Slavery in the USA
Slavery in the USA has more than two hundred years history. Slavery started in 1619 to the colony called Virginia when the first slaves of African origin were brought to the country to harvest the crops, such as tobacco, rice and indigo. Later on slavery was widely practiced in the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. The cotton gin invention solidified the importance of slavery that offered cheaper labor force in comparison to traditional servants from among poor people of European origin (Berlin and Fields, 1993). Slaves were forced to work hard without having dinner brakes and rest to recover physical ability to work. Northup described the work of the slaves as follows: “They do not dare to stop even at dinner time, nor return to the quarters, however late it be, until the order to halt is given by the driver” (Northup, 2000). Slaves made up one-third of the southern population at that time. Thus, African-American slaves had immensely contributed into the economic foundation of American nation.
The centuries of exploitation of slaves gave rise to a bad tendency in the contemporary American society in the form of racial discrimination and prejudice. The tradition of keeping people in slavery had successfully developed in agricultural South of North America (Northup, 2000). However, slavery did not evolve in the Northern part of the state to the extend it developed in the South. The development of the tradition of keeping people in slavery was influenced by two contradictory powers: restrictive power of the Crown and the Church and capitalism. The privileges of American planters in the South were restricted by the Church and the Crown following good European traditions (Berlin and Fields, 1993). However, the level of religious life in colonial America was low favoring the development of agricultural capitalism in the South and, as a result, exploitation of slaves. Besides, capitalist traditions were supported by the government since there was a necessity to stimulate commercial and industrial activity in the state. This is the main reason why slavery was cultivated and successfully developed in the South of the USA (Northup, 2000).
Nelson (2009) outlined several social factors that significantly contributed to the development of prejudice and discrimination, such as economic benefit, ethnocentrism, socialization, authoritarian and conforming behavior, conflict theory, group closure. In the contemporary society prejudice arise as a result of economic crises or social stresses when different social groups are forced to compete on the labor market. Prejudice and discrimination resulted from ethnocentrism are connected with the tendency to evaluate another culture applying standards and stereotypes of the culture of those who evaluate. Such evaluation often includes suspicion of people who belong to other cultures. Often racial discrimination is based on the realization of physical appearance differences. Sometimes prejudice is inherited from the older generation. Media often emphasize on people differences connected with race, gender, sexual preferences, physical appearance and age by transmitting certain images and advertising. This type of prejudice is tied to socialization aspect (Nelson, 2009).
Authoritarian behavior asanother aspect of prejudice is connected with inclination of some people to think stereotypically. This is a psychological aspect resulted from restrictions experienced in the childhood, lack of love in the family and excessive focus on discipline. Conflict theory explains the nature of conflicts that arise from unfair resource distribution in society in the following way: privileged groups attempt to defend their possessions from minority groups while minority groups respond with violence to improve their circumstances. Conforming behaviors as another aspect of prejudice and discrimination arise as a result of social pressures exerted by significant others (family and friends) (Nelson, 2009). The most prevailing reason for prejudice and discrimination described in Twelve Years a Slave is keeping clear boundaries between different groups (Northup, 2000). Marriages inside of certain ethnic group are an example of group closure.
Prejudice is connected with irrational and inflexible opinions and attitudes of the members of one group towards the members of another group. Prejudice often results from preconceived beliefs associated with certain social group representing social minority that is different from dominating group. Negative form of prejudice leads to discrimination that is an attempt to protect one’s interests. Discrimination can be met even in the most developed democratic societies despite of series antidiscrimination laws and continuous fight against discriminatory behavior manifestations. Prejudice is propensity for discrimination caused by social factors culture and traditions. Discrimination is an action or a set of actions against those who hamper achieving certain goals of people and social groups. Thus, prejudice and discrimination form a vicious cycle leading to cultural aloofness, biased opinions, false persuasions, humiliation, dismissal of social groups, international conflicts and wars (Northup, 2000).
There are several ways to improve the relations towards people of African-American origin in the U.S. Sociologists marked out four theories representing different ways of elimination conflicts. The situation can be improved by increasing educational level of the nation, bringing together different social and ethnic groups so they could share common experiences, team work and achieving shared goals by conflicting groups and antidiscrimination laws enforcement (Nelson, 2009). All these four supported by appropriate theories are supposed to effectively reduce international tensions and discriminatory practices. However, ways to eliminate prejudice connected with individual change are not very successful while legal changes had significantly helped eliminate prejudiced attitudes (Nelson, 2009).
Berlin, I. & Fields, B.J. (1993). Free at last: a documentary history of slavery, freedom, and the civil war. New York: New Press.
Nelson, T.D. (2009). Handbook of prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination. (1st ed.). New York: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Northup, S. (2000). Twelve years a slave. (2nd ed.). New York: Dover Publications.
