(edit title) Born Black in 'Post Slavery' Society Options

[Asbo]

Just read this article on the BBC website

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6453973.stm

I found it a bit annoying in a way. The way young black males in London seem to be using slavery 200 years ago as an excuse? Even The Mayor of Londons' Equality Advisor says this.

They interview 11 people, the 7 from London say this is true. They also interview 3 people from the North (Manchester), one of them from possibly the most notorious council estates in the UK, Moss Side, and they say the dont encounter rascism, Slavery doesnt affect their daily lives. There are no lasting impressions of slavery etc etc.

They say they dont believe the fact that slavery occured should be forgotton and i dont either, but i dont think it should be used as an excuse for kniving somone to death either.

What do you all think?

[Sir Wobbly Camel]

shine my shoes.

:twisted:

[SkyPilot]

A long time ago, I heard a report that said that it takes 400 years to remove the vestiges of slavery from a society. In other words the social scientists said that it would take 400 years before the former slaves would be totally integrated, accepted, and the former slavery NOT be an issue for the society that once instituted it.

I look at the States and see something like this is entirely possible. After about 150 years emancipation, the Blacks in America are still struggling with their identity.

[High Priestess Kang - Slu...]

Not to mention those like Obama who have no slave heritage and are looked upon as, "different" or unaware of the suffering.

[FR]

A long time ago, I heard a report that said that it takes 400 years to remove the vestiges of slavery from a society. In other words the social scientists said that it would take 400 years before the former slaves would be totally integrated, accepted, and the former slavery NOT be an issue for the society that once instituted it.

I look at the States and see something like this is entirely possible. After about 150 years emancipation, the Blacks in America are still struggling with their identity.

How many years did it take to get to desegretion in the post-emancipation society? 400 years is sounding about right.

[VikingHumpingWitch]

Dunno about this. I'm not convinced that racism stems from slavery, it seems more likely to have ocurred the other way around.

[High Priestess Kang - Slu...]

I'm not following you, Humpers.

[VikingHumpingWitch]

I just mean that I think racism is down to fear of people who look, act, talk differently and that that is why we had slavery in the first place - the "they're not like us" argument which made it ok to enslave black people when even then it was something you wouldn't do to a fellow Brit. It's not that we have racism because black people were once slaves.

[Ms. Moda]

Good point VHW. I think it's like "the chicken or the egg" situation.

Unfortunately, when slavery began blacks were so different culturally and physically that they were seen as "inferior"...not even human by many. This lie spread throughout the western world, which led to racist mentality. The fact that they were used as slaves added to the negative stigma.

Knowing that some people perceive you as inferior and discriminate against you could cause you to have issues or feel ashamed of who you are or self-conscious in your society or in places where this mentality still exists. It takes a lot (years or even an entire lifetime) of positive mental conditioning (from self, family and role models) to free one's self from this "mental prison".

[B.b]

people who descriminate upon race or religion are plain ignorant...

[*Guest*]

I just mean that I think racism is down to fear of people who look, act, talk differently

Yeap, what some black guys just have got hidden inside are to be seriously scared. :shock: :shock:

* This is just what I have noticed systematically * :oops: Don't take me too seriously

[Muttlestar Galactica]

I just mean that I think racism is down to fear of people who look, act, talk differently and that that is why we had slavery in the first place - the "they're not like us" argument which made it ok to enslave black people when even then it was something you wouldn't do to a fellow Brit. It's not that we have racism because black people were once slaves.

But wasn't serfdom pretty much 'white on white' slavery?

[Ms. Moda]

But wasn't serfdom pretty much 'white on white' slavery?

Hey Mutley, I was thinking about that too. It was definitely a form of slavery. However, it was "cast/class" discrimination, not about race. If you had money, you were respected and ruled over others...if you didn't then you were poor and powerless. In a way, this still exists today in every country.

[High Priestess Kang - Slu...]

I just mean that I think racism is down to fear of people who look, act, talk differently and that that is why we had slavery in the first place - the "they're not like us" argument which made it ok to enslave black people when even then it was something you wouldn't do to a fellow Brit. It's not that we have racism because black people were once slaves.

I agree with that entirely.

[High Priestess Kang - Slu...]

But wasn't serfdom pretty much 'white on white' slavery?

Not unlike today's working poor/lower class.