African Americans In The 19th Century

Power is the main reasons for the formation of systematic oppression, racism, and prejudice towards African Americans in America. It has always been about economic, social, and political power. The English first kidnapped Africans and brought them to Britain to work as slaves in order to gain economic power. Jim Crow laws used to enforce segregation was used in order for white europeans to keep social power over African Americans in the United States. Similar laws were enacted and black people were denied rights in Britain. Political power were used by white people to create policies that can be used to control the actions of black people. This greed for power lead to inequality among African Americans and white people throughout the world
The Middle Passage was the route the ships took to America to trade the slaves for sugar, cotton, tobacco, and other goods. Approximately two million Africans died because of the unsanitary conditions on the boat on the middle passage and approximately twelve million Africans were shipped. The voyage from America took raw materials back to England and the process would start all over again. The effects of the triangular trade and slavery still has a present on Britain and America to this very day. In the opening scene of the film “13th” directed by Ava DuVernay, a white male stated, “We are the products of the history of the history our ancestors chose if we were white. If we are black, we are the products of the history our ancestors most likely did not choose.” The words “most likely” caught my attention because Africans definitely did not choose to be brought here to America or Britain. Africans were kidnapped or sold. They did not willingly choose to leave their homeland and work under a colonist as a slave. Malcolm X, a civil rights leader in America, said it best for both sides, “Our forefathers weren’t the