Slavery and Racism: The Origins of American Serfdom

In order to fully grasp which decision was made first, whether slavery or racist ideals in early Americas, Carl Degler and Oscar and Mary Handlin started a discourse over a half of a century ago to explore that very idea. In this essay I will be analyzing disputation and some more records that give history about American serfdom. I view that racist idea was an issue from the beginning. It was proof show the difference “whites” and “blacks” were engaged during the time period. Results of which gave rise ultimately in blacks and their status socially. It also gave rise to entitlements in the white race, denying simple basics benefits for blacks.

The idea of racist behavior began before anyone black arrived in the Americas. Degler states in “Slavery and the Genesis of American Race Prejudice,” “the English colonists had for learning of a different treatment for Negroes from that for white servants was the slave trade”. The difference was between how they were identified. Africans labeled slaves while their counterparts were giving the posthumous name of servant. Ira Berlin, in “Saltwater Slavery,” describes the Africans journey to America as an “involuntary migration” (Berlin 2007). His word usage gives the impression that they were taken without consent. This starkly contrasts John Hammond’s “The Two Fruitful Sisters.” Instead they were actually persuaded in various ways and means. This is where explanations were given as to why white servants should come to the Americas by showing that the labor they will face in America is no different than they faced in England. He seeked to change the mindsets of the whites, by alerting them of a choice. It reinforced the idea of differential treatment because Africans were not given a choice.

The racist concept made its appearance about this time. They had no expectation of their outcome which unsurprisingly was the alternative to how the others understood. They were given no explanation of their destination or what would be done to them. Hammond writes, “The country [Virginia] is reported to be an unhealthy place” (Hammond 1656). White were given reports on the conditions of their destination. They weren’t forced because they already knew how life was going to be for them. While blacks were without any warning forced to endure a horrible journey. Berlin describes it as being “a setting of brutality and death” (Berlin 2007). White servants treatment differed in so many ways but in this case they were prepared for the journey while black blindly travelled.

The way things were constructed showed the effects of racist ideals outdating the idea of slavery. It showed that because you were black you endured longer terms. This construct for servants gave rise to the social status of blacks to change. Oscar and Mary Handlin, authors of “Origins of the Southern Labor System,” explain that, “The status of the Negroes was that of servants; and so they were identified and treated down to the 1660s”. The Handlins make an attempt to show that conditions for them had no differential distinction at that time. Although there is proof that shows a significant amount of inequality present. Degler, “As early as 1630 some Negroes’ servitude was already slavery in that it was for life”. Degler defines slavery based on the experience and treatment of black people. He writes commands were made for them to serve for life, while whites were not required to serve. This difference proved that blacks were “slaves” while whites were “servants”.

Racism in America existed due to certain rights being afforded to white while simultaneously denied to the other. The ability to carry a weapon is a way it was shown. As Degler points out, blacks were strictly prohibited from carrying weapons during the daytime, while whites were never “denied the right to bear arms”. If there wasn’t any racist ideologies, what purpose is it to give that privilege to whites alone? If they were equal, as the Handlins suggest, then why would one only be given a right. Besides not allowed to have a gun, they were issued night passes. According to Degler in certain British provinces, “any Englishman, who discovered a Negro walking about at night without a pass, was empowered to kill him” (Delger 1959). The very idea that a black had to carry a pass, and that you would be killed because you didn't have one cues that racism existed. This is a perfect example of the ideals of superiority among whites, it also gave the right of judge, jury, and executioner to white race.

It's said that the concept of slavery existed before the ideals of racism, but by all accounts historical records will show that indeed racism was first. The idea of a person’s skin color would dictate if the persons made to perform an unwilling exodus from their home. Then there is also the idea of them being commanded into service until the die. They could not willingly come knowing they would not have any rights. Racial thought processes are the detrimental tool history and time have shown to burglarize a man of their freedom forcing them to embark on ships of servitude.