It is common to dismiss discussions about the raciality issues through the blanket phrase “we are all human”. Appreciating the fact that human beings have a plethora of disparities is vital for our very existence. The human history over the years has been defined by disregard of human life through segregationist philosophies that limit the overall moral development of man. These philosophies or trains of thought have been perpetrated by some classes of individuals in the effort of exploiting their fellow men. The human concept does not identify the emancipation from injustices that arise from the diversities that are viewed
/>
A human being to a full life must be emancipated in thought and actions. For a human to qualify as a real human being he or she should be free in terms of mentality and actions. The fact that one is human, in my view, qualifies one to live a fully liberalized life that should be devoid of coercion, brain washing and manipulation. The human history has been characterized by slavery and conquests that have all been initiated by groups that felt other groups’ cultures way of living was inferior. Slavery for instance took place mostly in Africa where Arabic and European traders bought Africans to work for them. The philosophy then that governed their slavery thinking was based on the perception that Africans were the most inferior in the human species. The slavery though deemed as an inhuman practice of the past has crept in over the years in the form of neo-slavery. Neo-slavery can be explained as a mutation of slavery or rather modern day slavery. Even after the 13th Amendment of 1865 that prohibited slavery in America and by extension globally, many people are still being forced in to slavery
(Blackman, 34). The modern slavery entails people being forced against their will to work, dehumanized and controlled. The poor mostly fall prey to this practice as they are easily exploitable due to their inadequacies be it intellectual or economical.
Neo-slavery is evident economically in the child trafficking business that is thriving predominantly in Asia. The Neo-slavery too exists in Arabic areas where many Africans are duped by job offers which turn out to be characterized with inhuman conditions. In addition extreme conditions the poor are the most vulnerable as they lack opportunities and other essential elements. The human history over the past 80 years shows rise of the neo-slavery phenomenon globally (Rushdy, 47). Child prostitution and human trafficking are part of the trades that have fuelled this phenomenon. In the Sunshine State Florida, tomato pickers and agricultural personnel over the years have been subjected to inhumane working conditions. The conditions are basically coercion, long working hours, poor pay and poor worker policies. The illegality of neo slavery is justified in the United Nations human rights charter. In November 2006, I.L.O (International Labor Organization) prosecuted the Mnyamar leaders for perpetuating slavery via the military. The data that ILO has indicates over 700,000 citizens are subjected to forced labor(James, 56).
The Zombies on the other hand present a social phenomenon of beings that are devoid of mental liberty and self awareness (Moreman, 56). They mainly exist in folklores. Zombie too describes a person subjected to hypnosis that bereft his or her consciousness and essence of thinking. The zombies are of different categories: behavioral, neurological and soulless. A behavioral zombie behaves like a human; a neurological zombie has a human physical brain and is indistinguishable physiologically from a human. A soulless zombie on the other hand as the name suggests lacks a soul. Zombies can be used to identify the new human being classes that are controlled by different aspects of life without questioning or even being influenced or coerced into action (Moreman, 34). Technology for instance has reduced many people to tech-freaks where they dread using their potential energies or even mental capabilities in countering problems. Technology has brought forth a scenario where people cannot be self reliant or think outside the box. The media too has influenced the manifestation of the zombie phenomenon where many consume media products without identifying the harm or benefits of such products.
In analytical context, an article “Neo-Slavery in the American South” by Brianna E. Muhammad cites that even after emancipation many black Americans are still subjected to slavery. The slavery comes about due to isolation, poverty and shame. Neo-slavery is depicted as very much alive as many of these workers are subjected to inhumane working conditions that in these modern times are shunned on. The slavery does not necessarily happen in auction stands but rather through exploitation of vulnerability of individuals. The ‘Zombie Apocalypse” is a film that illustrates the notion of Zombies invading our globe. The Zombies are depicted as thoughtless creatures driven by stimuli in their desire to exist. Methinks the depiction in the movie is symbolic of the times we live in that many people are slowly turning to thoughtless masses that are not conscious of changes surrounding them. In our societies many people need our help but the Zombie thinking in many of us makes us self-centered, unmotivated in challenging our mental and analytical capabilities in creating solutions. This is manifested in the blind belief in the media and overreliance of technology, which begs the question whether our existence come to cease with disappearance of these aspects.
Works Cited
Blackmon, Douglas A. Slavery by another name : the re-enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II. New York: Doubleday, 2008. Print.
Rushdy, Ashraf H. Neo-slave narratives : studies in the social logic of a literary form. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Print.
Zombie Apocalypse. Dir. Nick Lyon. Perf. Ving Rhames, Gary Weeks. 2011. Syfy Channel, 2012. Film.
James, Joy. The new abolitionists : (neo) slave narratives and contemporary prison writings. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2005. Print.
Moreman, Christopher M., and Cory Rushton. Zombies are us : essays on the humanity of the walking dead. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland, 2011. Print.
