Ilham 4.1 Economics
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Grantham University *
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Nov 24, 2024
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Slavery by Another Name
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Slavery by Another Name
After watching this PBS video, the part I found most impactful was the historical narration about convict leasing. Notably, convict leasing took time to develop, and gradually, the state realized that the convicts could be a source of profit as this was a revenue they never had before. For instance, convict leasing practices earned the State of Alabama U.S. $14,000 within the first year, 1874, and by 1890, revenue grew to U.S. $164,000, roughly U.S. $4.1 million today (PBS, 2021, 18:12). This was impactful since it set the foundation for further exploitation of the Blacks, particularly, in the states across the Southern America despite the declaration of freedom. This exposed and amplified the adverse conditions the enslaved people faced, like brutal physical torture and mental abuse. This is concerning since it introduced and reinforced the systematic perceptions that most Blacks are untrustworthy and subordinate in the general society. Inevitably, slavery practices triggered notable implications for later generations of Black Americans as they augmented the prevailing economic disadvantage and disparities compared to their White counterparts. As most workers were subjected to forced labor, they were denied equitable wages, educational opportunities, and the capacity to acquire or accumulate wealth. As a result, this created a continuous cycle of subjugation and poverty, setting the foundation of the current wealth gap between the modern generation of Black Americans and their White counterparts. Moreover, mandating and upholding of segregation practices by the Supreme Court
in the 1896 ruling, Plessy vs.Ferguson, allowed White Southerners and legislators to enforce the most severe and repressive restrictions on Black lives (PBS, 2021, 34:10). This was consequential to the eventual institution of the Black Lives Matter movement which sought to establish equity between the White supremacies and the Black Americans.
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In addition, these practices had notable impacts on later Black American generations since they triggered the loss of family and community ties. During this period, enslavement practices tore most families apart as individuals were unlawfully imprisoned or forced to labor. This disrupted vast family and community bonds, creating an enduring effect on social cohesion and support networks. This is exemplified in the narration by Sharon Malone regarding the arrest
of Green Cottenham without reasonable evidence (PBS, 2021, 56:39). Moreover, the physical and psychological abuse endured by Black individuals at the time left a legacy of trauma that has
been passed down through generations as Blacks are perceived vulnerable to be grabbed off the street, imprisoned, and forced to work. Also, the adverse implications of the slavery practices significantly amplified the limited educational opportunities for most Black Americans. Hence, this triggered a continued trend preventing Black Americans in vulnerable settings from fully acquiring the skills and knowledge needed to participate in American society. Besides, the video highlights convict leasing, peonage, voter suppression, segregation, and discrimination as notable examples of how Blacks were prevented from being true citizens of the United States. For instance, convict leasing practices in 1884 across most states and cities in the South gave tremendous discretionary power for the private owners and other corporations or businesses to do what they wanted with African Americans (PBS, 2021, 18:48). Further, peonage was practiced to tie vast Black people to fraudulent and coercive debts that allowed the Whites to exploit the Blacks. This is exemplified in the case of John Davis, who, despite being careful to avoid trouble, was enslaved by Robert Franklin, who falsely accused him of owing him money (PBS, 2021, 37:55). Voter suppression against the Blacks also hindered their ability to partake in political processes. The Blacks were also segregated and discriminated against by the White southerners as employers had the right to torture, confine, abuse, or even kill slaves
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(PBS, 2021, 25:28). Therefore, these instances reiterate diverse practices that hindered Blacks from enjoying their rights and privileges of citizenship in the United States.
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References
PBS. (2021). Slavery By Another Name
[Video]. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/articles/racism-in-
america/