JCITOW Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Can you imagine? Have you ever wondered what the United States would be like today if the institution of slavery never existed in the U.S. beginning in the 17th Century through the 19th Century? Do you think America would be a different, better or worse country? Would it be as diverse? I know it is difficult to imagine because the ramifications of it seems to permeate the very bone marrow of the history of this country? Is America better or worse today for it and will America (or has American) ever totally move beyond the residuals affects slavery had on the society? What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Troutsky Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Sexy beast is back y'all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransack Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I think the better question is do people know that slavery STILL exists in the country? Most seem to think it only had to do with Africans and that it ended 150 years ago. Modern slavery knows no color and it's thriving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCITOW Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 Trout_Farm has been here a very long time to remember that name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCITOW Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 I cannot used all the board function, sorry. But ransack call me naïve but where does slavery still exist? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achilles return Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 the us is what it is today because of slavery and white supremacy, imagining what it would be like is about as fruitful as imagining a world where american indians had invaded europe (though let's be honest, probably a better one). gonna let ta-nehisi coates do the talking:Here we find the roots of American wealth and democracy—in the for-profit destruction of the most important asset available to any people, the family. The destruction was not incidental to America’s rise; it facilitated that rise. By erecting a slave society, America created the economic foundation for its great experiment in democracy. The labor strife that seeded Bacon’s rebellion was suppressed. America’s indispensable working class existed as property beyond the realm of politics, leaving white Americans free to trumpet their love of freedom and democratic values. Assessing antebellum democracy in Virginia, a visitor from England observed that the state’s natives “can profess an unbounded love of liberty and of democracy in consequence of the mass of the people, who in other countries might become mobs, being there nearly altogether composed of their own Negro slaves.”http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/05/the-case-for-reparations/361631/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AF89 Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 As a nation of immigrants we'd probably still be a historically diverse country albeit of a more caucasian European variety. But ultimately even if it wasn't Africans and even if we didn't call it slavery by name it's hard to imagine America making it's way through the industrial revolution not on the backs of some exploited and impoverished group or another. Certainly not without history taking a drastically different path. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gritzblitz 2.0 Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 We wouldn't have won nearly as many gold medals in basketball? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCITOW Posted June 23, 2015 Author Share Posted June 23, 2015 achilles return Yes indeed it is very difficult to do I understand. It is hard to get your hands around the question. But you are not saying that America would not exist but for slavery, right. I do not think the country would have as many blacks living here. I am not sure I would be here. Just imagining this country without a significant percentage of black folks is weird for me. Some blacks would have migrated here but I wonder if they would have experienced racism? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
achilles return Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 achilles return Yes indeed it is very difficult to do I understand. It is hard to get your hands around the question. But you are not saying that America would not exist but for slavery, right. I do not think the country would have as many blacks living here. I am not sure I would be here. Just imagining this country without a significant percentage of black folks is weird for me. Some blacks would have migrated here but I wonder if they would have experienced racism?i don't think the question can be answered. america without it's african-american roots isn't any sort of country you would recognize today. african slavery was the engine that powered american democracy, and laid the foundation for the country to build a colonial empire. african-american music and cuisine, is at the heart of a global american culture to this very day.the us without african plunder, african toil, african labor, and african soul would simply not be the us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AF89 Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 i don't think the question can be answered. america without it's african-american roots isn't any sort of country you would recognize today. african slavery was the engine that powered american democracy, and laid the foundation for the country to build a colonial empire. african-american music and cuisine, is at the heart of a global american culture to this very day.the us without african plunder, african toil, african labor, and african soul would simply not be the us. Can you imagine just how radically different music ALONE would be. ......like not even just in this country but IN THE ENTIRE WORLD without the African American Jazz movement? Can't think of any other demographic that's had such a global impact on music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-train Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 It'd be boring as all heII.The food would suckThe music would suckThe folklore would mostly suckDancing would suckThe language would suckSports would suck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AF89 Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 It'd be boring as all heII.The food would suckThe music would suckThe folklore would mostly suckDancing would suckThe language would suckSports would suckI don't think our culture would have remained static if left to Anglo only devices but there's no doubt it would be different and by our current sensibilities probably not for the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzummo Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Hitler would have won. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransack Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I cannot used all the board function, sorry. But ransack call me naïve but where does slavery still exist?An estimated 60,000 victims of slavery are enslaved in the United States.http://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/Modern_Day_Slavery_StatisticsThere is an estimated 20 to 30 million slaves across the world today. It is hard to count the exact numbers of a hidden population.90% of women and children who end up as Sex Slaves were victims of childhood sexual abuse before they were recruited.You are in greater risk of being hit by a bolt of lightning than you are of going to jail, if you enslave a person in South Asia.An estimated number of 800,000 people are illegally trafficked across international borders every year.There are 161 countries affected by human trafficking.The total yearly profit gained from human trafficking is a staggering $32 billion a year.Majority of modern slavery victims are between the ages of 18 and 24 years old. 1.2 million children are enslaved through forced labor and exploited in the sexual industry each year.In 1850, the cost of a slave if converted in today’s dollar value, would be $40,000. The cost of a modern day slave is $90.Brazil leads the world in fighting modern day slavery.In terms of profit, Human Trafficking is ranked as the 3rd largest international crime industry – just behind Drugs and Arms Trafficking.54% percent of modern day slaves were recruited by strangers and 46% were recruited by people they know.78% of modern day slaves are in the Labor Industry, while 22% are in the Sex Industry.55% of modern day slaves are women and children and 45% are men and boys. 26% of them are children under 18 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great American Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Trout_Farm has been here a very long time to remember that name.I remember when you went by that name. You changed it because of religious convictions. Mucho admiration! If slavery never existed then I think America would have a greater population of white people and soccer would rule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunchy Carter Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 the us is what it is today because of slavery and white supremacy, imagining what it would be like is about as fruitful as imagining a world where american indians had invaded europe (though let's be honest, probably a better one). gonna let ta-nehisi coates do the talking:http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/05/the-case-for-reparations/361631//thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Shotfather Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Baseball would still be America's past time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest facelessman07 Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 It'd be boring as all heII.The food would suckThe music would suckThe folklore would mostly suckDancing would suckThe language would suckSports would suckWe'd still have women's soccer. I'd find a way to carry on watching Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, and Christen Press in all their 4k UHD beauty and splendor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Troutsky Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 I remember when you went by that name. You changed it because of religious convictions. Mucho admiration!If slavery never existed then I think America would have a greater population of white people and soccer would rule.I wasn't making fun of him for the name, just to be clear. I was giving a shout out from an old timer on the boards because he probably won't recognize my current screen name.Hey JCITOW, just so you know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 We'd be arguing about different things on ABF this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Al Sharpton would actually have to find a real job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Al Sharpton would actually have to find a real job.Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCITOW Posted June 24, 2015 Author Share Posted June 24, 2015 Ransack, sorry I was not clear. I meant slavery does not exist in the United States. I am aware that it may exist in some part of the world today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serge Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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