Great post i must say.
You really made my day by this.
I love the part you said keep the slave's body strong and their minds weak
Mental Slavery is far more sinister than physical slavery because the chains are invisible and are transmitted across generations. If African slavery was only physical, African people would have within one generation been able to skip the plethora of social-economic issues which plague African people globally the second the chains came off. Even when Abraham Lincoln issued his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, in which he declared that as of January 1, 1863, all slaves in states in rebellion against the Union "shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free", most slaves were not free because of they couldnt even read those proclamations on the walls on streets. They were not educated, their minds were weak. So most of them remained in bondage even after being declared free. Bcos most of our parents were not educated, they didnt know what freedom was then, they had no idea where they were from.
Your observations of the conditions of black life in America today versus the state and condition of the African in “Roots” was spot on. Great reflections on our culture, spirituality, and even some possible options. Wonderful writing.
Africa is rising albeit slowly due to the continued exploitation of it's resources by foreign countries. And yes to your point about mental slavery. It is the hardest thing to battle because we have literally been conditioned to think and act a certain way. We have to reprogram ourselves and tap back into our African roots.
Very true my friend @humanearl. I have read wide about this bcos i really see how we have been used. Africa has suffered the worst genocide and holocaust at the hands of the architects of slavery and colonialism. What is called “European Renaissance” was the worst darkness for Africa’s people. Armed with the technology of the gun and the compass it copied from China, Europe became a menace for Africa against her spears. So-called “civilised” Europe also claiming to be “Christian” came up with the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. There was massive loss of African population and skills. As if slavery had not already done enough damage to Africa’s people, European leaders met in Germany from December 1884 to February 1885 at the imperialist Berlin Conference. The Belgian King Leopold stated the purpose of the Berlin Conference as “How we should divide among ourselves this magnificent African cake.”
Its really painful
Europe progressed at the downfall and destruction of other people groups.
Yes. You are making a lot of sense @bridgetoby and @humanearl.
There were some acts perpetrated by Belgium in the Congo in the name of “Western Christian Civilisation.” “Each village was ordered by the authorities to collect and bring in a certain amount of rubber – as much as the men could bring in by neglecting all work for their own maintenance.
If they failed to bring the required amount, their women were taken away and kept as hostages...in the harems of colonial government employees. If this method failed...troops were sent to the village to spread terror, if necessary by killing some of the men...they were ordered to bring one right hand amputated from an African victim for every cartridge used. Can you imagine this. But see us today, what they thought we could not be or achieve, we are at the fore front of development in those countries.