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190475 Responseshttp://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed/A+Long%2C+Long+Way+Indeed2010-03-01+03%3A43%3A53Sam+Richards to A Long, Long Way Indeed
This question posed by a student in our sociology 119 class is really crazy to think about! I know we go over and over again all the race relations issues, and have even gone over some of the history of where slaves came from, but I never sat down to think about what slave owners from back in the day would say if they turned on the television today. This is a very cool concept to think about, I think, because it is a way to see how far we have come. Yes, there are still issues today, and you know what, there probably always will be, but I think people who have achieved greatness should we celebrated.
Take for instance, like the guy who proposed the question, would think if we turned on MTV. I think the former slave owners would be astound to see how successful the black people have become. Today the MTV music videos, as well as VH1, and the top billboard charts, are represented by many black people. I recently watched the MTV VMA’s and there were performances by Beyonce, Jay-Z and Alisha Keys, just to name a few. Beyonce Knowles recently won I think 6 Grammys in the past awards show. It seems that Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z run the music industry this year, as being named the highest paid couple of 2010. (I like celebrity gossip incase you haven’t noticed).
I think if slave owners were to take a look at how far black people have come from where they had been years ago, they should also take a look at sports. Many famous athletes are ones that are black. These fantastic athletes compete for national titles years after year, ranging from sports in basketball, to baseball, football, etc. They compete against the best players, from all races, and it is seen year after year.
Another aspect to look at, is in government. During the time of slaves, slave owners were white, and they owned black people as pieces of property. Now, black people hold positions in government, and help to create laws that are part of our government, and laws that we have to live by as a nation. Slave owners would be very surprised to see that they are actually told what to do by people they believe can be owned as property. Of course, I must mention, that they would never think that we would have a black (at least half black) man as president of the United States.
It is very interesting to think about because people, like Abraham Lincoln were murdered for trying to free the slaves. What would those same people, who wanted slavery to remain say about all the successful black people in our country today?
Same! I agree with a lot of what you said. I think the typical slave-owner, but then again maybe even the abolitionist would be shocked at how successful some black people are in today's society. It does seem like Beyonce and Jay-Z are dominating the pop charts, and I can imagine that people in the 1800's couldn't even fathom anybody but whites being successful. Can you imagine what would happen if they were to know that Barack Obama would be our President over 100 years later? I think nearly everybody would have a heart attack!
I guess looking at it this way, our country has come a far way from what it once was. It's true that discrimination and racism are still pertinent issues in modern society, but thankfully things are much better than they were in say, 1850.
Yea ok so I feel like it needs to be said that people like Beyonce and Jay-Z, and yes even Alicia, are not doing anything for the Black community. They make money by singing and rapping about frivolous things. You don't see people who talk about real issues like Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, and Erykah Badu topping the charts with their music because they are talking about real life issues and who wants to hear about that? The people you see on MTV are just music industry fabrications.
Going back to your original point, I think that at first slave owners would be astounded at the fact that Blacks have made it into such public and successful positions, but after being a part of our society for some time and learning the innerworkings of it, I think they would say that those people are nothing but Sambos.
Maybe if you gave examples of Black congressmen, Black CEOs, or Black poets (especially since Blacks weren't allowed to learn to read or write in those times) it would change my feelings about your statement. But that's just my opinion. Who knows, maybe Bey and Jay would suffice?
This really is an interesting topic that I had never thought about either. I however do not think that slave owners would be astounded at the sight of African American success, I think they would be downright enraged. Obviously plantation owners owned slaves for economic reasons, but at the same time they saw black people as sub human. As comical as it is to imagine a wild animal dancing around on mtv in two hundred years, that is probably to some extent how it would seem. But it wasn't even that they were sub human, they were hated by some or even most in the South. Race relations has obviously come miles and miles from where it was in the days of slavery, and it is kind of scary to think about people treating others that way. I think that is why the books we are reading for class are so powerful; this stuff is going on today, and probably will continue to for a long time. It took a long time for an entire culture just to accept people of another race in this country, let alone for that race to become successful. It is astounding the sacrifice, blood, and sweat that black people had to go through just to change the minds and hearts of those slave owners and their decedents.
I agree with all of your points about how these slaveholders viewed black people. They absolutely would be enraged that black people were not only succeeding, but coming up to the same level as white people or even exceeding the level of white people. Also, how you incorporated the fact that it is still going on in the world today and will continue on for a long time. It is crazy to think about this, especially because how far our country has come. Many of us can’t even imagine that people are still being exploited through means of sex, labor, etc. to obtain money. It’s great to recognize the advances we have made in the United States but then we also need to consider how slavery is a current and growing problem in many other countries around the world.
I definitely agree. I think about this too. There is an episode of the Boondocks cartoon where Martin Luther King Jr. comes back to life and is appalled by the way the African American community has turned out. I think the slave owners would probably try and reinstate some type of Jim crow law or something like that. I also agree that race relations has come a long way but it definitely has a long way to go. It is strange to think that people were once slaves in this country adn even scarier to think that this still exists in the world today.
I would like to comment on the part of this video regarding the big leap our country has taken with race relations. Obviously it is hard to tell what a slave owner or slave holder would think about when visualizing African American's culture today, simply because many of us are not that evil and have qualms and morals regarding the proper treatment of others. When looking at the progress race relations has made it comes down to a few things in particular. The first is the education and awareness spread. When more and more people are learning about different cultures, specifically slave cultures and the hardships that were endured, a transformation should be made over time. Secondly, with more integration and things becoming more culturally accepted, or norms being created that include African American culture, it is easy to say that race relations has made progress. But it is just as important to note that the United States has more work to do because racism and inequality are still present today, hence this class.
This is an interesting point. I do believe that it would be interesting to witness people from the past who saw people owning slaves and/or owned slaves themselves and see the reactions that they might have about our culture today and how it is so accepting of other races, cultures and people, totally different than it was back then. I don't really know if they would be surprised or not to be honest. I mean the way that we do accept other people into American culture, like people on MTV and other shows that include people of all sorts of races. I think the most impressed people would be those who had lived in slavery their entire lives. I really believe that they would not believe their eyes because they were taught that they were lesser than the slave-owners and thats why they were slaves. I also believe that because pop culture has definitely embraced what we call integration and the mixture of all sorts of colors doing all sorts of things they would be blown away at how far we have come. The truth is many people still do see race differences as key characteristics of people and there is still slavery and racism and everything of that sort that still exists today but not in the same caliber as it was back in the day. People in the past would be happy for what the future holds and the fact that there are so many people who don't see them as a race but rather as a person. Even the slave owners would be impressed, as I understand it, many did not like that fact that there was such a segregation of the people because of their race. We really have come so far since the early slave owning time.
this is a very interesting point and i think that they would be huge problems today in America if slave owners saw what was going on. There are African Americans all over the place today and i am not saying that in a bad way or anything like i am not a racist i am just responding to the question but i definitely think there would be war or something especially now that we have an African American President running the free world. I think some people may still see racism being around today and maybe there is but i think that we have come along way and it seems like everywhere you look there is a black man and a white man working together so i do not think it is a bad as some may think. It would be terrible to slave owners.
This is definitely a great question, and one that unfortunately we will never be able to answer accurately. I would assume that they would be absolutely appalled that people who, in their time, meant nothing could be starring on TV and making millions of dollars in the music industry and playing sports. But on the other hand, did they really believe that their way of life would last forever? I mean we don’t really know how they felt, so it’s hard to say. But I am thinking that 150 years after the end of slavery, slave owners would not expect African Americans to be in such high positions as they are now, such as leading the sports world, or hell even leading the political world in Obama’s case.
I think it is an interesting question, thought the atmosphere for these slave owners would be very different. Could you imagine what that same slave owner would even think of a television?! I don't think that even turning on a television is necessary to get the culture shock that would be the goal. I thinking bringing that same person into a class like ours would be an interesting experience in itself. Not even for the conversations that we have and the topics that are discussed – but for the people in the class. Within a group of 700 people at Penn State, there are people of all different races and ethnicities. He wouldn't know what to do with the fact that white people sit next to black people and chat and laugh. That black kids are allowed to attend school and are competition for the same jobs as his friends on the "white team". Unimaginable.
The best way we could actually do this experiment here in the this day and time would be bringing someone from another society (take any of the slave owners in the book who still keep slaves because of skin color or ethnicity, like the White Moors) into our society and letting them see our class. I would venture to guess that there are people in the class who can trace their ethnicity to almost every country in the world. Especially those of us "mutts" who are 5 or 6 different ethnicities. I would love to hear what they think of this American, more accepting culture that we live in. I would guess that they would think that we are too liberal, and that whoever should be on top (i.e. whatever "team" that person is on) has forgotten their place in society.
I smiled at the end of the video clip though. It is "pretty crazy" how far we have come from the "white men own the world" philosophy. That might be what some people in the older generations believe, but most people in our generation, and even more so in the generations following us, are becoming desensitized to the color barrier. I realize when the person that I sit next to in class in Latino or Indian or black, but that doesn't mean that I look at them as any different of a person than I am. And I think that is becoming more common.
And I know what you're thinking. "Look at the stats in class! There is still a bug barrier! Look at the difference in who gets jobs and who gets arrested." But I think it's necessary to take into account when the "people in control" grew up. Most of the CEOs and VPs are people who grew up in the times of segregation. In the back of their minds, that color bias still exists. But I firmly believe that in time, as people in our generation grow into those positions of power – the positions that decide who gets hired and fired – the lines will begin to blur and everyone will start to be looked at on the same page, regardless of the color of their skin.
I believe this is a thought provoking question that reflects on what we have learned in class. When Sam first put up the statistics it becomes obvious that there is still racism in the world today, shown by the insane number of minority groups in jail. It is easy to become angry and discouraged when reading these statistics. My very negative initial thought was that some things may never change, and I became mad at the world for not changing. However, this thought is obviously wrong as proven by the question. Racism has gotten so much better than in the civil war era, as blacks have rights equal to those of whites. These rights are enforced and many more white people believe in equality and justice for different races. We are moving forward as a country, just not at a fast enough pace.
Now to actually answer the question, I believe slave owners would be in a state of disbelief, disgust, and despair. They would soon come to realize that there are wealthy blacks, and unfortunately for them, a black president! Can you imagine how outraged they would be to find that the ruler of their country is half black? Blacks can also now vote and have the same opportunities in society as a white person. MTV music videos would have them outraged, and they would be even more upset when they find out how many viewers watch them. Take “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. Every party seems to open with the song and most people know the words well enough to sing along. The majority of college aged Americans do not think twice about listening to a song in which different races perform. I doubt the slave owners would listen to the slaves’ hymns when they wanted to listen to music. The world has changed a great deal.
