Akeem Qadeer's blog respone

I am responding a blog from Akeem’s Bloggy.  I agree completely when Qadeer argues about the difference between the northern and southern hemisphere.  It is true; in the north they were much more violent than they were in South America, Cuba, Spain or Portugal. “Negro slaves” in the south in a way they had to pay a debt to its owner and some I believe were set free after they finished their work (Qadeer).  Now a day’s slavery still exists in a way because America still has that racial background.  Qadeer was born in Guyana and lets the reader now that there are still racial conflicts. I am from Puerto Rico and it is exactly the same, but the tension is stronger between social classes and the areas where you were raised not so much against “skin color” (Qadeer).  I would advise Qadeer to re-write this paragraph adding more supporting ideas either from the book or another source and to stick with his main argument which is the two different areas that existed during slavery and maybe compare them either politically, legally or morally. 

Supporting Arguments: Slave and Citizen

After the Civil War, Negros were emancipated from their slavery.  They mostly had their freedom, but not for the white man that morally did not let go.  Tannenbaum claims that the Negro was kept isolated and looked down at and were never truly considered “a free moral agent” (Tannenbaum 97).  Even though African Americans at that time were legally free, white folks still kept them on the shadows.  Society itself still did not grant them the freedom, respect and position in society they deserved.  I believe some members of today’s society are still unconsciously repeating action of the events that took in the 1400’s because of their disgrace upon the minority, for example.  It has brought new generation of mental slavery and ignorance.

Back then when revolution emerged, it was an expected impact, I presume because of the categorization it was put out on the African Americans. “The abolition of slavery in the United States was cataclysmic and violent just because it seemed so eternal, so faultless, just because the gap the Negro and white man had been made so impassable and so absolute that it could not be bridged by any means of transition, by natural growth and adaption” (Tannenbaum 109).  Tannenbaum's argument is that African Americans have endured and suffered for too long and because of the separation between the races it was catastrophic and violent.  On the one hand, he argues that the only way a white man could accept the free Negro was “to prove the greatest handicap”.  Since that is not the moral way to seek peace and approval the war had to happen. On the other hand, Tannenbaum acknowledges that “the Negro started the Civil war with nothing at all” and that it is something we should never forget (Tannenbaum 113). The main point is that white men should have appreciated what African Americans did for them and they should not have labeled them as slaves from the beginning.  Now and then I wonder what would it be like to live in a community where there is no stereotypes, judgment, misunderstanding, or discrimination among us.

Main Argument Slave & Citizen

Tannenbaum’s argument in Slave and Citizen is that there are two angles and areas to slavery in the world. On the one hand, he argues Negro in the United States were more hostile and even though slavery was abolished he notifies us in his writing that the false judgment will continue.  On the other hand, he argues that in Spain, Brazil, Cuba, and Portugal slavery existed but not in a racial way, they were more lenient and right after you paid your debt the slave can go free.  Tannenbaum also implies that after the emancipation legally freed the Negros, it did not free the minds of the white men.  This argument is supported when he states that is Negros cannot prove they are free men, an Anglo can assume he is a runaway slave and subsequently be sold at a public auction.  

Class tweet

@NicoLomer "i believe that the same way slaves were the backbone of the country back then, today it is same with the minorities/immigrants"

I found this tweet the most interesting. It captured my attention and in a way it juggled my knowledge. It is true Negros back then were the backbone of the New World, and now a days there are minorities/immigrants who work their entire life to support their family. Now, the difference is that today minorities and immigrants have medical and economical help, which is an advantage.