Impact of Slavery in the Contemporary Society

Answer

Impact of Slavery in the Contemporary Society

Introduction

The issue of race and racial inequality has been a hot topic in the American history from the colonial era. How does slavery in the colonial era impact race and racial discrimination in our contemporary society? During the colonial period, blacks in the South were restricted from receiving an education as they were perceived laborers, who needed little or no education to perform their tasks. Although slavery was abolished in the American state over 100 years ago, the issue still impacts the contemporary society today.  This paper will give insight on how race and racial discrimination from the colonial era, still impacts the contemporary society.

History of Slavery

The term slavery was first acknowledged in 1400 when the slave trade was adopted to supplement the economic needs of colonial farms in European territories (Cottrol, 2013). Slave trade was composed of four different waves; the Indian Ocean,  Red Sea, the Trans-Saharan and Trans-Atlantic Trades. Although all forms of trade greatly impacted the lives of Africans in West Africa, The Trans-Atlantic Trade was the most significant wave, regarding longevity and volume of slaves transported. For instance, it is believed that over 12 million West Africans were forcefully transported through the Atlantic trade between 1529 and 1850 (Cottrol, 2013). In contrast to the Carribean, Brazil, North America, and Dutch Guiana, slavery in the American South was rampant as one slaveholder was believed to own thousands of slaves to work on the farms and perform other household chores. Fundamentally, slaves were divided into field slaves, who worked in the plantations, domestic slaves, who performed house chores for their masters and urban slaves, who performed industrial works (Cottrol, 2013). Unlike any other slaves, urban slaves were given the right to purchase their freedom. During the reconstruction, African slaves who managed to buy their freedom embarked to learning to educate themselves. The blacks’ efforts to education were, however, suppressed by whites, who perceived blacks to be mere laborers. Initially, the whites depended on cheap labor from blacks and speculated a shift in class, upon receiving an education. State and local governments, however, intervened with the issue of education to counter African migration from the South, to seek potential opportunities and safety offered in other cities. Public schools were therefore introduced to accommodate Africans as whites received education in white only schools (Cottrol, 2013).

Racial Segregation in Learning Institutions

The legacy of racial segregation in learning institutions is still evidenced in areas with the history of slavery, and more precisely areas in the Deep South (Reece & O’Connell, 2016). Even after the emancipation period, it is believed that the legacy of slavery still benefits whites as blacks are held victims of race and racial discrimination. In the South America, it is believed that most whites are still concentrated in private schools with the blacks receiving their education in public schools. In research to identify how slavery had influenced race and racial discrimination in the South, it was revealed that many white students were more likely to attend private schools as the black population concentrated in public schools (Reece & O’Connell, 2016).

Generally, educational inequality along racial disparities in America can be traced back to the era of slavery. While Africans resolved to education to empower themselves, they were highly discriminated from whites. Precisely, as whites received their education in whites only schools, blacks received their education in poorly structured public schools. The issue of racial discrimination can still be observed in the deep south where whites are highly concentrated in private schools, due to the increasing rate of Africans in public schools.

Legacy of Slavery in the Contemporary Society

Racial inequality is undoubtedly a significant social issue in the American community. Technology has enhanced diversity as many immigrants moved to the United States of America, to seek education and employment to enhance their living standards. While the United States is composed of diverse ethnic groups and races, the unity of diversity has been suppressed by race and racial discrimination. The issue of racial discrimination is, however, not new in the American history. Racial discrimination can be traced back to the colonial period, where blacks were discriminated and disparaged to offer cheap labor to white merchants. Therefore, although slavery was abolished several decades ago, its legacy is still embraced in the contemporary society.

Historical Context of Slavery in America

The roots of slavery in America can be traced back to the 16th century when the need for labor was prevalent in North America. Through the Middle Passage, over 645, 000 slaves, were captured from  West Africa and transported to the Southern colonies, to offer cheap labor, in the European plantation fields. As the plantation economy expanded, millions of slaves were relocated from the American South, into the inland regions of the American colony, to offer field labor, and other household chores in the European merchants. In the 1860 census, it was estimated that four million slaves, who represented 13% of the entire population, had been distributed to various slave states in America. During that particular year, 1860, it was revealed that 90% of the blacks who were living in the United States were slaves. During the American Civil War in 1865, slavery was abolished in America, and massive migration was observed from the Rural American South to the Northern part of America. Despite the migration, it is believed that by 2000, 55% black men still lived in the American South (Bertocchi & Dimico, 2014).