Slave owners would not be able to exist in modern day America because the majority of their values and ideals have been changed. Take women for instance. Women are now attending college and receiving degrees in any field they choose. They can also vote and be put into government positions. Southern Belles have been replaced with goal oriented women who are making huge changes in the world. Women are doctors, lawyers, and senators now. The groups that the slave owners and white men of that time have tried so hard to keep down have rights in today’s society, proving how much our world has improved since 1800’s. I am not suggesting that our society is anywhere near equal, fair, or perfect. However, in order to have the strength and courage to move on we must recognize how far we have come.
I think this brings up an interesting point that I have never thought about before. Today in society black women and men are all over the media (and not in a bad way) some white people even pretend or “think” that they are black. I think slave owners would see this and be completely taken back by it considering we as in the United States once had slaves as part of our society and now they are all over our television and our president is even half black. We have come a long way since then and I hope people recognize this and maybe follow by example.
A fellow classmate of mine proposed a very interesting question. We focus so much on the progress we made and how we can continue to make progress. But has anyone really stopped to think about how those who lived in the past, specifically slaveholders, would feel about this progress. In their time, there seemed no possible way that things would ever appear as they are today. Many slaveholders were very set in their ways, and nothing was going to change this way of this. This life where they ruled and had slaves doing their dirty work and threatened and often times used violence to enforce this. Times certainly have changed and it would be an incredible thing to see how these slaveholders would react.
Just imagine if they turned on the television how they would feel. As my classmate said, specifically turning on MTV would be a shock. All over MTV you see music videos by people of color. You see reality shows where white and black people are associating with each in a very friendly way. You see shows about relationships between black and white people. The fame that white people are able to make is just as easily made by those of people of color as well. I am sure that these slaveholders would be appalled by this. How could this race, that they once owned, be making such strides in the entertainment business, of all businesses?
This is not only true if you turn on MTV. Numerous other shows include black pepole. Some shows are based on only black families, like the Cosby Show or The Bernie Mac Show. Other shows seen on television have a mixture of all different races and many times these races are getting along and interacting with each other. It is not shocking in the slightest to turn on the television and see people of other races on it. Even in movies, this is all very evident. Some of the greatest actors and actresses today are black. Denzel Washington and Halle Berry are great examples of their success in the movie business.
Yes, we hear about race relations and we realize that we have a long way to go to truly create equality. However, my classmate makes a very valid point. Slaveholders from the past would be shocked to see such things. It is crazy to me to think that anyone would even be surprised to see black people on television or in movies. The color of a persons’ skin should have nothing to do with the fame that they receive. I don’t believe that white people are seen as being any more famous that black people. It is great that we have made these strides. This is a positive way to look at the progress we have made in comparison to how slaveholders would feel these days. However, by looking at this we should also realize and try to come up with others way to continue this progress in other businesses.
It's insane to think about how far not only African Americans have come, but everyone together as a whole. Where whites once thought of blacks as nothing more than an animal, some now worship these famous rap artists. Though racial discrimination still exists, we now see a much greater deal of equality; although statistics prove otherwise. African Americans have truly come a long, LONG way in the last century. If it's impressive for me to realize how successful these people have become, I can't even fathom how former slave owners would feel had they been capable of taking a little glimpse into the future.
Surely I believe they'd reconsider their oppressive actions towards African Americans; however, some had to have done that anyway. Slave owners treating African Americans like a worthless, numb piece of trash are now the ancestors to children listening to extremely popular, catchy songs by the ancestors of the slaves.
In fact, the last 3 songs that came on shuffle on my iPod have all been by black artists. Most of the songs in my iTunes library are the work of today's famous black singers and rappers.
Music would not be the same without this upbeat genre. So consider that former slave owners… you abused your own human kind and I, a white person, along with just about everyone in my age group, admire this same race and the music they have created.
Common among my age group, along with many others older and younger, I would expect the slave owners to enjoy it as well.
They probably would.. and then they'd be reciprocated with the verbal and possibly physical abuse that they deserve.
It'd be nothing less than hypocritical for slave owners to enjoy the music. Although I can't trace my ancestry back to the white slave owners, I almost feel that as a white person, I take somewhat responsibility for what happened to the African Americans. And there's a part of me that feels like a hypocrite for enjoying today's rap music so much. But rather than feel guilty, I am much more appreciative, and proud. I appreciate that these African Americans look to me, as their audience, for approval and hope I enjoy it. And I'm proud that they have come so far with their lives, their fame.
A slave owner would be in utter shock and disbelief. And in their confused state, they would enjoy the music. Hypocrites. I laugh at these people who thought of themselves as such superior figures because oh how the tables have turned.
But perhaps without the slavery and the racial discrimination that stemmed from it, the rap music and lyrics wouldn't have turned out the same. This is by no means justifying the behavior of the slave owners.
If only they could see though.. if only. They would mock, and then hide their faces in shame and jealously. And wouldn’t that be the pretty site.
This is a very interesting question to think about. This is because nowadays, on channels such as MTV, there are black CELEBRITIES performing at concerts, showing off their amazing “cribs” and expensive cars, and even winning awards! On ESPN, you see black athletes scoring the winning touchdowns and baskets, and you also see the crowd– which includes a lot of white people– cheering for them. Slave owners would not understand this at all. I think they would be absolutely blown away and astonished. They would also be very confused as to how people who are the same race as their slaves could possibly be so successful. It is really crazy to think about.
I was a little bit confused by this question. The caption says Slave Holders and ESPN, but he mentions MTV. Also, when h first said slave holders I was thinking of modern day slave holders, like the ones we read about in Disposable People. But I guess what he means is if people who were alive back before the civil war were to see things today like MTV, what would they think, and I have to agree with him on that. Shows and music videos that show inter racial couples and show people of different races hanging out together and being treated equally surely would be shocking to someone from that time period. And yes, I would have to say that we have come a long way in that sense.
This is a very interesting question. Not only do I think slave owners would be appalled and shocked from music videos on TV today. I don’t they would be appalled by actual relationships today. Many people date outside of their race, and I think it’s a great thing. I think that it opens people up to new things. I think that some people may be against it, but I am not and I dated outside of my race a couple of times and yes there were problems with some people but then again..if you don’t think it’s a problem then you shouldn’t care.
That is a really cool and interesting question to ask. In Soc 119 and in our other courses, we react on what happened in the past or what is happening currently. We usually try to fathom what the slave holders were thinking when they owned slaves and forced them into grueling labor. Typically, when we reflect on the past we try to fill their shoes and attempt to experience their lifestyle (even though we do not necessarily agree with it). After hearing the question, I really had me think how a slave holder from the 18th or 19th century would react to watching blacks perform on MTV, compete in sports, hold high esteem positions, and see that the United States elected a black (well half-black) president.
At this day in age, there are many successful and talented black performers. Jay-Z and Beyonce are among the most talented and successful music artists and entrepreneurs of this era. They have one of the highest combined net incomes. They have millions of fans from different races that embrace their talent. Also, there are many black professional athletes in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, track, and even hockey. Moreover, more and more blacks are becoming successful professionals. Many are very educated, attend college, and obtain good jobs. The sky is the limit for them now. They are not chained down and forced to do monotonous and sometimes dangerous labor that they did a few centuries ago. They are free to pursue their goals and dreams. Yet, there is the argument of determinism. Despite the factors out of their control, blacks have numerous more opportunities to succeed and follow their dreams and aspirations than they did when slavery was prevalent. Also, blacks and whites are more accepting of each and are intermixed. Blacks and whites are co-workers, friends, neighbors, and even spouses. The barriers of race have been coming down.
A slave owner would be shocked to see the opportunities available to blacks, their talent, and the success they can and have obtained. He would be especially shocked to see Obama, a half black president, running the country. The slave owner would be overwhelmed by the fact that blacks are not inferior to him. The playing field is being leveled. He would be stunned to know that blacks are not inferior to him and do not follow his orders. They have the opportunity to do what they want to do.
Over the past few decades, we have come a long way in race relations, but we still have a long way to go. Whites are still dominant in the white collar work force, in the government, business executives, and in higher education. However, we are off to a good start. As our generation matures and new generations arise, race relations will continue to improve.
I completely agree. I think that we have come a long way from the past, yet after reading that book for our exam, we still have a long way to go. However, to answer the question that was posed in this post I feel that slave owners of the past would be overwhelmed at what they are seeing. If we are indeed talking about slave owners of the past, I feel that they would become upset that they would soon lose their footing. That they would be unable to keep their slaves under the control that they previously held over them.
Not to make this sound like a joke, but I really feel that if slaveowners turned on the TV and happened to come across musc videos on MTV, although MTV doesn’t play many videos anymore, or turned on a NBA or NFL game they would immediately think to themselves “Damn. Look at all the negros on TV. I wish I had a few of them working in my field”. Furthermore, they would be completely bewildered on why they aren’t working as a slave. They simply wouldn’t understand why we as Americans don’t force these black or Hispanic athletes into bondage like we learned about in the book “Disposable People”.
The way that the world has adapted over the years is nothing short of amazing when thinking about the equality of people. Although there are still people and groups that think that “white is right”, this is not the way that everyone thinks and feels. When talking about these slaveowners and what they think of our culture now, they would not be able to accept the ways that we have chosen to live in peace with people of opposite races. Im sure that they would try time and time again to get people in their fields and plantations, but it just wouldn’t work the way it has in the past. Sorry slaveowners.
Besides from simply wanting more and more people to work for them because of the number of people shown on TV, the fact that athletes, rappers, actors, and any other person in the spotlight have taken care of their body to the extent that they have would make the owner want them even more. They would think they were super human and would be able to do what his or her current slaves cannot, in less time. Little do they know that these same celebrities can probably turn the owners into slaves themselves with the amount of money they have accumulated. Kind of funny if you ask me.
In closing, I think that this is a very funny, but serious question. I could only dream of the reaction that a slaveowner would have. Whether they fainted with the number of black people they saw on TV or prayed they would have slaves that are in similar shape, they wouldn’t know what to do. To make things funnier, their world would be in a downward spiral when they found out that there was nothing to do and that they probably can buy them out ten times over. What a slap in the face! I am happy with the way things are progressing in the United States with the acceptance of different races and am excited to see where this acceptance will take us in the future.
