Impact of Slavery in a Contemporary Society

An Argumentative Paper on the Impact of Slavery on Philosophy, Literature and Music in a Contemporary Society Name Subject Professor 31 August 2019 Introduction This paper focuses on the impact of slavery, both negative and positive in the lives of communities in America. Mostly, topics on slavery usually focuses on the negative effects but this investigative paper will also discuss the positive outcomes as a result of this offensive crime against humanity. Indeed, human beings have the capability to rise up from the ashes and to turn a hopeless situation into something positive. People have the power to change the course of history and uplift others even in the midst of war, famine, drought and slavery. The subsequent paragraphs will enumerate various sources that are valid and legitimate which provides proof of the historical facts that happened years ago. Studying this matter will help researchers and university students to have a broader perspective and a deeper sense of understanding on the actuations of people who have undergone traumatic and tragic experiences as slaves and as victims of abuse and dominance. The focal point of this paper is to establish a powerful argument that “slavery has empowered people to stand, fight and move forward in the name of social justice and humanity”. Most of the time, we only focus on the negative effects of slavery but the truth of the matter is that, slavery has led people to be bold, brave, courageous and to fight for their rights. Slavery became a driving force that moved people to change and to question their status quos. Hence, the impact of slavery that we are referring to in this paper consists of both the advantages and disadvantages of slavery and how it changed the course of history of the contemporary society. Humanity has its own way of using a failure and turning it into success. Years of slavery, hardships and sufferings has brought a powerful impact in the lives of the Americans that also affected change all throughout the world. The question of who were made slaves in the last decades echoes in the halls of literature and philosophy classes. Was it only the African Americans who suffered slavery? How about women and children? Was there a specific class or status that makes one into a slave? How about the poor or those living below the margin of middle class families and individuals? Wood K.E. (2010) brilliantly argued that gender and race became the driving factors that enslaved African American Men and Women into forced labor. The Europeans in the earlier years had that connotation that African Americans and the Native Americans are different and are qualified to be laborers or workers thus they enslaved this group of Americans thinking of themselves as higher and on a better position of authority or leadership rather than the colored group. Slavery affected men, women and children, mostly those coming from the group of Black Americans. Sadly, African American women even became the object of rape and abuse since White Americans leveled them as that with the animals for their behavior and culture such as showing their breasts or the way and manner that they dressed themselves. In the year 1641, a new law was passed which decreed that Negro men and women 16 years old and above must be made subject to a new poll tax. This means that they are bound to be field workers or laborers whilst the English women were not allowed to go out and work in the field. The insensitivity of the law makers and politicians at that time, their cruelty, racism and dominance caused the destruction of human lives. Accordingly, US History (2019) emphasized that the people in authority in the earlier years of America were ironically passionate about unalienable rights and yet practiced brutal bondage of men and women that are not same in color or racial status. Impact of Slavery on the Following Humanities in a Contemporary Era of the Society The year 1775 led into a revolution when the antislavery society was given birth through men and women who are now bold enough to take a stand against abuse and brutality (US History, 2019). The progress of the civil war was slow but powerful that some States in America immediately banned slavery and some even worked on ending it in their respective jurisdictions. The movement led into the emancipation of numerous slaves, removing them from the bondage of brutal labor and unjustifiable fieldwork. One of the countries that helped in ending the era of slavery was Great Britain, which sent their army of British soldiers to aid slaves and release them from captivity. By reason of people speaking out and standing up against slavery, soon, by the year 1807, even the importation of slaves stopped and was banned. It was not an overnight change. Slavery took years and a long time before it was totally banished. It’s prolonged existence affected and impacted the contemporary society in several ways. It affected Music, Literature and the Philosophy of the community. A huge influence on the lyrics of the songs involved rights of the slaves and how the battle to eradicate slavery filled the airwaves of the radio stations. In terms of literature, books were created and written to expose the brutality that slaves had to undergo because of the abusive practice of the Americans. Influence on Music Bartleby Research (2019) reiterated that the slavery during contemporary times affected the music industry hence the African Americans started composing songs that will strengthen them during times of labor and cruelty from the abusive Europeans and Americans dominating them. The African American songs showed how they work like animals in the field and being treated by their abusers as less than humans. Life then was hopeless and futile. The Blacks had to create some things that will encourage them to move forward in life despite the hardships and violence they were receiving. In addition, the music created a sense of camaraderie between and amongst co-slaves that helped them to persevere and endure, to protect one another as best as they could. Music during days of slavery was also a great showing of what their culture best exemplifies. In African tradition, one person will sing a phrase in the song and the others will repeat such phrase. Hearing their voices singing together gives such resilience and power that helped the slaves live through the horrific ordeal. The slavery also led to Christian movements wherein soul songs, gospels and religious lyrics were then created. Music were sang with claps, shouting and even stomping. The Blacks became more anchored on their faith as they went through such abuse praying and hoping that one day they will be freed from captivity. Music became their outlet from the pain, a form of escape from the hell that they were all suffering from. The African Americans used to sing songs as a cultural heritage worshipping the gods or deities they believed in prior to the slavery. Inspite of the negative impacts, something good came out from such hellish experience. The slaves learned to call on a God that they have not seen to help them be released from captivity and slavery. The work songs that they sing about gave them hope and an opportunity to fight for what is right all for justice and fair play. At such a time of grave persecution, all that the slaves have were the songs that fire up their desires to be freed from captivity. Music had such a humungous relevance with the past lives of the slaves. Author Rice A., stated that the slavery music in the days past are still remembered and sang about now in our present time. It reminds everyone that although the slaves have already been freed, there will alw...