A DIFFERENT KIND OF SLAVE -- IS STILL A SLAVE...

THE IRISH SLAVE TRADE

“The Irish slave trade began when James II sold 30,000 Irish prisoners as slaves to the New World. His Proclamation of 1625 required Irish political prisoners be sent overseas and sold to English settlers in the West Indies. By the mid 1600s, the Irish were the main slaves sold to Antigua and Montserrat. At that time, 70 percent of the total population of Montserrat were Irish slaves. Ireland quickly became the biggest source of human livestock for English merchants. The majority of the early slaves to the New World were actually white.” In 1839, Britain finally decided on its own to end its participation in Satan’s highway to hell and stopped transporting slaves. While their decision did not stop pirates from doing what they desired, the new law slowly concluded THIS chapter of nightmarish Irish misery.  -- Credit: James Martin Article

I grew up in a neighborhood dominated by the Irish. Literally, littered with them… Policed by Irish police, cared for by Irish mothers and ruled by Irish gangs… And still, if I rack my memory.., I have no recollection, except for, maybe -- the "crazy old Irish great grandmother" of someone you barely knew, telling spooky stories to the neighborhood children.., that would invade their dreams and turn them into the most vivid of nightmares.

Warned by our mothers, to stay away from such a woman.., who would speak of such horrible things, to children, no less… They had enough to worry about besides being woken in the middle of the night, by screams from the bedrooms of all that chose to listen. For these were words, that inspired vision, that would sneak up, in the middle of the night and invoke, nothing less than terror.

For if history is to be documented for the purpose of not repeating itself… And not just out of sheer arrogance.., shouldn't we tell it all -- good.., and bad, the horrible atrocities committed by our very ancestors.. It is completely understandable to try and discount, overlook and even forget the beatings, burnings and yes.., the killing. But we do a timeless disservice to all those that lived it. That walked this earth only to be treated as, less than cattle. That suffered such unbearable atrocities at the hands of their neighbors. That were stolen from their homeland, taken from their families -- never to return. 

It is common human nature to cover up.., neglect to tell the whole truth, in an effort to live another day, unmarked by the sins of our past. Calling someone an indentured servant.., instead of a slave, in an effort to ease a guilty conscience and remove the black stain from your soul.., is a dishonor, of such magnitude -- to humanity, itself.

As William Shakespeare, himself, penned.., in what could be the most famous quote in all his works… ""A rose by any other name would smell as sweet…" Or, as we would say, in not so quite a romantic neighborhood… "If it walks like duck and quacks like a duck, it's still a f*cking DUCK!"

It may be hard to think of the Irish as slaves.., but as early as the 1650's 100,000 Irish children were seized from their parents and sold as slaves. Also another, 50,000 Irish women and their children were also.., sold as slaves. It was common, for these slaves to be punished, beyond your wildest imagination… Hung by their hands, feet lit on fire. There very heads stuck on pikes, as a sign of complete control, by their captors.

It seems.., most of this horrendous practice was all about money… The Irish were much cheaper then an African slave -- up to 10x cheaper. Just good business, right? If a female slave was how able to gain her freedom, her children and the children she bore while captive.., were to remain, as slaves, of course. This practice, this calculated legislation.., would lead to the women never leaving, the grips of their masters.

These captive Irish women were not only used for pleasure by their deplorable owners.., they also were bred. Yes, bred.., with African slaves to double or triple the size of the slave owners, very own workforce, resulting in some of the very first "Mulloto." One white and one black parent. This practice could save their owners a pretty penny.

Another common practice, a wickedly human phenomenon.., this one practiced by the slaves themselves… Was eating dirt, for nourishment.., and in some cases, even in an attempted suicide. When caught, they were forced to wear "dirt-eater" masks.

When is it time.., to come clean... To set the record straight about white slavery and the very souls it tortured… You can pick-up any history book in American schools, today… And not find a mention of it, anywhere… We don't seem to have problem teaching our children about the slaves that were brought here in shackles, to serve a master they had never met, in a land they had never been. 

But when it comes to "white on white" slavery… They seem to.., turn a blind-eye. As if, somehow.., this kind of slavery was worse -- something never to admitted. For how can they justify such vile behavior… In a quest for greater profits!

When the British government had decided to terminate their involvement in slavery.., they paid slave owners £20 million in compensation. This grotesquely large remittance was sent to not only the very upper class of British society.., but also over 100 Irish families. who profited off the brutal torture, of there very own. Irish Claimants (slave owners)

To continue, to deny such evil existed.., is it not a sure path to repetition. Have we not been taught history.., in an effort not to repeat it… For if we are to truly evolve as a people, do we not need to cleanse our souls, first. Put to rest, the game of words that dishonor humanity, as a whole. Or are we destined, to wake one day.., to a world of beatings, burnings and death..?

I certainly hope not...

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