Brown is the new Black – (T Chap. 3)

African Americans were not esteemed like many newcomers are. In the movie The road to el Dorado, the newcomers are esteemed as Gods, and are treated with the utmost respect, and reverence. African Americans were not that way. In fact one of the first images associated with the African Americans is Caliban. Caliban is a character in the play The Tempest and he is a bastard child of a demon and an African Witch. These things are the exact opposite. God’s and demons are considered more different than the colors White and Black in many religions. This is just one example of how the dominant society in a group oppressed the Blacks during the beginnings of slavery. Many people argue that there where white indentured servants during the time, and that blacks were not the only ones oppressed, which is a true statement. In fact, in the beginning of servitude, there were more indentured servants, that had to pay off the fare for their ride. All of this is true, it wasn’t until later that the buyers realized that slaves were a better “deal”. Indentured servants would only be working for about 4-7 years, whereas slaves would work for a lifetime, and maybe even provide heirs. This was by far a better deal, and the power exerted would pay off in the long run. The winter had harsh effects on the recently relocated, and they needed a way to get back on their feet, quickly. They didn’t have enough knowledge to survive, so they used manpower. And, of course they used the most efficient, cheap way possible, slaves. When I first read this, I was confused, because the pilgrims moved away, because of religious persecution, so how could they take others lives, and turn them into sob stories. Especially if the blacks became Christians! How could they dare take a fellow brother and beat him? Some of the leaders realized this, and then took action. They passed a law, informing the general public, that even if a person claims to be a Christian, “no negro or Indian”, should be allowed to purchase Christians. After laws like this, it’s evident that the colonists were not only looking for religious freedom, but also economic success. After a series of racial laws, and misconceptions, the “giddy multitude” that Takaki talks about was formed. A multitude that could change society in a day, a multitude that could be more powerful in itself than all of the government official combined. Obviously the colonists did not mean for this to happen, they were blinded by economic success, and greed.