Slavery in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries

Did you know that the United Nations (UN) does this report every year, listing countries that are the most egregious violators of human rights? Countries still involved in the slave trade, even today. I didn't either. But, while waiting for an appointment in an office lobby several years ago, I picked a copy of Fortune Magazine, to pass the time.  

As I browsed the magazine's topics I focused in on the UN's report on Worldwide Slavery. And, this was decades before the CNN reports on human trafficking.  I was surprised to see that Albania, in eastern Europe, was the number one violator that year(2003). After a few minutes I was called in for my meeting , however, I did come away with one fact revealing fact. That being, for centuries most  countries, cultures, and civilizations, at some point enslaved,  and sold, not only other people, but also their own.  

Slavery has been extremely profitable, and built dynasties over several hundred years. Exports of slaves from Japan were recorded in the third century. Throughout pre-modern history slavery came in, and, out of favor in China. And, sadly, today slavery is still rife all over the globe.

Now, the notion we've been feed in America is that people with dark skin were considered slaves no matter what their station in life, their education and training, or religion. Blacks were considered inferior to whites in every way. That was their destiny, with no hope of ever improving.

I bring this up because, in discussions about slavery and race over the years somebody always says "...well, how come Africans sold their own people into slavery"? I would ask those who say that to look at the history of their own ancestors. And that, takes courage.

Our Spirit Comes From our Ancestors, It's Up to Us to Make the Connection

Someone once said, "...our children hate us because we haven't told them about their ancestors". That someone was, Mia Angelou. 

I have to agree. Many people of African descent have such disdain for their history to the extent that they forbid their children from even talking about the subject. Some of this comes from shame, some from the continuing negative broad brush we've been painted with, and some from rank indifference. 

But, we are not alone when it comes to things in the past we'd like to forget. All civilizations throughout history have had hardships, been defeated in wars, enslaved by conquering enemies, etc. And, even though many countries still suffer some effects of their past, most do not hide the brutal facts from their children. Those discussions become part of the healing process to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself.

The history of the Americas, as it relates to slavery, contains thousands of examples of everything from bravery to ingenuity on the part of Africans, both enslaved and free. We need to take our heads out of the sand and, as the great Olympian Jesse Owens has said, "Find the good. It's all around you. Find it, showcase it, and you'll start believing in it".

This is what we must teach our children.

Michael Baisden Reminds All of US

Black History Means Black Responsibility

The most important lesson we can teach our children during Black History Month is that the color of their skin has an amazing story connected to it that began as the first people to walk the earth, whose technology built the Great Pyramids, and whose strength survived the brutality of slavery and Jim Crow. 

We must use the celebration of Black History Month to challenge them to create their own history. Our legacy only continues through them.

We have to ask ourselves, "Am I raising a future doctor or lawyer, or a future criminal or inmate? Am I setting an example that will create a better husband or wife, or a deadbeat and abuser?"

Parenting and mentoring is a powerful thing, you can nurture a genius or destroy a child's self esteem if you don't take your responsibility seriously.

Black History Month is about Black Struggle and Black Responsibility. Let's honor our ancestors by sacrificing for our children as much as they did for us.

Michael Baisden

Were There Free Blacks During Slavery?

Yes, there were free Blacks during slavery, hundreds of thousands. As early as 1619 a class of free Blacks existed in America. Their numbers included children born to free Blacks, mulatto children born to free black or white mothers, slaves who had escaped to freedom, children of free black and Indian parentage, and slaves who bought their freedom. Ultimately, of the almost four million Africans enslaved in America by 1810, 13% or, almost five hundred thousand of them were free.

Initially, the enslaved could also be freed if they served in the Army during the

Would You Deny Four Hundred Years of Your Own History?

America is the only country I know of that considers four hundred years of its own history a mere footnote, even though that history almost destroyed the country in the Civil War. Yes, I'm talking about the slave trade, and Jim Crow laws.

Most of what is known about slavery and Jim Crow law by six generations of Americans comes from the following three sources. 1)Hollywood, where accomplishments of Blacks that were depicted on film often used white actors; 2) news organizations, books, college courses, etc, that omitted or distorted news about a whole range of issues concerning Black life; 3)the education system where Black history was not taught in schools. For this blog post let's  first take a look at the evolution of formal education in North Carolina,  my family’s American ancestral home.     

Since I am not a historian in the academic sense, I asked

Thomas Day: The "Father" of the Modern Day Furniture Industry in North Carolina

In the early to mid 1800's a free Black man was the largest furniture manufacturer in North Carolina. Yes, I did say a free Black man. A furniture designer of such notariety that the then governor of the state ordered desks for his entire cabinet from this particular entreprenuer. And, some North Carolina museums and churches still, to this day, have furniture designed and manufactured by him and his employees. Yes, he grew up free and Black, even though back then being free in one state didn't mean you were free everywhere in America.

The gentleman in question is Thomas Day, born in Virginia in 1801, later migrating to North Carolina taking the family furniture business with him. His parents both came from prosperous Black families who were free, and had been since the Revolutionary War between America and England. There were countless Blacks who were free during the period of enslavement, although American history never mentions them or their status. America wanted Blacks to stay in their place, poor, uneducated, and with no self motivation to improve their lot in life. They had plenty of motivation, but few opportunities.

I first became aware of Thomas Day in 2003 after several years of

Never read a better statement