or it shouldn’t be dwelled upon, I always know they are white and completely uninformed about the effects of racism and the daily stress that racism causes today. I also know that they don’t realize that they are still benefitting from centuries of racism. I don’t know one single black man who hasn’t been pulled over by the police for no reason. I don’t know one single black woman who hasn’t been followed around by sales clerks in a high-end store. How would you like to be treated like a second-class citizen or criminal? How would you like another hotel guest to assume you are the MAID when they see you in the hall?
You see, unless you’ve walked in someone else’s shoes, you cannot possibly know how they feel. Perhaps you should take the time to make a black acquaintance and actually talk to them about their life experiences. Then you would draw better conclusions.
And as for your last sentence, excuse me for saying so, but there is very little comparison between what other ethnicities suffered here in America and what happened during slavery. Moving to a new country where you can and do still live with other people from your country, still speak your language, still eat your food, are able to assimilate to a certain extent into the society, and have the support of your immediate community is a far, far cry from being enslaved, whipped, beaten, raped, and having every single thing taken from you: your culture, your family, your language, your rights, even the right to learn to read. Think about this. Please.
There were indeed many black slaves who were whipped. Try resisting arrest no matter what color you are and see if you don’t get your guts stomped out. I’m guessing that there were some slaves that were somewhat rebellious or otherwise refused to get with the program. Those types got the crap whipped out of them.. and usually in front of the others as an example(?).
My grandmother used to tell me about a great, great, great uncle of mine who owned slaves in the south during the Civil War.. and they loved him. In fact, when the Emancipation was signed for them to be released, they didn’t really want to go.. and stayed around until the time came when they were forced to leave.
My uncle gave each ‘head of household’ a buck-board and two horses.. gave them his name (Curry).. and taught them how to write it.
So, not all of the stories we are told (history books, “Roots”) is all true. Surely some got whipped.. but, in the minds of the ‘owners’.. they must have needed it(?). Not saying it’s right.. just saying.
Actually they did go and kidnap them. Those who sold did so to save their own, or their tribes lives. They didn’t do it to make money. Money was worthless in Africa. The biggest thing to consider. If the white people didn’t go there to get slaves, none would have been transported to anywhere.
There were few things in Europe that was worth transporting to the new contries. It was a short trip to stop by Africa load, actually over load, slaves as cargo to the US to get money to buy things.
Your right in that about all ethnic minoties were discriminated against. That doesn’t mean that it should be forgotten, or forgiven. Were you, or your parents alled to go to school in say 1945, blacks weren’t. What about 1950, blacks still weren’t.
Rape, kidnapping, murder, torture, hanging and a long list of other things isn’t discrimination.
Don’t try to rationalize, you will loose. I don’t think there is any hope of you ever understanding other than your WASP stature.pp
Has anyone considerred what the level of prosperity is of individuals today in Africa?? If you are African American like me, where would you rather be today. USA or There??? Obviously I am here in Chicago and though I appreciate the struggles of my grandparents I also know that they would want me to have a better life than they did. And I do, dwelling on their horrible pasts disapoints them. Moving on and making a difference is what they would have wanted. That is what is important. Using the ”poor me ” excuse is as debilitationg as blaming the white’s for our misgivings. If you think we have it bad I invite you to Niger, or Tanzania.
The white man is the most discriminated against in this country, affirmative action and all that other crap is a joke, if they want to be taken serious then get something on their own merits, instead of skin color, and quit crying about slavery, blacks were not the only slaves, the Chinese had it a hundred times harder……….
I have been learning many new and interesting things lately. One of the most important of these is that almost all the crimes committed against the human species of all the different races, were committed by the Illuminati bloodlines. Most of these people happen to be white, but a few of them are members of other races. These bloodlines interbreed to keep the bloodlines as pure as possible. To blame the entire white race for the crimes of the Illuminati, is not fair. It is time for the people to awaken, and understand who our real enemies are. *sm*
I totally agree with you that every ethinic group has been discriminated against. It is just that some african-americans are too ignorant and sore about the past to let go and move foward instead of blaming every problem they have on race. They are the reasons we still have racist people nowdays.