I think this video made a very good point. I think slave owners are probably rolling over in their graves about how far their former slaves have come. If they could see this today they would probably find it to be unbelievable. I definitely agree that we have come such a long, long way. And that’s really great if you think about it. But we still have such a long way to go. I think that eventually one day we will get there. I mean look how far we have come already. I bet the slave owners never even dreamed this would happen.
I would love to interview a slave owner and ask them how they feel about what former slaves are doing in our society today. I know that this is impossible to do because slavery ended over a hundred and fifty years ago in this country but it is an interesting thing to think about. The amount of money and power that black people have been able achieve in this short time is defiantly a success story even though there are still black families living in poverty all over the United States. I think that affirmative action has helped a countless number of young black people rise in their social class by attending college and becoming vital parts of our society. This is true for all races that have been enslaved or persecuted in the past. Affirmative action may not of help the rappers on MTV but it did help young black students achieve a higher level education. Some of the music videos you see on MTV would certainly alarm former slave owners if they ever had the chance to see them. I seriously could not even guess what they would say if they were able to see the success some individual black people have been able to achieve. It is a good thing for our society to become more balanced and give everyone an equal opportunity. This is what our founding fathers wrote in the Declaration of Independence and it is our duty as citizens of this great country to enforce these equal rights. I feel that it is defiantly a good sign to see other social classes rise in power so that not one race will rule all. If only one race had the final say in all matters, we would regressing to darker parts of our human history and something like WWII could possibly occur again. If we do not learn from our mistakes in history, it could all happen again. We need to realize that different races have been through different persecutions and we must accept them as they are. We must not try to conform to one group of people or assimilate because that means we are forgetting who we truly are. Sorry to get off topic again but I love writing this blog. Now, the videos on MTV would certainly not be accepted two hundred years ago and that is a fact. It is our turn now to accept these advances in racial status and be accepting because no one is perfect and we should see each other as equals. If we can believe that we are all humans living on the same earth, we should all have equal rights and treat each other like we would want to be treated.
I do think our country has come a long way, but there is obviously a LOT more improvement to be made. For one, all the examples we talk about in class really reflect how discriminatory our society still is. The fact that more white criminals get call-backs for jobs than black people with clean slates get kind of infuriates me. This is so ridiculous! It is obviously not clear what the slave owners would think if they turned on MTV. I'm assuming they wouldn't be happy just because they truly believed whites were superior to African Americans. I truly believe that television has become efficient in representing different races, but much work in our social world is still needed before things are obviously equal.
This is such and interesting question to think about! To a degree I think that slave owners would be surprised and enraged by how far race relations have come. Even though racism is still a problem in today’s society, we have certainly come a long way from the days of slavery. I never really thought about this till now, but the real reason I believe slave owners would be irritated by race relations today is the fact that all along blacks have been just as competent and capable if not more so than whites. I think we often associate slaves with being slow, but the truth of the matter is that they are just as equal as whites. The only reason whites enslaved blacks were because whitey was afraid that blacks would realize that they could make a living without the help of whites, when in reality whites were the ones that needed blacks, and not the other way around.
After spending 6 months in SA, it is easy to see that although we have a long way to go still, things are much improved. For them the apartheid ended not even 20 years ago, and you are reminded of that every day when you walk down the street, they have made progress, but not nearly as much as we have made here. It takes time. If people (slave owners) from back in the day were to come here now, they would be VERY confused. People that we basically worship, celebrities, athletes, etc. are people of all races, and that was never the case before. I know that we need to continue this progress, but I am just happy people realize we have made some.
I think that the slave owners who lived over 150 years ago would be very shocked, but also angry, at how different today’s society is compared to during Civil War times. The kid that asked this question is right in that we have come so far in race relations, and things are drastically different today. I don’t think a slave owner could ever picture a white person and a black person side by side engaging in the same activities. This is why I think a slave owner would be shocked by today’s society, but it is also why I think he would be angry. Slave owners lived in a world where they thought it was not right for blacks and whites to be equal. For a slave owner today to see both races participating in the same sports or to be standing next to each other on television, I definitely think that would anger him.
I don’t really understand the question posed here but if I were to guess what it was asking I would answer that slave owners should not be put on television for any reason. I can’t even describe to you how I feel about slave owners because I personally knew one. This family in my town owned two slaves and were recently caught and sent to jail. They locked their slaves in a small closet and left them days without food or water.
If these people were ever on television, I would write a nasty email to the broadcaster and tell them how I felt about the subject. I also think that if a slave owner was to see his or her slave on television, they would feel honored that they knew this person at one point in their life. Slavery is sick and should be rid from the world for good.
I agree that we have come a long way since then. I think if slave owners today turned on MTV they would be appalled at the rap videos that some black artists have out there. I am appalled at them sometimes, and they can be really vulgar, but I guess that’s just how our culture is today. If they turned on ESPN, I think that they would be amazed that the race that they called, “inferior” is actually superior to many white people in sports today. They would probably be ready to start another civil war if they were alive today.
Sad to say but yes I think war would occur like this would not be accepted by them in any way possible that why this will only be a dream to pull them in to our future. As I look at what you said I look to the future and think will things get better and better or would we go downhill for years to come and to really think on how quick things got better will it get worse because we as the people right now cant predict a 100s years from now we can only pray
It's actually pretty funny to think about what a slave owner would think if they saw modern day America. Just seeing a black man or woman walking down the street with everyone as equals would probably be a shock alone. Hearing about the successful athletes probably would not be too much of a stretch for them, but the popularity and the devoted fans probably would. And of course what a shell shock it would be to find out that there are incredibly wealthy African Americans in the country as well. It's really impossible to fathom. I mean, one might as well try to picture our society in a hundred or so years. Who knows how things will have changed. perhaps by then Caucasians will be the minority in the United States or the geography of the country itself will have changed.
Wow! This person is totally right! We have grown very far with acceptance of black people over the years, and now we are even celebrating their achievements and admiring them as celebrities, sports stars, and now, the president of the United States! This is SO HUGE! I recently watched the Lil’ Wayne Documentary on MTV and I remembered that he was quoted saying, “I am going to be the best rapper ever,” before his major debut as a solo artist. His hero, Jay-Z, another successful black male rapper, inspired Lil’Wayne to achieve his goal and chase after his dreams. Let’s pause and just look at this situation: Black people admiring other black people! How great is that?! Black people do not have to necessarily look up to white people to become the king of their desired mountain. Therefore, white people are not the only ones achieving success in society nowadays!
What I truly appreciated by Lil’Wayne’s story was that although he grew up in a poor section of New Orleans, was influenced by drugs and alcohol, and grew accustomed to carrying guns and gratifying violence, he still conquered his mountain. He did not let these socio-structural factors hinder him from success. He had a goal to become a successful musician and he worked for years until that day finally came and he did not let his race limit his potential. Rather, he EMBRACED it. He stayed true to his black culture and revived the world of hip-hop and rap! What is most interesting, however, is that his success in the hip-hop world has broken down racial barriers. For example, have you ever noticed how many white fans Lil’Wayne has? They populate a HUGE percentage of the crowd at each of his concerts! As a white person, I have to admit I know many of his lyrics and get extremely excited when one of his songs comes on the radio.
Does this mean that whites are “blackifying” their culture? No. Rather, we are opening our white selves to a new window of perception. We are allowing ourselves to learn more about the interests of the black population such as hip-hop, and therefore, we are more likely to SHARE those same interests with them as a united culture. We can now see WHY many aspects of their culture are cherished if we simply open our stubborn minds to experience them every once in a while. Just with the many growing fans of black musicians such as Lil’Wayne, I can personally see that people are becoming more open to others’ cultures in today’s society. If this continues, more black people will rise to power and their discrimination and racial obstacles will only become notes in a history book.
I think it goes without saying that people plucked from one point in history would be astonished by what they find today, but I suppose it is also a good method of gauging progress to frame it in this way. African Americans in today’s society have certainly excelled far more than was even imaginable before the civil war. Beyond the initial shock of discovering electricity and television, I think a slave owner would by astonished by what he would find on MTV or ESPN. More so, however, I think the average slave owner would be more surprised by the level of everyday African American citizens that are thriving in virtually every walk of American life.
This is definitely a very interesting question that I have never thought about either. I think if the slave owners turned on the TV today, they would definitely be surprised at how far we have come with race relations. Like one of the other students mentioned, MTV and the music business is vastly influenced by black people. Almost all of the top artists and award nominees are black people. It is even evident in sports just how many top performers are black. I feel like the slave owners would even be surprised with Jackie Robinson and his influence on not only baseball, but also race relations.
This is definitely a very interesting question that I have never thought about either. I think if the slave owners turned on the TV today, they would definitely be surprised at how far we have come with race relations. Like one of the other students mentioned, MTV and the music business is vastly influenced by black people. Almost all of the top artists and award nominees are black people. It is even evident in sports just how many top performers are black. I feel like the slave owners would even be surprised with Jackie Robinson and his influence on not only baseball, but also race relations.
I think this is a very interesting topic, and it’s a good way to show the progress we have already made of slavery issues in the past. Putting something about black people’s achievement on MTV will helps lots of people understand how the world changed from generation to generation. Racism is quite different in today’s society. Many races and cultures mixed and overlapped, and people tend to accept multi-culture and like cooperating on the national level. As an international student, I am glad U.S. opens doors for us to come in and study here. Most of the people are kind, and I did not feel a strong sense of discrimination. I can tell, many people put efforts on reduce racism and discrimination. Even more, some Americans feel offended when someone else not trait people in other colors equally. I am so moved by these people.
However, slavery is another different area. They are not on the same level. Before attend this SOC 119 class, I think slaves are not exist in this world. I do know some people are really poor and struggle in getting food and even survive. Compare slaves, they are much more lucky. At least they have basic human’s right, and they are not belonging to another person. If poor people work hard, they can get some money back. Unlike slaves, they are disposable, slaveholders trait them as domestic animals. Slaves are tools to make huge profits. Slaveholders not care about them at all, just want to use them. I don’t think they will change their mind after watching MTV, because they are so greedy and cannot stop earning money. At the same time, some people are pleasure to torture others. They vented their anger and disappointment toward slaves. It may be the way to let them feel better, feel power and control.
