Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Slavery; Foolishness

When we look back to our past, we really have to be disappointed with some of our actions we took pride in.

We enslaved people, stripped them of everything they ever owned, their property, their dignity, their very spirit that made them human. To us, they became property, mindless servants to do what we wanted and nothing else. When they disobeyed, we would whip or kill them outright in anger.

When you read about previous trials, such as the case of Emmet Till, it is really quite sickening and sad to think we were so prejudice to disregard such blatant evidence.

What could drive us to act in such a way? I cannot even imagine being prejudice to the point of ignoring blatant evidence regarding a major crime, such as murder. When they are basically mocking the case, making it out to be futile, after they are found not guilty. It's like we didn't even care at all.

I understand being prejudice, but only to a point. When you begin talking about people being able to commit a crime and get away simply because they did it to a black person is not right, at all.

It is similar in the book we are reading. The appointer of the jury is so prejudice that he chooses a completely white jury. Not only that, but the jury itself is so blind that it looks right past any evidence, simply because it is a black man. Hell, Mr. Ewell could have just admitted right then and there that he was the one who raped Mayella, and the jury still would have convicted Tom for no better reason than he was a black person.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, nice post. I agree.

Erin said...

You speak the truth. I think prejudice is complicated. I kind of see it as, when you're introduced to something or someone new, you get scared of the differences you see and feel that you need to fight them off or something with scorn and hate. Maybe people aren't just hateful, they're probably just afraid.