The influence of slavery
Is not one of bravery
But rather one of sorrow and despair
It is rooted in our country’s history
And the reason for superiority and elitism will always be a mystery.
Our country was built on stories of slavery, oppression, elitism, and maltreatment of individuals
Without a regard to the damage of moral principals
These concepts are the backbone of our foundation
What is this nation?
Rather than creating equality and justice, we cultivate a divided system
And promote only capitalism
But why have such ideas not disappeared in the 21st century?
Why do we see police brutality and discriminatory acts time and time again in the news?
The answer, in theory is simple, institutional, and systemic racism has not been abolished.
The deteriorating effects of slavery are often left unacknowledged.
Dating back to the enslavement of the Slavs by the Muslims,
The feeling of superiority has shined through and built our societies
This is based on the ideas of wealth, identity, intelligence, social and cultural status
This has seeped into our justice system
And left those with colored skin as a traditional victim
The same authorities founded on the destruction of humanity
Are expected to practice Christianity
And provide all with an equal chance at life
When really, in fact, they take the innocent lives of individuals such as
George Floyd and Breonna Taylor
How can a plea for air be a call to fight?
A breathe of air is a God given human right.
The justice system does not know what it means to be a neighbor, but rather is built on division
Division that is experienced in so many visions
Profiling, unwarranted searches, unproportionable levels of incarceration, a war on drugs,
The list can go on
And for some it becomes a daily ton
The ancestral wounds that take generations to heal if not become eternal
It makes women believe that perhaps they would rather opt to be infertile
To prevent the generational pain and trauma
That sees no end in sight, but rather fights time and time again for the equal treatment of all
Instead of a fight for justice, the criminal justice system has become a center for funding
For fraud and for selfish desire
The same system allowing for the ownership of individuals
Continuous to allow for the profiting and privatization of prisons
They aim at making profit of people and make individuals a number
The demand for inmates and rougher sentences on the grounds of business growth
The lobbying for political popularity and gain
There is not justice in the system
Only fight for a dollar
Our country continues to rely on the servitude of people of color.
References:
Baird, E. (2020, May 18). Slavery in America – Private Prisons and the 13th Amendment. Pcr Consultants. https://pcr-consultants.com/slavery-in-america-private-prisons-and-the-13thamendment/
Islam and Slavery | The Feminist Sexual Ethics Project | Brandeis University. (2004). Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. https://www.brandeis.edu/projects/fse/muslim/slavery.html
Of Poverty, Prison, and the Legacy of Slavery. (2019). Center for New York City Affairs. http://www.centernyc.org/of-poverty-prison-and-the-legacy-of-slavery
The Story of Africa| BBC World Service. (2018). BBC World Service Roots of Slavery. https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/9chapter1.shtml
Wirtschafter, V. (2021, June 17). How George Floyd changed the online conversation around BLM. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/techstream/how-george-floyd-changed-theonline-conversation-around-black-lives-matter/