I agree to use TV as a medium to spread out the existence and horrible situation of slavery. Make them public and not hide in the smoke screen. We need to face the problem instead of escape. We can say millions of times that slaves are not exist, however it will never change the truth. Human are weak, especially in front of huge profits. However, I believe there are always people who are righteous and willing to help slaves to regain their human rights. We are all the same, all human beings; all gave birth by our mother. I wish slaveholders could realize and think about it. Hopefully, there is some compassions left in their heart and let slaves free or at least treat them as human beings. Government need to do something to stop slavery, laws against slavery have to establish now, right now. And force slaveholders to set them free and other organization could give them medication and help them come back to normal person’s life. I know it’s not easy, however at least we need have this passion and hope.
What an awesome question! Damn bro, honestly, if we transported a slave owner forward in time and explained how TV worked and then he watched a basketball game or a football game — he'd probably crap his pants. Can you even imagine being in a world one moment, where you literally OWN a bunch of black dudes and then are thrown into a world where all the black bros are rakin' in WAY more dough than you've ever seen in your life? It'd be totally mind blowing. Our culture really has come a long way, it has just taken so long to get to where we are today. Just don't send the dude back to where he came from or he would MAKE SURE that this didn't happen, and that'd be real messed up man.
A slaveowner that lived today would probably think he was living in another world, because, compared to the days of slavery, this really is a new world. Black people have excelled to the highest degree in almost every field imaginable: sports, academics, music, politics, the list goes on and on. I would hope the slaveowner would maybe take a second to realize how ridiculous it is to enslave a people because of their skin color and make them prisoners to another race of people for no reason. However, in a sense most of us have all now read Disposable People and realize slavery is still alive and well in many countries so the slaveowner would probably find out about this and then go to that country to continue his work as a slaveowner.
I totally agree with this comment; we have come a long way. I think if a slave owner could watch a rap music video, they would be pretty surprised for a number of reasons. First, they would probably be really surprised to see a black person so successful, confident, and powerful. I do not know if they would feel angry or upset, but above all I think they would be mostly shocked. They probably would have never expected a black person to be in that position, because a large part of their livelihood depended on keeping black people on a lower level.
I love questions like this because it really is amazing if you really think about it. What would slave owners do? Frankly, who cares what they would do because they were a disgusting waste of a human body. But, I’m sure they would freak out and I don’t know, maybe pass out, or have a heart attack, or seizure or something. Since being in my Sociology 119 course and even before it, I always would think about how far African Americans have come since the slave days. I constantly think about the Tupac song “Changes”. In the song there’s a lyrics where he says, “And although it seems heaven sent, We ain’t ready to see a black president.” He wrote that song in 1998. 11 years later, our country saw its first black president. I’m white and yet I couldn’t be more proud of our country for electing a black president, even though we’ve discussed his race in class and technically he’s half African and not half black.
Black people have come so far in this country since slavery and when you really think about it, it’s overwhelmingly emotional, at least to me and I’m not even black. Pop culture is where the African American race first exploded onto. Some of my favorite music of today features artist who are black. This would mean that they are some of the wealthiest people in this country. Why or how? I mean, come on, we all know how much money flows into the entertainment industry these days. The Senate and the House of Representatives is even filled with a good amount of black people these days which is great! It’s showing that this country is actually moving toward having real integrity by actually following what the Constitution states. Also, something else even blows my mind. Barack Obama’s biggest democratic opponent was Hilary Clinton. A woman! Isn’t that incredible? Even during slavery, African American women were still not even thought of as equal when compared to African American men. The fact that we had a woman and a half-African man running for democratic ticket to become president of the United States of America is absolutely astonishing, in a good way of course! The Senate and the House of Representatives is also loaded with women these days; another step in reaching our Constitutional integrity.
But back to the fact that the two candidates were a woman and a black man. Now that is something that slave owners would get a heart attack from. Actually, any man in general from the slavery days or even 30 years ago would fall over and die from seeing that.
All of this gives me for our future in that maybe even 20 or 30 years from now we’ll all be treated equally, even the LGBT community.
This is a really interesting way to think about the progress we've made as a country regarding race relations. I would summarize the former slave owner's reaction into two categories-I think he would either come to understand his past wrongdoings or would stick to his opinions and convince himself that our modern society has gone astray. Either way, he'd sure as hell be surprised.
If he were to turn on MTV, he would see African Americans musicians topping the music charts and beating out white musicians for music awards. If he were to turn on ESPN, he would see professional black athletes dominating, excelling at, and setting new records for a number of sports. If he were to even flip through any news channels, he would be shocked to find out that US citizens voted a president who is half black into office.
Seeing all of this would surely confuse him and make him rethink many of his previously held beliefs. In this process, he would come to a conclusion- either he was wrong or we are wrong.
Hopefully this conclusion would be the former. By seeing how the talents of black people come to view when they are respected and given the chance to succeed, he could come to understand how they are not unlike himself. They are human beings who have the same potential as him, only in the past their potential has been hindered. He would see how African Americans can coexist with not just whites, but every other race, relatively peacefully. Obviously prejudice and discrimination are not completely ousted from our society, but he would see the great amount of progress we have made since his time. In addition he could become part of our accepting society, identify with our new ideals and beliefs, and help us further our progress.
However, in seeing the prominent roles that African Americans play in our society today, he could have a more negative reaction. If he were adamant about slavery, which many slave owners were, he might blame us, the people of today's society for allowing this to happen. If he were to stick to his beliefs about blacks being inferior human beings, he would think our country's people had lost touch with our roots and forgotten the justification for slavery. He would most likely not be accepting to living in a society that is grounded on fairness that, unlike in his time, makes efforts to make sure it is carried out. Unfortunately there are people who actually live among us who still hold strong to this outdated belief.
I think another interesting thing to think about would be a former slave owner’s reaction to Barack Obama as president…
I love thinking about this topic. It would be funny to see a slave owner in our society. He would probably learn pretty quickly that things have changed. Not even by watching tv but just by walking down a street. He would also probably get the shit kicked out of him if he met the wrong people. I'm glad you asked that question so I know I'm not the only one thinking about that.
I completely agree. Thinking about a slave owner coming into today's society is crazy. I cannot even imagine what one would think when they got to society today. Despite the problems we have today, we have come extremely far than we were in the 1800s and that is a good thing. I think a slave owner would probably be completely shocked by the leaps and bounds we have made in society. I think if he saw MTV, he would be in shock to see African-American musicians topping the charts and then turn to CNN and see the president of the Untied States. When we think about all that, it really puts into persepective how far we have, even though we have a ways to go.
I think that slaveholders would be shocked, confused, and most likely speechless. Back in the eighteen hundreds, in the pre-civil war era—these slaves were property, expensive property, but property nonetheless. They didn’t know how to read, write, much less make a lot of money (enough for the “bling” nowadays that seems to define most celebrities). I mean if they saw the rap videos of people like fifty cent or lil wayne, maybe they would be a little disgusted—although, I do not think they would know what half the words being said were. It has been a long way since slavery in the sense that the culture has changed, the world has changed—where black people were then (the lowest of the low) is very different to where they are now (the president). I think mostly, the slave owners would be very curious about the culture and nature of our world today in correlation with black people. I mean, sure, maybe in the most extreme cases there would be slave owners absolutely freaking out, appalled at what our country “has come to” and possibly a conversation about how the confederacy was the best—but for the most part, I think curiosity would prevail above all else.
I think that slave owners would be appalled to see all the black people on tv today. But if they turned off their tv's and went to a mall to see how differently blacks are treated when they are amongst secret racists, they would be proud of America. The fact that black people who have never been to jail don't get called back as much as white people who have been to jail is insane! Slave owners would be happy to see that despite the freedom that black people have gained, they still have a long way to go.
We definitely have come a long, long way since the era of the Civil War, but we still have a lot of work to do. We have a new president, but there are still acts of racism happening every day. I think it will take baby steps, but some day we will all see people the same way, no matter what color or gender they are.
Interesting thought. Personally I believe that if a slaveholder were to see how far black people have come, they would probably have a stroke. Not only would they be astonished, but I think there would be some anger mixed in there as well. According to the slave owners, their slaves are their property. They are not singers, actors, doctors, lawyers, or athletes. Unfortunately, there are still people existing today who think this is astounding and possibly enraging. There are many, many discriminatory people living in the United States, and even though they are living in 2010 with the rest of us, their mentality is that of slaveholders. I look forward to the day when color is overlooked completely.
This is definitely an interesting question. Yes, race relations still has a ways to go, but when you take a step back and look at how far we have actually progressed, since even the emancipation proclamation, it is mind blowing. Things are pretty crazy. Slaveholders/owners, I’m sure, could not have imagined the world today and the way everything turned out. If they ended up turning on modern day television or reading tomorrow’s newspaper, they would in shock. The race(s) they once regarded and treated as “inferior” has/have undoubtedly, in many ways, excelled. Further, this argument goes beyond “black” and “white,” as many other “races” have also made unforeseen progress in today’s society.
I find this question really fascinating. What would slaveowners think of the amount of black or brown people now in power situations over white people? I think this change to equality between the races is phenomenal and I think that the past slaveowners would too. Honestly, I think that because owning slaves was all the white people really knew of black and brown people, they might not have really understood the inherent belief that black and brown people are no different than white people. As we know, there were various forms of slaveowners. Some were brutal and violent whereas others actually did help to educate their slaves. I think that if slaveowners were to see how society is today, they would be OK with it. Of course it’d be a shock because it’s completely opposite than what was the normal societal situation in their time, but honestly, if they were to see that black and brown people are no different than white people, I think they’d accept it too. My response probably sounds very naïve but I honestly would like to believe that most people have a moral compass and would be able to accept people for people, no matter what skin color they are.
I think this is a very interesting point that this boy has chosen to bring up. I think not only slave owners but anyone who discriminated against people of color would be SHOCKED to see how far they have come. In history we have learned that many people treated people of color like animals. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think too many animals have the same talent as Jay-Z, or Rhianna, or Lil’ Wayne. These people of color are talented, skillful, hard-working individuals who were given the opportunity to do something with their talent. If we went back to the early 1900’s and they were living in the time of slavery, we never would have even known about them.
As much as people think that there hasn’t been much of a change of how people of color are treated, I believe we as a nation have come a long way. If we were all still racist and didn’t care about people of color, they wouldn’t be making millions of dollars a year on record albums, or sports contracts. What I am trying to say is that even though people think that people of color are not supported and still not treated with respect, they are. Millions of people listen to Jay-Z, whether you are white or of color. Many people cheer on Kobe Bryant when they watch him play basketball. People do appreciate people of color for who they are and what they have done with their lives. I am not saying that a person of color has to become famous in order to get the respect they deserve. But the people who did make something of them are quite amazing. These people refuse to let the color of their skin affect who they wanted to be and what they wanted to do with their lives. More people should have the same attitudes these people portrayed.
