Slavery Is Not Just ‘Ancient’ History

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My skin is a deep shade, my hair natural, and my story is complex. My Black ancestors endured unimaginable hardships: forcibly taken from their homeland in Africa, crammed onto ships, and transported to a foreign land with unfamiliar people, language, and culture. The fear and trauma embedded in that experience is profound.

We can analyze this topic in a college seminar or among middle school students, but the real work of addressing American history and racism must occur both inside and outside educational environments. Slavery has fundamentally shaped America into what it is today, perpetuating the idea that Black individuals are inherently inferior—a notion that is still prevalent.

In a viral Twitter thread, @HisMajestyJT emphasizes that the timeline of slavery is not as distant as many think. “I was born in 1986 just 10 miles from that same plantation,” he shares. “That plantation still exists… slave cabins and all. It’s not ancient history. It’s very real and tangible. My grandmother knew her grandparents who were enslaved and worked the same land as them.”

As I explore my own family’s connection to slavery, the pieces start to fall into place. The struggle for equity and equality has been a longstanding fight for Black individuals. I discovered that my grandmother’s family owned over 20 acres of land in rural Virginia, and I often wondered how we came to own so much. Through research, I learned that the land was likely given to my great-great-grandmother, who married her enslaver. I still seek to understand that truth—was the land an effort to atone for past wrongs or a means for her to establish independence? Home and land ownership remain vital for Black families to build generational wealth, yet that path is fraught with challenges due to systemic housing and wage disparities.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, was enacted not long ago—coinciding with the year my mother was born.

In a harrowing investigation by VICE, journalist Akil Gibbons interviews Arthur Miller, a Black laborer who was coerced into labor well into the 1960s. His story, along with countless others, highlights the ongoing struggle for equality among Black individuals, who still face bias in hiring practices, surveillance in stores, and systemic racism at every turn.

Racism has been ingrained in society for centuries. Isabel Wilkerson, author of “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” states, “If caste is the bones and race is the skin, then class is the clothes, the diction, the accent, the education, the external successes that one might achieve.”

Addressing this issue requires collective action to dismantle a system that defines our identities. Racism emerged from slavery and remains a systemic challenge. From inadequate healthcare and maternal care to disproportionate incarceration rates and barriers to homeownership, systemic racism manifests in myriad ways. The educational opportunities for Black children continue to lag behind those available to their white peers.

The repercussions of slavery are evident today, influencing everything from the justice system to wealth distribution and police violence against unarmed Black individuals. The remnants of slavery hinder societal progress. While complete eradication of racism may seem unattainable, our approach must evolve.

In his book “How to Be an Antiracist,” scholar Ibram X. Kendi asserts, “There is no neutrality in the racism struggle… One either allows racial inequities to persist, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an antiracist. There is no in-between safe space of ‘not racist.’”

We can implement systems to counteract racist ideologies, ensuring that those in positions of authority who perpetuate such beliefs face appropriate consequences. Educators who promote racism should be held accountable, not merely reprimanded. Combatting racism requires unity and shared commitment.

Undeniably, the horrors of slavery—murders, lynchings, rapes, beatings, and the separation of families—were horrific. Slavery is not a relic of the past; its effects are still felt today.

As J.T. concludes in his Twitter thread, “Slavery is the very recent past. It’s contemporary history. No different than the Holocaust, the Titanic sinking, the Vietnam War, or the stock market crash. It should be treated as such. The blood is still on the leaves and in our veins.”

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Summary:

The article emphasizes that slavery is a recent and ongoing influence on American society, impacting the Black community in various ways. It argues that the repercussions of slavery continue to shape systemic racism, affecting healthcare, education, and economic opportunities for Black individuals. The need for collective action and accountability in combating racism is stressed.