Bhagat Singh Mr Busse Honors English 1 Mar 29, 2024 8:00 AM MDT. Dehumanization Essay The definition of Dehumanization is treating people like they're less than human, this process has sadly happened many times throughout history. This cruel treatment of people often stems from propaganda, stereotyping, scapegoating, rhetoric, and identity stripping. Three examples of dehumanization that have happened throughout history are the Holocaust, the 1984 Sikh riots, and American Slavery. The Holocaust serves as a tragic example of dehumanization using propaganda, stereotyping, scapegoating, rhetoric, and identity stripping. Propaganda like the anti-Semitic film "The Eternal Jew," spread harmful ideas about Jewish people, negatively portraying them. …show more content…
This is another historical example in which dehumanization occurred. Furthermore, American Slavery represents another example of dehumanization that has occurred throughout history. Frederick Douglas was a slave who turned into an abolitionist, has this to say about slavery. “I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!” This quote talks about how being a slave can hurt a person not only physically but also emotionally and mentally. Colonizers used ideas like rhetoric and identity stripping to portray slavery as a good thing. Many slave owners used god and the bible to justify slavery as seen in Genesis IX, 18–27 where many slaveowners would interpret this text as Canaan being cursed in the story which meant his descendants would be slaves forever. In conclusion, the Holocaust, the 1984 Sikh riots, and American slavery act as reminders of the destructive power of dehumanization. Through propaganda, stereotyping, scapegoating, rhetoric, and identity stripping, individuals and communities