I will always remember the brutal system of AFRICAN AMERICAN SLAVERY. Apparently, you haven’t read very much of it. IT’S NOT BEING SORE OR IGNORANT WHEN WE REFER BACK TO THOSE TERRIBLE TIMES and the remarkable men and women who endured the trials slavery imposed on them. I’M SPEAKING NOW AS SINGLE AFRICAN AMERICAN, WHEN I LOOK BACK IT’S IN REVERENCE OF THE MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ENDURED THE HORRORS OF BLACK AMERICAN SERVITUDE. They were remarkable people and their tenacity was unparalleled. Being taken from their original homeland a lost of their native languages and customs. FAMILIES RIPPED APART NEVER TO SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN. NO MATTER WHAT STATION THEY HELD IN AFRICA, WHETHER COMMONER OR ROYALTY,ALL OF FORMER TITLES WERE DESTROYED AFTER THEY LANDED ON THE AMERICAN SHORES. IMAGINE HAVING AFRICAN NAMES OF DIGNITY AND AFTER ARRIVING HERE IN THE U.S. AND BEING PURCHASED AT SLAVE AUCTIONS LOSING YOUR NAME AND BEING GIVEN A NEW NAME AS IF YOU WERE NOTHING MORE THAN AN ANIMAL.I don’t know how they survived but they did and all the millions of men women and children who were determined to live each day in the face of such brutality, they were HUMAN WONDERS.BECAUSE OF THEM WE LIVE TODAY, IN THE 21th century.IF ALL OF THIS PREACHING MAKES ME SEEM LIKE AN OBSESSED WOMAN WELL, IT’S A MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION! AIN’T IT?
AMEN SISTER! I hate all the mess they had to endure.. but I’m glad they did indeed ‘indure’.. as America wouldn’t seem like America if she were only one color. How mundane and boring would that be?
Why does everybody blame the whites? I am of Viking descent, and our people made slaves out of captive French and English.
The Spanish and Portugese were huge slave traders. I have a book written in 1828 by Captain Canaught, the last slave captain, which I found in a basement of a very old house in Rhode Island. It talks about how there were both black and white slaves, how they were treated, captured by other tribes and sent around the world to different slave markets.
No one talks about the Spanish killing over 25 million people in 100 years to get gold. They killed entire islands populations in the Caribean, and committd genocide on Aztec, Inca, and various other south american natives. The average life span was 3months for a spanish captive turned slave.
So slavery has been part of every culture, Asian, Indian, and so on, it still continues in some parts of the world. So just be thankful that we are more concious in todays society. Stop harboring resentment towards one another for the past and start to treat each other equally.
well,since other minority groups have been discriminated against,in this country ,answer this question for example were the Irish marched across hundreds of miles of Ireland’s terrain shackled together in a IRISH SLAVE CARAVAN’S? Were they forced to walk to slave forts on the IRISH coastal shores, did they wait inside dark and foreboding rooms, panic stricken over the future in store for them? Tell me when the Irish boarded the ships were they tightly packed together underneath a poorly ventilated deck with sometimes less than 5 feet of head room? Did many die from flux and other diseases during the voyage disease spawned from unsanitary conditions? When they arrived did they work on cotton, rice, sugar cane and tobacco plantations from sunrise to sunset? Were they denied education and every human right people were suppose to enjoy? YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT HISTORY I HAVE MISSED OUT ON SO SOMEONE PLEASE INFORM ABOUT THIS OTHER MINORITY HAVE SUFFERED TOO THING!
The first recorded events of African slavery in Colonial America was in the late 1600\’s when a British (Dutch) pirate ship was in battle with a Portuguese ship bound for Mexico.. capturing around 20 of their Angolan slaves. Most slaves were blacks held by white… but, also held by other blacks.. as well as some Native Americans. There were a small number of white slaves, also.
Black African slaves were captured by Europeans and such.. as well as by other black Africans.. and were sold for profit.
I\’m not saying that \"slavery\" of any kind was right.. but, it was the way things were then.. aka \"a sign of the times\".. and African blacks did indeed engage in the capturing and selling of their own.. for profit.
The \"Confederate\" Battle flag.. the one that has been shunned by blacks and some ignorant whites, as well.. deeming it as all about racism and oppression of the black man.. had/has nothing to do with \"white\".. or \’slavery\’ or \’oppression\’ of anyone.. and, EVERYTHING to do with \"Southern Culture\" in the US.. whether one is black, white, hispanic or native American. The TRUTH is… the Northern Army (Union; Yankee).. had their own segretated \"Negro\" or \"Colored\" brigade… all the while the Confederate Army troops all fought side-by-side… blacks, whites, hispanics and indians.. all together as one.