I think slave owners would be appalled to see how far we have come. Not only do we have people of color in the music industry, or playing on every sport team, but also we have one running our country. I think that more recent generations were educated the right way, which allows for each person to be rational about race relations issues.
I also personally think that everyone should have to take a class like Soc119 and have to go to the race relations meeting classes. I am not in the discussion group but I had to go to one for my first year seminar and it was a great experience for me. You get to listen and talk about issues with all different races of people. You become more knowledgeable and respectful of all different kinds of people.
It truly is amazing to see how far we have come with race relations in this country. I feel as though seeing black people on MTV would be a slap on the faces of all the slave owners and people who stood for segregation in American history. They may also be angry and disgusted, but that would be because their mentality is from years and years ago. If they experienced American history and seen it change as we have, their reactions may be different. Race relations has made steady progress, and so taking a slave owner and putting him or her into today’s world would be an extreme shock to them.
The question that seemed to be presented was what would slaveholders think of the world we live in today. And using the term slaveholder and not specifying which generation of slaveholders presents two different types of answers. From the book we read in class, Disposable People, we know that slavery is still very present in our society and their thoughts about race relations today would be significantly different than the thoughts of a southern slaveholder living in the 1800s.
A slaveholder living in the south in the 1800s, I think would be absolutely astounded with the changes that have occurred in the world since the official, paper-signed, government recognized abolition of slavery. When it is true to say that we have come a long way with race relations in the 1800s, we still have a long way to go. (We would not be taking this class if we didn’t). But anyway, a slaveholder in the 1800s would be astonished at the look of integrated schools and universities (including students, teachers, and professors) involvement in hospitals (including patient care, doctors, surgeons, etc), the set-up of restaurants and the minuscule chance of refusal based on your race, and more into the work force and how many people of many different races have taken high employee positions in all different fields of study. I think I could go on and on about the changes to have occurred in race relations from then till today. But I would also have to explain to them that it didn’t just happen in the blink of an eye, it has been and still continues to be a bumpy road towards progress. But overall we have come a long way.
Reading Disposable People really opened my eyes to the different types of slavery that are occurring in our world today. I knew from other classes that slavery did exist today and was still a huge problem, but I was not familiar with the degree, the severity, and the different types that was going on. Slaveholders today are so much different then the slaveholders that we traditionally think of when we think of slavery. Slaveholders today do not always look at the color of someone’s skin to see them as inferior. Instead, for instance in Thailand it was based on woman (mainly their own Thai women), and in Brazil it was based on extreme efforts to find work, and in places like Pakistan and India the caste system played a huge role. I think the slaveholders of today do not look at race to find their victims; they look for the weakest link and the group that they can take the most advantage of. When we look from the perspective of slaveholders in the 1800s, it is clear that we indeed have come a long way. But when we think of slavery today that long way we believe we think we have came gets pushed back a million more steps.
This student brings up a thought that would have never crossed my mind normally. I think that slave owners would not even know how to react to rappers that are of color on MTV. I think especially with black people have made a huge impact on the hip hop industry. To think that the majority of artists are people of color is astonishing. I think slave owners wouldn’t be slave owners if this was the case, because society wouldn’t allow them to keep them and treat them this way especially because of the fame and glory that has been shown .
I agree I would have never thought of this idea before. I think slave owners would be very surprised and amazed to see many people of color status today. Some of the most well known and richest people in our country are African American. Like you said they have made an enormous impact on our society and the lifestyles we live. In the entertainment world and many other areas people of color have made a huge significance and definitely come a long way. Many of the needed changes have taken place in our society, but even more still need to occur.
Additional blog #1
If slave owners were to see the efforts made on race relations today, they would be completely amazed and disgusted Slave owners would just hate the fact some of us are giving equality of chance. They would never accept us working together to try and make this world a better place for all people involved.
In conjunction with that, I think that these slave owners would do everything in their powers to try in sabotage all of the hard work that some of us put into race relations. Our new ways of doing things across the world concerning all races as well as religions would be too much for them to handle. However, the scariest part of this whole question is not what slave owners would think to see us now, but what they would do if they saw us now. We have come a long way, but the fight is not over yet.
I think that would be really crazy if the slave owners heard the hip hop music! They must be really mad! because in their minds, the African Americans are just some kind of animals and not valuable and talented artists. Well personally I don't like hip-hop music ( yes, I'm a metal head), but hip-hop is considered the most popular and wide spread music style! Hey look at it there are people singing hiphop songs in korean, in chinese, and in taiwanese! Hip-hop is everywhere. It represents a lifestyle. A fashion aesthetic. A way of communication. It connects the people in every continent and every country. This is how amazing it is. Rap is easy for entry, but hard for being really good at it. So that's why you see a lot people trying to do some hiphop songs and only a small part of them succeeded and got know by the public. If the slaveowners could live up to today, thay gonna be really mad.~ From this I can see that– hey the society is taking its solid steps forward! It is improving itself every year. It is why the United States is so amazing. It is always improving itself. The abolishing of slavery was a very giant leap in its history-but not like the popular thinking, I personally don't just treat it as a sort of socalled "freedom for the black". I think the freedom part is just a very little part that president Lincoln thought about. More importantly, the freedom of productivity for the industrial revolution is what it is about. So many black slaves were freed from farming, that means they are able to work in factories and make money on their own. This is why the freedom of slaver is so important in American history. Instead of farming, now the black people can enhance the society's total productivity. With the freedom, now they can do things that have a much higher value (like becoming a hiphop singer). Once I remember a highschool teacher told us that never just look at things on its surface, but to see the “nature" of it. That is the nature from my point of view. the African Americans are just some kind of animals and not valuable and talented artists. Well personally I don't like hip-hop music ( yes, I'm a metal head), but hip-hop is considered the most popular and wide spread music style! Hey look at it there are people singing hiphop songs in korean, in chinese, and in taiwanese! Hip-hop is everywhere. So hail to the hiphop singers! Althought the music is not my dish, your music is still the best thing ever in the 21th century. In Taiwan, there are hiphop singers sing songs about freedom and democracy, in China, there are hiphop singers sing songs about fighting against dictatorship… The hiphop spirit is amazing, isn't it?
There can be no doubt that race relations have taken a giant leap. From slavery to becoming some of the best known and paid performers on television is a huge change. What the blog does not address and what I think is interesting is the timing of those changes. To some of us the response might be “wow, so much over such a short period of time.” For others, “it sure took forever to get here and discrimination still exists.” My position on the timing of the advances in racial relations would be that it took a long time and we have a way to go. The treatment of African Americans was so abhorrent through most of American history that every day must have seemed like an eternity to those directly affected. From the utter cruelty of slavery to the present day, the struggle has continued. I am sure that those that marched in Southern towns in Mississippi or tried to integrate white universities would take issue with any thought that the changes came quickly or without intense struggle. During those years we may not have had MTV but we did have television, theater and the movies. African Americans appeared in these genres, notwithstanding the inability of their children to attend schools of their choice or sit in the front of a bus. Although much has changed and certain offspring of slave ancestry are reveled and idolized in our culture the vast majority of the black community still deals with unpleasant remnants of its past.
The speed of the societal changes from slavery to Barack Obama can only be understood in the context of other changes in our society over the same period of time. We managed to move from the horse and buggy to sleek automobiles and commute in jets allowing us to travel coast to coast in moments rather than months. We once looked at the moon and wondered. We now view the earth from cameras placed in space by current day descendants of 18th explorers who considered the Allegheny Mountains to be a dangerous and foreign terrain. The social, emotional and technological changes in our society have been immense. Those slave owners would be amazed at any of the examples I cited and with hundreds of other changes I did not—some as simple as an electric hair blower. With a century and a half of incredible change I think that the emergence of black actors and performers would be the least of the changes that would impress the slave owner. A war was fought and won over these principles. But that was 150 years ago and even with a president of color I think that most would feel that remnants of that bleak past still remain.
I agree with this. Race Relations have definitely come a long way in our country. It has come so far especially in such a sort period of time. I know some of our grandparents and even parents were around when the civil rights movement was happening in our country. Segregation was normal and blacks had little rights. Present day we have a president who is half black. A man who would have not been treated equally in the 50’s, is now the leader of our country. That is something to think about. If you think about all the successful actors, singers, athletes that are black it makes this even more impressive of how far we have come in race relations.
This is a very interesting topic, and I never tried putting slave owners in present day and having them observe how far we as a nation and as a world have come from past times. It would be something to see the expressions on their faces. I couldn't even begin to think what slave owners would think if they were to turn on a television. The sport and entertainment industry is mostly black now when in the past it was predominately white. Think about it the biggest names in the music industry, Alicia Keys, Beyonce Knowles, Jay-z and the biggest names in sports, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and so on. The reaction of someone who treated African-Americans like dirt and also believed that whites were the only ones who deserved any kind of rights would be very confused and wouldn't know what to say or do.
There is no denying that when slavery occurred and when blacks weren't allowed to do anything and they definitely had no self confidence as any other race that would've been put in that situation. Now in sports and mostly music they have a lot of confidence and the slave owner wouldn't understand why blacks would have the freedom and the power they have now. If slaves from back in the day were to witness all this as well they would also be in a shock because of the change in times. Witnessing it first hand and seeing that our president is half black is quite remarkable in its self. But back to what I was saying about how slave owners who believed that they were doing nothing wrong and what they were doing to others was cruel and unapologetic. If they were placed in present day like the student expressed they would not know what to say or do. From just walking down the street and seeing how the world has changed and what they believed in was actually the wrong perspective on life would be something very new to them because treating blacks like that is or any race is wrong on so many levels. No I'm not sticking up for people who owned slaves but that is what was happening everywhere back then and still happening today in many countries. But if those same owners were to see how much more accepted blacks and many different walks of life are included into the culture would change his idea on life and what it truly means to be free.
But we still have a long way to go but the question used was a nice one to use. It really made me think about how far we have made it but we still have a long way to go.
