The Pros And Cons Of Oppression Of African Americans

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Imagine being forced against your will to stand on a platform completely naked and physically incapable of fighting or even running. Imagine standing there with your hands and feet in chains and your body sore and exhausted from hours of picking cotton under the penetrating rays of the sun. This dramatization was not just a powerful perception of the physical, mental and emotional barriers set forth during slavery but a depiction of the reality African Americans were forced to endure. Furthermore, it serves to remind us of a time in history where the concept of “us vs them” nearly destroyed an entire culture and dramatically altered what it meant to be human. Consequently, the aspect of “control” rapidly transformed into a systematically supported …show more content…

Although African Americans have gained some significant achievements in reference to several events, it seems that African Americans are in a never ending competition to prove their worth. Being an African American I am aware of the disadvantages I face when moving on to further my career in the medical field. Taking into consideration this revised form of mental oppression set upon African Americans one must only wonder where it derived. Slavery was an event that began in 1619 when the first African American slaves were brought to Virginia to aid in the harvesting of crops such as tobacco. (History.com) Slavery consisted of the brutal oppression of these slaves and made a huge impact on their mental, emotional and physical health. Throughout this phenomenon, many slaves chose to come together and form close bonds and communities with other slaves. They remained aware of their culture and ancestry and remained faithful in god. When they had time to themselves, they would all meet and sing “negro spirituals” as well as dance and speak of life and faith. Many of the children were raised together and many of the slaves would come together and provide a circle of protection and support for a mother who lost her child or a wife who’s husband was sold away. This allowed them to maintain a positive outlook despite …show more content…

This can be seen within the text when Dana first arrives in the south and is immediately introduced to several women who all work together and inform her of things she should not do around the white family in which she is staying. She also begins to help these women who teach her how to cook and fit in as a slave. “I helped Sarah as well as I could. She seemed to warm up to me a little and she was patient with my ignorance of cooking. She taught me and saw to it that I ate better...I cleaned and plucked a chicken, prepared vegetables, kneaded bread dough, and when Sarah was weary of me, helped Carrie and the other house servants with their work. (Kindred) This part in the text describes the basic relationship amongst slaves who all contribute to assisting each other with work and helping new slaves become accustomed to life as a slave. Another significant and particularly controversial instance added to the text that also symbolizes the “friends” concept is when Dana's Caucasian husband Kevin accidentally transports with her and is forced to take on a new role as Dana did when she first arrived. Although he is forced to refer to Dana as his slave, he refuses to conform to the role “We never really got into our roles. We never forgot that we were acting...” (Kindred) and uses his position to protect her and supports her many

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