2-The origins of racism
Hi, readers. I am back...
As I known to everybody, the subject "Racism" is not to be taken lightly, mainly because the lives of many are involved in whatever is said. Before going any deeper into the matter, there are a few aspects that need to be clarified, so that we are all on the same page, and know where we stand.
Probably the concept of Racism, at least as far a its origins are concerned, has a lot to do with slavery.
Slavery, in general is almost, and I stress almost, as old as Humanity.
Ever since one man found out that he could put another man to work for him, slavery appeared in History. Along the years, there have existed several different forms. We will not try to analyze all forms of slavery, among other reasons because it would take not a blog, but a whole book, if not several.
Let us concentrate on the slavery of Black men and women. Many moons ago, most tribes in Africa would execute the remnants of vanquished tribe, after a battle or war among tribes. Then, somebody came up with a "brilliant" idea. Instead of killing the defeated, why not put them to work, or, even better, sell them to anyone willing to pay a handsome price for
them, making a profit? I beleive nobody knows for sure how this all started; it has been said that Arab pirates bought these slaves in the beginning, but I cannot assert to that. However, it does not really matter how it started; the fact is that this possibility led to more tribal wars, more prisoners, more slaves, and consequently, more slave-trade. Apparently these Arab pirates, with the tacit approval of the European powers, conducted this business without great difficulties, since they dirty work was performed by Blacks against other Blacks from a different tribe.
It must be understood that the root of this complicated matter is not the alleged inferiority of the Blacks; that came later. What really underlies is an economic interest, as in most of men's actions. The conquering African tribes mede good money out of this; so did the Arab pirates, and ultimately, so did the colonizers, who got really cheap labor in exchange of one single payment in a lifetime.
(to be continued...)

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