This question posed by a student in our sociology 119 class is really crazy to think about! I know we go over and over again all the race relations issues, and have even gone over some of the history of where slaves came from, but I never sat down to think about what slave owners from back in the day would say if they turned on the television today. This is a very cool concept to think about, I think, because it is a way to see how far we have come. Yes, there are still issues today, and you know what, there probably always will be, but I think people who have achieved greatness should we celebrated.
Take for instance, like the guy who proposed the question, would think if we turned on MTV. I think the former slave owners would be astound to see how successful the black people have become. Today the MTV music videos, as well as VH1, and the top billboard charts, are represented by many black people. I recently watched the MTV VMA’s and there were performances by Beyonce, Jay-Z and Alisha Keys, just to name a few. Beyonce Knowles recently won I think 6 Grammys in the past awards show. It seems that Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z run the music industry this year, as being named the highest paid couple of 2010. (I like celebrity gossip incase you haven’t noticed).
I think if slave owners were to take a look at how far black people have come from where they had been years ago, they should also take a look at sports. Many famous athletes are ones that are black. These fantastic athletes compete for national titles years after year, ranging from sports in basketball, to baseball, football, etc. They compete against the best players, from all races, and it is seen year after year.
Another aspect to look at, is in government. During the time of slaves, slave owners were white, and they owned black people as pieces of property. Now, black people hold positions in government, and help to create laws that are part of our government, and laws that we have to live by as a nation. Slave owners would be very surprised to see that they are actually told what to do by people they believe can be owned as property. Of course, I must mention, that they would never think that we would have a black (at least half black) man as president of the United States.
It is very interesting to think about because people, like Abraham Lincoln were murdered for trying to free the slaves. What would those same people, who wanted slavery to remain say about all the successful black people in our country today?
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flippyfloppies Reply:
March 4th, 2010 at 3:25 am
Same! I agree with a lot of what you said. I think the typical slave-owner, but then again maybe even the abolitionist would be shocked at how successful some black people are in today's society. It does seem like Beyonce and Jay-Z are dominating the pop charts, and I can imagine that people in the 1800's couldn't even fathom anybody but whites being successful. Can you imagine what would happen if they were to know that Barack Obama would be our President over 100 years later? I think nearly everybody would have a heart attack!
I guess looking at it this way, our country has come a far way from what it once was. It's true that discrimination and racism are still pertinent issues in modern society, but thankfully things are much better than they were in say, 1850.
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unattendedbag Reply:
March 6th, 2010 at 1:41 am
Yea ok so I feel like it needs to be said that people like Beyonce and Jay-Z, and yes even Alicia, are not doing anything for the Black community. They make money by singing and rapping about frivolous things. You don't see people who talk about real issues like Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, and Erykah Badu topping the charts with their music because they are talking about real life issues and who wants to hear about that? The people you see on MTV are just music industry fabrications.
Going back to your original point, I think that at first slave owners would be astounded at the fact that Blacks have made it into such public and successful positions, but after being a part of our society for some time and learning the innerworkings of it, I think they would say that those people are nothing but Sambos.
Maybe if you gave examples of Black congressmen, Black CEOs, or Black poets (especially since Blacks weren't allowed to learn to read or write in those times) it would change my feelings about your statement. But that's just my opinion. Who knows, maybe Bey and Jay would suffice?
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This really is an interesting topic that I had never thought about either. I however do not think that slave owners would be astounded at the sight of African American success, I think they would be downright enraged. Obviously plantation owners owned slaves for economic reasons, but at the same time they saw black people as sub human. As comical as it is to imagine a wild animal dancing around on mtv in two hundred years, that is probably to some extent how it would seem. But it wasn't even that they were sub human, they were hated by some or even most in the South. Race relations has obviously come miles and miles from where it was in the days of slavery, and it is kind of scary to think about people treating others that way. I think that is why the books we are reading for class are so powerful; this stuff is going on today, and probably will continue to for a long time. It took a long time for an entire culture just to accept people of another race in this country, let alone for that race to become successful. It is astounding the sacrifice, blood, and sweat that black people had to go through just to change the minds and hearts of those slave owners and their decedents.
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cis5102 Reply:
March 4th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
I agree with all of your points about how these slaveholders viewed black people. They absolutely would be enraged that black people were not only succeeding, but coming up to the same level as white people or even exceeding the level of white people. Also, how you incorporated the fact that it is still going on in the world today and will continue on for a long time. It is crazy to think about this, especially because how far our country has come. Many of us can’t even imagine that people are still being exploited through means of sex, labor, etc. to obtain money. It’s great to recognize the advances we have made in the United States but then we also need to consider how slavery is a current and growing problem in many other countries around the world.
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arieakm Reply:
March 5th, 2010 at 1:06 am
I definitely agree. I think about this too. There is an episode of the Boondocks cartoon where Martin Luther King Jr. comes back to life and is appalled by the way the African American community has turned out. I think the slave owners would probably try and reinstate some type of Jim crow law or something like that. I also agree that race relations has come a long way but it definitely has a long way to go. It is strange to think that people were once slaves in this country adn even scarier to think that this still exists in the world today.
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I would like to comment on the part of this video regarding the big leap our country has taken with race relations. Obviously it is hard to tell what a slave owner or slave holder would think about when visualizing African American's culture today, simply because many of us are not that evil and have qualms and morals regarding the proper treatment of others. When looking at the progress race relations has made it comes down to a few things in particular. The first is the education and awareness spread. When more and more people are learning about different cultures, specifically slave cultures and the hardships that were endured, a transformation should be made over time. Secondly, with more integration and things becoming more culturally accepted, or norms being created that include African American culture, it is easy to say that race relations has made progress. But it is just as important to note that the United States has more work to do because racism and inequality are still present today, hence this class.
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This is an interesting point. I do believe that it would be interesting to witness people from the past who saw people owning slaves and/or owned slaves themselves and see the reactions that they might have about our culture today and how it is so accepting of other races, cultures and people, totally different than it was back then. I don't really know if they would be surprised or not to be honest. I mean the way that we do accept other people into American culture, like people on MTV and other shows that include people of all sorts of races. I think the most impressed people would be those who had lived in slavery their entire lives. I really believe that they would not believe their eyes because they were taught that they were lesser than the slave-owners and thats why they were slaves. I also believe that because pop culture has definitely embraced what we call integration and the mixture of all sorts of colors doing all sorts of things they would be blown away at how far we have come. The truth is many people still do see race differences as key characteristics of people and there is still slavery and racism and everything of that sort that still exists today but not in the same caliber as it was back in the day. People in the past would be happy for what the future holds and the fact that there are so many people who don't see them as a race but rather as a person. Even the slave owners would be impressed, as I understand it, many did not like that fact that there was such a segregation of the people because of their race. We really have come so far since the early slave owning time.
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mattmcgloin Reply:
March 4th, 2010 at 2:17 am
this is a very interesting point and i think that they would be huge problems today in America if slave owners saw what was going on. There are African Americans all over the place today and i am not saying that in a bad way or anything like i am not a racist i am just responding to the question but i definitely think there would be war or something especially now that we have an African American President running the free world. I think some people may still see racism being around today and maybe there is but i think that we have come along way and it seems like everywhere you look there is a black man and a white man working together so i do not think it is a bad as some may think. It would be terrible to slave owners.
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This is definitely a great question, and one that unfortunately we will never be able to answer accurately. I would assume that they would be absolutely appalled that people who, in their time, meant nothing could be starring on TV and making millions of dollars in the music industry and playing sports. But on the other hand, did they really believe that their way of life would last forever? I mean we don’t really know how they felt, so it’s hard to say. But I am thinking that 150 years after the end of slavery, slave owners would not expect African Americans to be in such high positions as they are now, such as leading the sports world, or hell even leading the political world in Obama’s case.
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I think it is an interesting question, thought the atmosphere for these slave owners would be very different. Could you imagine what that same slave owner would even think of a television?! I don't think that even turning on a television is necessary to get the culture shock that would be the goal. I thinking bringing that same person into a class like ours would be an interesting experience in itself. Not even for the conversations that we have and the topics that are discussed – but for the people in the class. Within a group of 700 people at Penn State, there are people of all different races and ethnicities. He wouldn't know what to do with the fact that white people sit next to black people and chat and laugh. That black kids are allowed to attend school and are competition for the same jobs as his friends on the "white team". Unimaginable.
The best way we could actually do this experiment here in the this day and time would be bringing someone from another society (take any of the slave owners in the book who still keep slaves because of skin color or ethnicity, like the White Moors) into our society and letting them see our class. I would venture to guess that there are people in the class who can trace their ethnicity to almost every country in the world. Especially those of us "mutts" who are 5 or 6 different ethnicities. I would love to hear what they think of this American, more accepting culture that we live in. I would guess that they would think that we are too liberal, and that whoever should be on top (i.e. whatever "team" that person is on) has forgotten their place in society.
I smiled at the end of the video clip though. It is "pretty crazy" how far we have come from the "white men own the world" philosophy. That might be what some people in the older generations believe, but most people in our generation, and even more so in the generations following us, are becoming desensitized to the color barrier. I realize when the person that I sit next to in class in Latino or Indian or black, but that doesn't mean that I look at them as any different of a person than I am. And I think that is becoming more common.
And I know what you're thinking. "Look at the stats in class! There is still a bug barrier! Look at the difference in who gets jobs and who gets arrested." But I think it's necessary to take into account when the "people in control" grew up. Most of the CEOs and VPs are people who grew up in the times of segregation. In the back of their minds, that color bias still exists. But I firmly believe that in time, as people in our generation grow into those positions of power – the positions that decide who gets hired and fired – the lines will begin to blur and everyone will start to be looked at on the same page, regardless of the color of their skin.
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I believe this is a thought provoking question that reflects on what we have learned in class. When Sam first put up the statistics it becomes obvious that there is still racism in the world today, shown by the insane number of minority groups in jail. It is easy to become angry and discouraged when reading these statistics. My very negative initial thought was that some things may never change, and I became mad at the world for not changing. However, this thought is obviously wrong as proven by the question. Racism has gotten so much better than in the civil war era, as blacks have rights equal to those of whites. These rights are enforced and many more white people believe in equality and justice for different races. We are moving forward as a country, just not at a fast enough pace.
Now to actually answer the question, I believe slave owners would be in a state of disbelief, disgust, and despair. They would soon come to realize that there are wealthy blacks, and unfortunately for them, a black president! Can you imagine how outraged they would be to find that the ruler of their country is half black? Blacks can also now vote and have the same opportunities in society as a white person. MTV music videos would have them outraged, and they would be even more upset when they find out how many viewers watch them. Take “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. Every party seems to open with the song and most people know the words well enough to sing along. The majority of college aged Americans do not think twice about listening to a song in which different races perform. I doubt the slave owners would listen to the slaves’ hymns when they wanted to listen to music. The world has changed a great deal.