I\’ve noticed that Abe Lincold seems like a national \’hero\’ to many black folks… but, truth of the matter is : by today\’s standard, he would be considered a \"white supremacist.\" Even though he allowed the slaves to go free.. not only did it take over two years to follow up and make sure they did indeed walk, because many did not want to go… he still made it clear that they should remain a seperate people.. living their own lives seperate from the white population. When a lot of the fred slaves moved north.. thinking they were going to land into some \’oasis\’ or whatever, they fell into a rude awakening.. as most white tradesmen wouldn\’t dare work with or next to a black man.
Strange how most black people either don\’t know these facts… or they\’re practicing DOUBLE-THINK (2+2=5)
I voted for Obama.. and not because he\\\’s black (actually, Molato) either. I\\\’m as white as it gets. I thought he would be the best person for the job. After 8 years of Bush, I was just about ready for Shemp Howard.
What you\\\’re saying about how our country used to be with all the second-class citizenship of women and blacks is true.. and sickens me. But, you want to know what else sickens me? People who, in lieu of standing up for \\\’right vs wrong\\\’ want to tap into the race crap. Everything is NOT about race. Some things are.. not everything. Black people have made more advances in the past 50 years here in the USA, than they ever had since their entire existance. If black people were still in Africa, I promise you wouldn\\\’t be so proud of your heritage.
I believe that everything bad that happens to us.. if we allow it, God will turn it into something wonderful ie. slavery = bad.. the fact that it got you here = good. Count your blessings!
Okay I see no one knows their history! African tribal leaders did sell other Africans to the Europeans or whom ever, but what you fail to realize is that Africa has many different tribes with their own ritual beliefs and cultural beliefs. Each tribe was aganist each other in a sense. Africans were not educated about CHATTEL slavery. Their slavery consisted of selling one another to another tribe to work off debt or used as a bargain. As always the Europeans and who ever else took advantage of the lack of knowledge and use it aganist them. But let’s not forget that the Europeans had enslaved the natives before hand to do their dirty work but since they were familiar with land they were being enslaved on they were able to escape easier. Unlike the Africans. This did happen years and years ago and people should move on, but when discrimination is still prevalent in the United States its hard to let go. Our past makes us who we are today. STRONG AUTONOMOUS EDUCATED etc etc, black people. SO we cannot move on. If we forget what was done to us nothing will become of us.
thank you for this additional information, another reaction I find annoying is when whites say they are tired of hearing about the European- African slavery I have been at other websites and read angry comments posted to black Americans whenever the subject of African American slavery was discussed. Amazingly you’d be surprise How the subject of African, Islamic slavery pops up and they post that it was worst than the white European slave trade was, in terms of numbers of Africans taken into captivity and treatment, as if to say yes what Europe did to Africa was bad but not as bad as black on black.Thank you for expressing yourself well and not backing down.
There can be only one reason (trickery) to continue to keep telling the same lie. By making it seem as though the so-called white man was a innocent by-stander, standing thousands of miles away from ware they came from, but got in ships and just happen to have kid-napped, mostly young so-called African children just given over by their own so-called people who are the real guilty ones and not the poor vacationing white people who found them selves some ware they didn’t belong with big ships, chains and shackles that just happen to be there in those ships.
It is well documented and proven that the so-called white men did in deed and fact, attack thousands of villages and kill off the older men and women with the help of some so-called African’s under fear of having the same done to them, if they didn’t do as they were told, or have their hands, arms, legs, foot or head cut off if they didn’t help the crazy, insane and greedy so-called white people who now want to know why the “Children of the so-called African ancestors” still love their “Home Land” and all of those who will except them back to ware they originated in the first place, who did not leave on their own willingly to catch hell in the American slave trade.
Every one on this planet has a home land that they can call their own, including the so-called African in America who has now forgotten who he and she is and today think that they are some one else, due to the insane indoctrination through the so-called slave education received after they had been put to sleep and made less than human through this process, that has taken away (their own) culture, language, self respect and every thing else.
If a child of so-called Africa wants to stay with his or her Slave Master’s children, that is their choice but they will find out soon enough, that they are being trick by these slave masters children who only wants to continue to suck the blood through exploitation and death and nothing else, as it has been for the past 500 years.
As for those (so-called Africans) who choose so-called “Afrocentrism over the trick of Euro-sin-trick” illusions of inclusion, “We know we must find our way back home” and recapture or spirituality and sanity, because “We” are the only reason our ancestors existed and we are not foolish enough to betray them and think we can enjoy any proper success in this life continuing in this same pitiful condition, ware we are not in control of our own destinies, or any thing else.