A New Era Slavery

Introduction

This new revised and expanded edition of Common Sense for A New Era delves more deeply into the issues discussed in my previous work. I will state that I will be very frank in the new work just as in the previous. I will discuss the issue of race, a very touchy subject for most, and will not be varnishing my opinion. I wish to state that I am not a racist or bigot in any way and respect all people and their beliefs. The issue of religion will also be discussed as well as politics and as with the issue of race I will not hold my thoughts in check. These are topics which are typically avoided in most polite conversation but are real issues in our society and must be discussed. I believe no one else has the gumption to say what needs

The resentment between the white and black races stem from slavery. Slavery must be understood for what it was both whites and blacks should know the true history. It must be understood to understand the problems with race we face today. Slavery first came to the North American continent in 1581 when the Spanish brought African slaves into St. Augustine, Florida. (Draper, n.d.) The first slaves introduced to the American Colonies where brought to Jamestown, VA in 1619. These first slaves were treated as indentured servants. An indentured servant is held for a set period, usually about seven years, after which time they are freed. But African slaves where not the only imported there were also Irish slaves. During the 1650’s over 100,000 Irish where imported to Barbados and Virginia as indentured servants and slaves. (martin, n.d.) Not only whites could own slaves, in 1654 the colony of Virginia granted blacks the right to own slaves (Draper, n.d.). In 1640 a black servant by the name of John Punch was sentenced to servituade for life, and was the first documented permanent slave. Their crime was running away (Draper, n.d.). So the fact is there where black and white slaves and black and white slave owners. Slavery existed in both Northern and Southern states. Blacks and whites both where involved in the slave trade. African tribesmen sold those of enemy tribes to

I am not saying that instances of cruelty did not exist but I am saying they were not as common place as people tend to think. Politically correct history has given us a one sided view. Books like Uncle Tom’s cabin and television shows like Roots have us believing that the Old south was full of Simon legrees. There are stories of constant whippings and bodies being mutilated. All one has to do is use some common sense to see that such actions would not be beneficial to the slave owner. Slaves cost between $400 and $2000 in today’s terms from about $12,000 to $60,000. The price of a slave was determined through age, physical ability, and skill. That means that owners had a large majority of their capital invested into their slaves. What then would it profit an owner to treat his people in such harsh ways? A man that was whipped required time to heal which meant a lack in his productivity and money out of the owner’s pocket. The same if a man was mutilated by having nails driven through his hands, his feet burned or other unlikely and harsh treatments. Naturally he would lose value and would not be able to produce to his full ability. I mean do you see business owners today destroying their equipment or misusing it? Another point to ponder; why do we always see the same picture of the man with whip marks on his back? Slaves where not worked constantly all tear around. There is