Slave owners would not be able to exist in modern day America because the majority of their values and ideals have been changed. Take women for instance. Women are now attending college and receiving degrees in any field they choose. They can also vote and be put into government positions. Southern Belles have been replaced with goal oriented women who are making huge changes in the world. Women are doctors, lawyers, and senators now. The groups that the slave owners and white men of that time have tried so hard to keep down have rights in today’s society, proving how much our world has improved since 1800’s. I am not suggesting that our society is anywhere near equal, fair, or perfect. However, in order to have the strength and courage to move on we must recognize how far we have come.
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I think this brings up an interesting point that I have never thought about before. Today in society black women and men are all over the media (and not in a bad way) some white people even pretend or “think” that they are black. I think slave owners would see this and be completely taken back by it considering we as in the United States once had slaves as part of our society and now they are all over our television and our president is even half black. We have come a long way since then and I hope people recognize this and maybe follow by example.
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A fellow classmate of mine proposed a very interesting question. We focus so much on the progress we made and how we can continue to make progress. But has anyone really stopped to think about how those who lived in the past, specifically slaveholders, would feel about this progress. In their time, there seemed no possible way that things would ever appear as they are today. Many slaveholders were very set in their ways, and nothing was going to change this way of this. This life where they ruled and had slaves doing their dirty work and threatened and often times used violence to enforce this. Times certainly have changed and it would be an incredible thing to see how these slaveholders would react.
Just imagine if they turned on the television how they would feel. As my classmate said, specifically turning on MTV would be a shock. All over MTV you see music videos by people of color. You see reality shows where white and black people are associating with each in a very friendly way. You see shows about relationships between black and white people. The fame that white people are able to make is just as easily made by those of people of color as well. I am sure that these slaveholders would be appalled by this. How could this race, that they once owned, be making such strides in the entertainment business, of all businesses?
This is not only true if you turn on MTV. Numerous other shows include black pepole. Some shows are based on only black families, like the Cosby Show or The Bernie Mac Show. Other shows seen on television have a mixture of all different races and many times these races are getting along and interacting with each other. It is not shocking in the slightest to turn on the television and see people of other races on it. Even in movies, this is all very evident. Some of the greatest actors and actresses today are black. Denzel Washington and Halle Berry are great examples of their success in the movie business.
Yes, we hear about race relations and we realize that we have a long way to go to truly create equality. However, my classmate makes a very valid point. Slaveholders from the past would be shocked to see such things. It is crazy to me to think that anyone would even be surprised to see black people on television or in movies. The color of a persons’ skin should have nothing to do with the fame that they receive. I don’t believe that white people are seen as being any more famous that black people. It is great that we have made these strides. This is a positive way to look at the progress we have made in comparison to how slaveholders would feel these days. However, by looking at this we should also realize and try to come up with others way to continue this progress in other businesses.
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It's insane to think about how far not only African Americans have come, but everyone together as a whole. Where whites once thought of blacks as nothing more than an animal, some now worship these famous rap artists. Though racial discrimination still exists, we now see a much greater deal of equality; although statistics prove otherwise. African Americans have truly come a long, LONG way in the last century. If it's impressive for me to realize how successful these people have become, I can't even fathom how former slave owners would feel had they been capable of taking a little glimpse into the future.
Surely I believe they'd reconsider their oppressive actions towards African Americans; however, some had to have done that anyway. Slave owners treating African Americans like a worthless, numb piece of trash are now the ancestors to children listening to extremely popular, catchy songs by the ancestors of the slaves.
In fact, the last 3 songs that came on shuffle on my iPod have all been by black artists. Most of the songs in my iTunes library are the work of today's famous black singers and rappers.
Music would not be the same without this upbeat genre. So consider that former slave owners… you abused your own human kind and I, a white person, along with just about everyone in my age group, admire this same race and the music they have created.
Common among my age group, along with many others older and younger, I would expect the slave owners to enjoy it as well.
They probably would.. and then they'd be reciprocated with the verbal and possibly physical abuse that they deserve.
It'd be nothing less than hypocritical for slave owners to enjoy the music. Although I can't trace my ancestry back to the white slave owners, I almost feel that as a white person, I take somewhat responsibility for what happened to the African Americans. And there's a part of me that feels like a hypocrite for enjoying today's rap music so much. But rather than feel guilty, I am much more appreciative, and proud. I appreciate that these African Americans look to me, as their audience, for approval and hope I enjoy it. And I'm proud that they have come so far with their lives, their fame.
A slave owner would be in utter shock and disbelief. And in their confused state, they would enjoy the music. Hypocrites. I laugh at these people who thought of themselves as such superior figures because oh how the tables have turned.
But perhaps without the slavery and the racial discrimination that stemmed from it, the rap music and lyrics wouldn't have turned out the same. This is by no means justifying the behavior of the slave owners.
If only they could see though.. if only. They would mock, and then hide their faces in shame and jealously. And wouldn’t that be the pretty site.
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This is a very interesting question to think about. This is because nowadays, on channels such as MTV, there are black CELEBRITIES performing at concerts, showing off their amazing “cribs” and expensive cars, and even winning awards! On ESPN, you see black athletes scoring the winning touchdowns and baskets, and you also see the crowd– which includes a lot of white people– cheering for them. Slave owners would not understand this at all. I think they would be absolutely blown away and astonished. They would also be very confused as to how people who are the same race as their slaves could possibly be so successful. It is really crazy to think about.
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I was a little bit confused by this question. The caption says Slave Holders and ESPN, but he mentions MTV. Also, when h first said slave holders I was thinking of modern day slave holders, like the ones we read about in Disposable People. But I guess what he means is if people who were alive back before the civil war were to see things today like MTV, what would they think, and I have to agree with him on that. Shows and music videos that show inter racial couples and show people of different races hanging out together and being treated equally surely would be shocking to someone from that time period. And yes, I would have to say that we have come a long way in that sense.
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This is a very interesting question. Not only do I think slave owners would be appalled and shocked from music videos on TV today. I don’t they would be appalled by actual relationships today. Many people date outside of their race, and I think it’s a great thing. I think that it opens people up to new things. I think that some people may be against it, but I am not and I dated outside of my race a couple of times and yes there were problems with some people but then again..if you don’t think it’s a problem then you shouldn’t care.
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That is a really cool and interesting question to ask. In Soc 119 and in our other courses, we react on what happened in the past or what is happening currently. We usually try to fathom what the slave holders were thinking when they owned slaves and forced them into grueling labor. Typically, when we reflect on the past we try to fill their shoes and attempt to experience their lifestyle (even though we do not necessarily agree with it). After hearing the question, I really had me think how a slave holder from the 18th or 19th century would react to watching blacks perform on MTV, compete in sports, hold high esteem positions, and see that the United States elected a black (well half-black) president.
At this day in age, there are many successful and talented black performers. Jay-Z and Beyonce are among the most talented and successful music artists and entrepreneurs of this era. They have one of the highest combined net incomes. They have millions of fans from different races that embrace their talent. Also, there are many black professional athletes in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, track, and even hockey. Moreover, more and more blacks are becoming successful professionals. Many are very educated, attend college, and obtain good jobs. The sky is the limit for them now. They are not chained down and forced to do monotonous and sometimes dangerous labor that they did a few centuries ago. They are free to pursue their goals and dreams. Yet, there is the argument of determinism. Despite the factors out of their control, blacks have numerous more opportunities to succeed and follow their dreams and aspirations than they did when slavery was prevalent. Also, blacks and whites are more accepting of each and are intermixed. Blacks and whites are co-workers, friends, neighbors, and even spouses. The barriers of race have been coming down.
A slave owner would be shocked to see the opportunities available to blacks, their talent, and the success they can and have obtained. He would be especially shocked to see Obama, a half black president, running the country. The slave owner would be overwhelmed by the fact that blacks are not inferior to him. The playing field is being leveled. He would be stunned to know that blacks are not inferior to him and do not follow his orders. They have the opportunity to do what they want to do.
Over the past few decades, we have come a long way in race relations, but we still have a long way to go. Whites are still dominant in the white collar work force, in the government, business executives, and in higher education. However, we are off to a good start. As our generation matures and new generations arise, race relations will continue to improve.
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I completely agree. I think that we have come a long way from the past, yet after reading that book for our exam, we still have a long way to go. However, to answer the question that was posed in this post I feel that slave owners of the past would be overwhelmed at what they are seeing. If we are indeed talking about slave owners of the past, I feel that they would become upset that they would soon lose their footing. That they would be unable to keep their slaves under the control that they previously held over them.
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Not to make this sound like a joke, but I really feel that if slaveowners turned on the TV and happened to come across musc videos on MTV, although MTV doesn’t play many videos anymore, or turned on a NBA or NFL game they would immediately think to themselves “Damn. Look at all the negros on TV. I wish I had a few of them working in my field”. Furthermore, they would be completely bewildered on why they aren’t working as a slave. They simply wouldn’t understand why we as Americans don’t force these black or Hispanic athletes into bondage like we learned about in the book “Disposable People”.
The way that the world has adapted over the years is nothing short of amazing when thinking about the equality of people. Although there are still people and groups that think that “white is right”, this is not the way that everyone thinks and feels. When talking about these slaveowners and what they think of our culture now, they would not be able to accept the ways that we have chosen to live in peace with people of opposite races. Im sure that they would try time and time again to get people in their fields and plantations, but it just wouldn’t work the way it has in the past. Sorry slaveowners.
Besides from simply wanting more and more people to work for them because of the number of people shown on TV, the fact that athletes, rappers, actors, and any other person in the spotlight have taken care of their body to the extent that they have would make the owner want them even more. They would think they were super human and would be able to do what his or her current slaves cannot, in less time. Little do they know that these same celebrities can probably turn the owners into slaves themselves with the amount of money they have accumulated. Kind of funny if you ask me.
In closing, I think that this is a very funny, but serious question. I could only dream of the reaction that a slaveowner would have. Whether they fainted with the number of black people they saw on TV or prayed they would have slaves that are in similar shape, they wouldn’t know what to do. To make things funnier, their world would be in a downward spiral when they found out that there was nothing to do and that they probably can buy them out ten times over. What a slap in the face! I am happy with the way things are progressing in the United States with the acceptance of different races and am excited to see where this acceptance will take us in the future.
