No matter how much time passes, minority groups have and will always be regarded as the others in a society, whether it is a city, state, or a country. These others are considered as the social outcasts of a community and have to find abode in a different community of their own people. They do not be any different from the rest of the people except for some characteristics like color, creed, religion, gender, etc. America has faced a serious threat in the form of cultural diversification and African-Americans have been the worst victims in the fight between multi-ethnic human groups made to live the life of second-grade citizens; the others.
In association with a particular community, these groups can be defined as various classes of people that differ from the chief class, also known as the dominant group, living in the area (Feagin, 1990). These differences may be based on widely varying characteristics, such as spoken languages, physical features, religion, cultural activities, etc. It is also true in most cases that the principal group has a larger economic and political influence on the society, but provides unequal treatment to the other groups (Feagin 1990). Furthermore, individuals belonging to minority groups enjoy lesser social, recreational, and other miscellaneous facilities than those of the dominant group.
A racial minority group can be classified as a group of individuals having certain distinct physical features that differentiate them from the dominant individuals (Feagin 1990). These characteristics may include hair color, eye color, the shape of the bones, skin complexion, etc. This article discusses a period in the history of the United States during which racial minority reached its highest level, the period of slavery.
Although numerous state laws and regulations have been passed for the past few decades or so, requiring all White people to treat their fellow countrymen equally, signs and indications of the existing racial tension are still visible today. In order to avoid any further civil war, it is high time to prove wrong what George Aiken has said so staunchly: “If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed, and color, we would find some other cause for prejudice by noon.” (NationMaster 2005)
The slaves used in America during the years of slavery were Black Americans that descended from a people that lived in a part of Africa known as Western Sudan. During the early 17th century, the Portuguese, British, French, and Dutch started to bring African slaves into their American colonies. They were mercilessly loaded onto slave ships and held in iron confinements throughout the journey across the Atlantic Ocean; barely half of the African prisoners reached America alive for enforced slavery (Hornsby 1990).
The first Africans brought to the Americas were forced to work as indentured servants, who only needed to work for their owners for about four to seven years after which they were set free. Although the indentured servants were rightfully freed at the end of their contract, they were still restricted to reside amongst the lower classes of the community. However, Africans, imported as slaves, were assigned to no freedom even after years of relentless labor. There was a sharp increase in the number of slaves during the 18th century, and by the mid of the century, 200,000 of them were working in the American colonies (Hornsby 1990).
By the middle of the 17th century, the colonial governments, regarding the slaves, passed many rules and regulations, known as the slave codes. These laws prevented the Black people from keeping weapons, gaining knowledge, traveling around without their owners’ consent, and giving testimonies against Caucasians. Moreover, the Black people had to face more aggressive treatment for some offenses, as compared to the White people; and the status of Black slaves was such that the owner received lesser punishment for murdering his servant than for murdering some other random person for the same reason (Hornsby 1990).
Although the slaves were skilled at doing all kinds of work, including deforestation, nursing, crafting, etc., they were most useful in farming. As a result of the introduction of new machines, the agriculture industry grew rapidly requiring more workers, and thus greatly increasing the number of Black slaves living in the country (Hornsby 1990)
Throughout the period of slavery, the slaves were faced with pathetic living and working conditions. The slaves used various methods so as to avoid and object to the horrendous working conditions, but were physically tortured in retaliation (Hornsby, 1990). The owners provided shelter and other basic needs to their slaves, but the caliber of these compensations varied widely throughout the country. Slaves hired to pick and plant cotton had the longest working hours that is from dawn till dusk, than any other type of slave. Although a few of these slaves lived as well as the non-slave workers, most of them had to endure the worst living standards possible.
The renowned Methodist preacher Josiah Henson recollected his memories of the time he spent as a field slave in the following words: “Our dress was of tow-cloth; for the children, nothing but a shirt…a wool-hat once in two or three years…and a pair of coarse shoes once a year. We lodged in log huts, and on bare ground. Wooden floors were an unknown luxury. In a single room were huddled, like cattle, ten or a dozen persons, men, women, and children…. We had neither bedsteads nor furniture…. Our beds were collections of straw and old rags…a single blanket the only covering. The wind whistled and the rain and snow blew in through the cracks, and the damp earth soaked in the moisture till the floor was miry as a pig-sty.” (Henson 23)
Most of the slaves that worked as house servants resided in the servant quarters. They had shorter working time and although enjoyed more benefits than the field workers, they largely depended on the will of the family they served. Moreover, many of the slaves who eventually obtained freedom after a few years previously worked as house attendants (Davis 1990).
Slaves residing in the southern states had to endure greater restraints than those living in the north. For example, they were not allowed to marry, possess any form of assets, give testimonies in court cases, or had a right to freedom. As the practice of slavery was not so organized, the slaves were still secretly engaged in these practices. For instance, the masters had no assurance that their slaves are fully submissive or even faithful to them.
Hence, in order to persuade the slaves to devote themselves fully to their service, some masters kept a fair attitude towards them and rewarded them occasionally with presents or bonuses. On the other hand, most of the owners used harsh means to control their slaves, such as whipping, food restrictions and threatening to trade the other members of the slave’s family (Davis 1990).
Throughout the years of slavery, masters and their slaves had widely contrasting points of view. But the law, being biased towards White people, gave the reigns of reward and punishment to the masters. However, the slaves still engaged themselves in activities that helped them overcome their problems (Davis 1990).
Apart from these activities, their beliefs also assisted them in enduring the years of torture. Their religion made them feel an important component of society and provided them with the prospect of a much better afterlife. Such was their determination that despite being prevented from acquiring education, they created their own methods of communication (Davis 1990).
Slavery inflicted vast effects on both, masters and slaves. Although it disheartened many of them, it forced many others to fight against it. Similarly, although it created widespread loathing amongst many masters and their slaves, it brought about admiration amongst many others too. And after the complete abolition of slavery at the end of the Civil War, former slaves were still unable to acquire decent employments due to racial prejudice and inadequate education. The same prejudice also prevented them from practicing activities whose rights they had already been given in the Civil Rights Act (Davis 1990).
It is quite clear from the preceding discussion that throughout the 200-year period of slavery, slaves were never for once considered equal to White people. They continuously faced discrimination not only because of their occupation, but also their race, color, creed, and culture. In brief words, they were never given an opportunity to excel in their lives; and whatever chances they had, were duly taken from them by law. The brutality with which they were treated clearly signified that slaves were not at all considered humans, let alone, be given human rights. Honestly speaking, they were considered the scum of the earth, at that time.
The pitiful state of the slaves can be conceived from the fact that they had started to look forward to the afterlife in search of a better living; such was the disregard of White people, for the slaves. At this point, it is safe to say that there can be found a no bigger example of discrimination among humans, in history, than the period of slavery in the United States.
Works Cited
- Davis, David Brion. “Slavery.” The World Book Encyclopedia. World Book, Inc. 1990.
- Feagin, Joe R. “Minority Group.” The World Book Encyclopedia. World Book, Inc. 1990.
- “George David Aiken.” Encyclopedia. 2005. NationMaster. Web.
- Henson, Josiah. “My Boyhood and Youth.” Uncle Tom’s Story of His Life. 1971. Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group. 22-27. 2008. Web.
- Hornsby, Alton. “Black Americans.” The World Book Encyclopedia. World Book, Inc. 1990.