America, oh sweet America. America of our dream. The racial
melting pot. And there the cauldron goes.
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| Photo by Joseph Chan on Unsplash |
Why then has this racial
issue continued to dog America almost to the point of threatening its foundation, with blacks still at the receiving end?
The answer may lie in perhaps, two factors.
The first is the misconception of the earliest emigrants into
America, majorly the British whites, that they own America. As it was with the
British in that era, they colonized the new land and brought it under the
British Empire. America was now theirs, forgetting the fact that
there was already the red Indians as settlers when Christopher Columbus sailed
into, and discovered America. The British, once more, demonstrated that might
is right, as they did in other areas they have colonized, or were to colonize.
Having colonized America, more British citizens who wanted to go
to the new land, mostly the poor in search of work were brought in as
“indentured servants”. There ship fare was paid by their Masters and the
indentured servants would serve them, mostly till attaining the age of twenty
one, or as may have been agreed.
The indentured system is much like the apprentice system which is
operational among the Ibos in the Eastern part of Nigeria. With this system,
the apprentice is not paid salary but engaged, under mutual understanding and
agreement, to serve his master for a number of years while learning the
master’s trade. In most cases the servant lives with his master and also
performs some domestic chores for him while the master provides for his needs
for the length of time the servant is with him. At the end of the agreed period
the master grants him freedom by “settling” him. This involves giving him an
amount of money, which his master considers sufficient, for him to start his
own business as a free and independent person.
So the success of the indenture system, as with what the
apprentice system is doing among Easterners in Nigeria, ensured the inflow of
huge number of immigrants from England, more than other areas, into America.
After the British came the other Europeans – the German, Dutch,
Austrians, Swedes, Italians….and then the Asians- Japanese, Chinese, Arabs,
Jews….
As these were happening, Africans were nowhere to found. Yet the
black race was within contemplation in the formation of this great multi racial
country. Were they going to be left out? Would the mix be complete without
them?
The British and other European countries, also the Asians, have
some measure of means to access America. But Africans had none, or near none.
So how would they have been brought in to complete the equation in the destiny
of America?
The question of incorporating the blacks into the equation of
America would not have been, ordinarily, within the consideration of the White
settlers. But nature, the greatest orchestrator of the most complex design, had
its plan; for America.
Sometimes in our self serving efforts we serve nature, albeit
unconsciously. That was the nature of the slave trade, with all its infamy. It
served the only available means of moving blacks into America to complete the
racial equation.
Slavery was the price the blacks had to pay to pave way for them,
and be included, in the master design of America. At the same time
it was necessary, coming from a much less developed background, to
raise the level of consciousness of the African slaves, first to accept
themselves as equal in all respect to the Whites, and then to
understudy and align with cultures within the America life. In other
words, the period when blacks were subjected to slavery should be considered as
their own period of apprenticeship or indenture. After all, nothing comes free
in life.
The second factor accounting for racial tension in America is that
of forgetfulness. This factor is less obvious than the first, but equally
valid.
Enshrined in the natural constitution of America, as the model of
a country, and the basis of all humanity, is the equality of all its citizens,
all human beings. But this was not within the appreciation of the early White
settlers, who tended to see blacks as mere chattels and perpetual slaves. That
was the consciousness of the Whites, a dominant one, and underpinned their
actions toward the blacks.
But whether under indenture, apprenticeship, or slavery, all human
beings are equal and born free; so you cannot hold them under slavery longer
than their dues due. Or due dues. Once the price has been adequately
paid, the arousal, a sort of discontent, arising from self consciousness would
begin. At that point, the individual begins to question the truth about himself
and to agitate for the granting of that right or recognition.
That demand led to the movement for emancipation, and eventual
abolishment of slavery. But that was just the first step. Next to contend with
was the difficulty in how to purge the minds of, and acceptance by, the former
masters, the slave owners, that they are same with their once slaves, servants,
or chattels. It’s a difficult thing to accept especially when buoyed
by ego.
The fire of freedom once lit cannot be quenched, until gained; for
all the natural forces would rally round to ensure that the desirable end is
attained. Those who stand against its force usually end up as casualties.
The real abolishment of slavery and the attainment, ultimate, of
the equality of blacks with their other counterpart citizens, was climaxed with
the Obama presidency. But did the conservative Whites see it as such?
By now you must have began to ask how forgetfulness has to do with
all these. Read on.
The new generation of Americans who never witnessed, or is lost in
their memory, how the progressive route through which their country reached
this peak would begin a new wave of racial bias. Everything in life goes
through cycle until the force behind it wears off, or is consciously broken at
a point.
Freedom is won and re-won. History do repeat itself until the
lessons are fully learned, absorbed, and integrated. Then the individual or
group can ascend the next level.
The Americans, with their racial problem, are simply aiming for
the next plateau, in their understanding and acceptance of the nature of their
country as a model of the equality of all races. And of course, their
individual nature, and of the equality of every one, irrespective of colour,
creed, sex, or race. Catching that wave would make for a greater robust health
not just of America and its citizens but the whole world.