The emancipation Period

After the abolition of slavery, following the American Civil War, many blacks sought education and fair treatment in the American colony, in what is referred to the emancipation period. The emancipation period brought freedom to African American slaves in various aspects of their lives. Firstly, slaves were allowed to choose the amount of labor they would supply to the labor market (Acharya, Blackwell & Sen, 2014). In fact, many black slaves were empowered to work for themselves, rather than offering cheap labor to the white merchants. Secondly, African Slaves were also entitled to paid wages; a move that increased labor wages among the white merchants. Thirdly, black slaves were empowered to receive an education to enhance their standards of living. Although it was speculated that the emancipation period could enhance the American economy, the whites in the American South employed repressive techniques, to retain blacks in the plantation regions, for the sustainability of the plantation economy. For instance, the whites employed Klan terror (Ku Klux), which deterred blacks from leaving the cotton field (Acharya, Blackwell & Sen, 2014). Therefore, since the emancipation period undermined the political and economic power, the whites developed discrimination measures, to disparage the blacks, to enhance their superiority. Moreover, due to the impending risks of the white plantations, whites in the Southern plantation employed anti-black sentiments, which fostered violence towards the black. According to Acharya, Blackwell & Sen, (2014), racial hostility has been passed down from generation to generation, due to the viability of the white superiority.

Legacy of American Slavery in America

The legacy of slavery in the American State is still embraced in the various American States especially the American South. According to Bertocchi & Dimico, (2014), areas with high concentration of slaves, portray high rates of racial discrimination. For that reason, Bertocchi & Dimico, (2014), identify the American South as one of the areas where the legacy of slavery is still embraced in such aspects as the education sector the labor market and income inequality.  Precisely, Bertocchi & Dimico, (2014) identify high racial, educational inequalities in the contemporary American society, to be rampant in areas where slavery was adverse during the colonial period.

Impact of Slavery in the Education Sector

The issue of school segregation has been a great concern in the American education system. While race and ethnic grounds have separated white and black children, their schools have also portrayed disparities in their academic performances. The issue of educational segregation in the contemporary American society can be traced back to the colonial period when whites implemented repressive reforms to restrict the blacks from receiving an education. According to the white elites, the emancipation of the blacks could undermine the superiority of the whites, and further foster the downfall of the plantation economy. Besides the repressive measures from the whites, the blacks received low wages, which deterred them from attaining an education. Although slavery was abolished in America, racial discrimination is still observed in school attendance in America and most prevalently in the American South. According to Logan, Minca & Adar (2016), blacks are more likely to attend poverty schools as compared to their white counterparts. Consequently, students attaining high-level schools are more likely to attain good grades as compared to students attending high poverty schools. According to  Logan, Minca & Adar (2016), poor schools are attended by low qualified teachers. The schools also lack resources, to enhance the learning capacity of the students. Due to the disparities experienced in the learning levels, black students perform poorly fostering disparities in the labor market and income inequality.

Impact of Slavery in the Labor Market

Labor scarcity among blacks has been observed in counties with high traces of slavery. According to Larsen, (2015), labor scarcity is still prevalent in the American South due to the larger black populations in the American South. During the slavery period, many African slaves settled in the American South, where they offered cheap labor to the white ruling class. In return tot heir labor, black slaves received poor or no wages with lots of suffering and discrimination.  Poverty was rampant among the slaves in the American South as most of the slaves in the field lived below the poverty line. After the emancipation period, blacks were unable to receive an education which hindered them from receiving well-paying jobs in the labor market. Labor market inequality is still evidenced in the current society as many blacks are unemployed in what Larsen, (2015) speculates to be as a result of the larger black populations in the American South. Besides the large population, labor inequalities can also be related to the level of education among the African communities. According to Bertocchi & Dimico, (2014), a mean of 15.42 whites enrolled for Bachelors degree as compared to 8.75 % blacks. The income disparities in the labor market are, therefore, related to education inequalities, since most blacks in the American society descended from ancient black slaves, who received low wages to educate themselves and their children.

Impact of Slavery on Income Inequality

Besides being discriminated in the labor market, black Americans have also experienced discrimination in income inequalities. Income inequalities among races can be traced back to the slavery period, where blacks were subjected to mere wages in the labor market (Sullivan et al., 2015). Due to their lack of experience in the labor market, blacks still received poor wages even after the emancipation period, which saw many Africans transform to small-scale businesses while some sought an education to enhance their living standards. Despite the reforms to enhance the education system in the American society, it is still revealing that many Africans still receive low wages in the labor market (Sullivan et al., 2015). The rate of competition for skilled employees is prevalently increasing in the labor market. In fact, employees have been observed to receive their wages with regards to their profession and skills in the labor market. On the contrary, blacks have been discriminated in the labor market, hence receiving low wages due to high rates of poverty. Due to high poverty rates, many Africans receive little or no education, which plays a major role in the low wages observed in the labor market today.

Conclusion

Overall, the legacy of slavery is still embraced in the American society as evidenced by education, labor market, and income inequalities. During the colonial period, many Africans were entitled to poor wages which restricted them from attaining an education, even after the emancipation period. Since most slaves could not educate their children, poverty is still observed among black Americans in the current society. Due to poor or lack of education, many Africans do not have the skills required in the labor market, thus fostering labor and income inequalities in the current society.