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I think this video made a very good point. I think slave owners are probably rolling over in their graves about how far their former slaves have come. If they could see this today they would probably find it to be unbelievable. I definitely agree that we have come such a long, long way. And that’s really great if you think about it. But we still have such a long way to go. I think that eventually one day we will get there. I mean look how far we have come already. I bet the slave owners never even dreamed this would happen.
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I would love to interview a slave owner and ask them how they feel about what former slaves are doing in our society today. I know that this is impossible to do because slavery ended over a hundred and fifty years ago in this country but it is an interesting thing to think about. The amount of money and power that black people have been able achieve in this short time is defiantly a success story even though there are still black families living in poverty all over the United States. I think that affirmative action has helped a countless number of young black people rise in their social class by attending college and becoming vital parts of our society. This is true for all races that have been enslaved or persecuted in the past. Affirmative action may not of help the rappers on MTV but it did help young black students achieve a higher level education. Some of the music videos you see on MTV would certainly alarm former slave owners if they ever had the chance to see them. I seriously could not even guess what they would say if they were able to see the success some individual black people have been able to achieve. It is a good thing for our society to become more balanced and give everyone an equal opportunity. This is what our founding fathers wrote in the Declaration of Independence and it is our duty as citizens of this great country to enforce these equal rights. I feel that it is defiantly a good sign to see other social classes rise in power so that not one race will rule all. If only one race had the final say in all matters, we would regressing to darker parts of our human history and something like WWII could possibly occur again. If we do not learn from our mistakes in history, it could all happen again. We need to realize that different races have been through different persecutions and we must accept them as they are. We must not try to conform to one group of people or assimilate because that means we are forgetting who we truly are. Sorry to get off topic again but I love writing this blog. Now, the videos on MTV would certainly not be accepted two hundred years ago and that is a fact. It is our turn now to accept these advances in racial status and be accepting because no one is perfect and we should see each other as equals. If we can believe that we are all humans living on the same earth, we should all have equal rights and treat each other like we would want to be treated.
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I do think our country has come a long way, but there is obviously a LOT more improvement to be made. For one, all the examples we talk about in class really reflect how discriminatory our society still is. The fact that more white criminals get call-backs for jobs than black people with clean slates get kind of infuriates me. This is so ridiculous! It is obviously not clear what the slave owners would think if they turned on MTV. I'm assuming they wouldn't be happy just because they truly believed whites were superior to African Americans. I truly believe that television has become efficient in representing different races, but much work in our social world is still needed before things are obviously equal.
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This is such and interesting question to think about! To a degree I think that slave owners would be surprised and enraged by how far race relations have come. Even though racism is still a problem in today’s society, we have certainly come a long way from the days of slavery. I never really thought about this till now, but the real reason I believe slave owners would be irritated by race relations today is the fact that all along blacks have been just as competent and capable if not more so than whites. I think we often associate slaves with being slow, but the truth of the matter is that they are just as equal as whites. The only reason whites enslaved blacks were because whitey was afraid that blacks would realize that they could make a living without the help of whites, when in reality whites were the ones that needed blacks, and not the other way around.
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After spending 6 months in SA, it is easy to see that although we have a long way to go still, things are much improved. For them the apartheid ended not even 20 years ago, and you are reminded of that every day when you walk down the street, they have made progress, but not nearly as much as we have made here. It takes time. If people (slave owners) from back in the day were to come here now, they would be VERY confused. People that we basically worship, celebrities, athletes, etc. are people of all races, and that was never the case before. I know that we need to continue this progress, but I am just happy people realize we have made some.
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I think that the slave owners who lived over 150 years ago would be very shocked, but also angry, at how different today’s society is compared to during Civil War times. The kid that asked this question is right in that we have come so far in race relations, and things are drastically different today. I don’t think a slave owner could ever picture a white person and a black person side by side engaging in the same activities. This is why I think a slave owner would be shocked by today’s society, but it is also why I think he would be angry. Slave owners lived in a world where they thought it was not right for blacks and whites to be equal. For a slave owner today to see both races participating in the same sports or to be standing next to each other on television, I definitely think that would anger him.
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I don’t really understand the question posed here but if I were to guess what it was asking I would answer that slave owners should not be put on television for any reason. I can’t even describe to you how I feel about slave owners because I personally knew one. This family in my town owned two slaves and were recently caught and sent to jail. They locked their slaves in a small closet and left them days without food or water.
If these people were ever on television, I would write a nasty email to the broadcaster and tell them how I felt about the subject. I also think that if a slave owner was to see his or her slave on television, they would feel honored that they knew this person at one point in their life. Slavery is sick and should be rid from the world for good.
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I agree that we have come a long way since then. I think if slave owners today turned on MTV they would be appalled at the rap videos that some black artists have out there. I am appalled at them sometimes, and they can be really vulgar, but I guess that’s just how our culture is today. If they turned on ESPN, I think that they would be amazed that the race that they called, “inferior” is actually superior to many white people in sports today. They would probably be ready to start another civil war if they were alive today.
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goldenboybrodie Reply:
March 13th, 2010 at 4:48 am
Sad to say but yes I think war would occur like this would not be accepted by them in any way possible that why this will only be a dream to pull them in to our future. As I look at what you said I look to the future and think will things get better and better or would we go downhill for years to come and to really think on how quick things got better will it get worse because we as the people right now cant predict a 100s years from now we can only pray
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It's actually pretty funny to think about what a slave owner would think if they saw modern day America. Just seeing a black man or woman walking down the street with everyone as equals would probably be a shock alone. Hearing about the successful athletes probably would not be too much of a stretch for them, but the popularity and the devoted fans probably would. And of course what a shell shock it would be to find out that there are incredibly wealthy African Americans in the country as well. It's really impossible to fathom. I mean, one might as well try to picture our society in a hundred or so years. Who knows how things will have changed. perhaps by then Caucasians will be the minority in the United States or the geography of the country itself will have changed.
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Wow! This person is totally right! We have grown very far with acceptance of black people over the years, and now we are even celebrating their achievements and admiring them as celebrities, sports stars, and now, the president of the United States! This is SO HUGE! I recently watched the Lil’ Wayne Documentary on MTV and I remembered that he was quoted saying, “I am going to be the best rapper ever,” before his major debut as a solo artist. His hero, Jay-Z, another successful black male rapper, inspired Lil’Wayne to achieve his goal and chase after his dreams. Let’s pause and just look at this situation: Black people admiring other black people! How great is that?! Black people do not have to necessarily look up to white people to become the king of their desired mountain. Therefore, white people are not the only ones achieving success in society nowadays!
What I truly appreciated by Lil’Wayne’s story was that although he grew up in a poor section of New Orleans, was influenced by drugs and alcohol, and grew accustomed to carrying guns and gratifying violence, he still conquered his mountain. He did not let these socio-structural factors hinder him from success. He had a goal to become a successful musician and he worked for years until that day finally came and he did not let his race limit his potential. Rather, he EMBRACED it. He stayed true to his black culture and revived the world of hip-hop and rap! What is most interesting, however, is that his success in the hip-hop world has broken down racial barriers. For example, have you ever noticed how many white fans Lil’Wayne has? They populate a HUGE percentage of the crowd at each of his concerts! As a white person, I have to admit I know many of his lyrics and get extremely excited when one of his songs comes on the radio.
Does this mean that whites are “blackifying” their culture? No. Rather, we are opening our white selves to a new window of perception. We are allowing ourselves to learn more about the interests of the black population such as hip-hop, and therefore, we are more likely to SHARE those same interests with them as a united culture. We can now see WHY many aspects of their culture are cherished if we simply open our stubborn minds to experience them every once in a while. Just with the many growing fans of black musicians such as Lil’Wayne, I can personally see that people are becoming more open to others’ cultures in today’s society. If this continues, more black people will rise to power and their discrimination and racial obstacles will only become notes in a history book.
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I think it goes without saying that people plucked from one point in history would be astonished by what they find today, but I suppose it is also a good method of gauging progress to frame it in this way. African Americans in today’s society have certainly excelled far more than was even imaginable before the civil war. Beyond the initial shock of discovering electricity and television, I think a slave owner would by astonished by what he would find on MTV or ESPN. More so, however, I think the average slave owner would be more surprised by the level of everyday African American citizens that are thriving in virtually every walk of American life.
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This is definitely a very interesting question that I have never thought about either. I think if the slave owners turned on the TV today, they would definitely be surprised at how far we have come with race relations. Like one of the other students mentioned, MTV and the music business is vastly influenced by black people. Almost all of the top artists and award nominees are black people. It is even evident in sports just how many top performers are black. I feel like the slave owners would even be surprised with Jackie Robinson and his influence on not only baseball, but also race relations.
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This is definitely a very interesting question that I have never thought about either. I think if the slave owners turned on the TV today, they would definitely be surprised at how far we have come with race relations. Like one of the other students mentioned, MTV and the music business is vastly influenced by black people. Almost all of the top artists and award nominees are black people. It is even evident in sports just how many top performers are black. I feel like the slave owners would even be surprised with Jackie Robinson and his influence on not only baseball, but also race relations.
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I think this is a very interesting topic, and it’s a good way to show the progress we have already made of slavery issues in the past. Putting something about black people’s achievement on MTV will helps lots of people understand how the world changed from generation to generation. Racism is quite different in today’s society. Many races and cultures mixed and overlapped, and people tend to accept multi-culture and like cooperating on the national level. As an international student, I am glad U.S. opens doors for us to come in and study here. Most of the people are kind, and I did not feel a strong sense of discrimination. I can tell, many people put efforts on reduce racism and discrimination. Even more, some Americans feel offended when someone else not trait people in other colors equally. I am so moved by these people.
However, slavery is another different area. They are not on the same level. Before attend this SOC 119 class, I think slaves are not exist in this world. I do know some people are really poor and struggle in getting food and even survive. Compare slaves, they are much more lucky. At least they have basic human’s right, and they are not belonging to another person. If poor people work hard, they can get some money back. Unlike slaves, they are disposable, slaveholders trait them as domestic animals. Slaves are tools to make huge profits. Slaveholders not care about them at all, just want to use them. I don’t think they will change their mind after watching MTV, because they are so greedy and cannot stop earning money. At the same time, some people are pleasure to torture others. They vented their anger and disappointment toward slaves. It may be the way to let them feel better, feel power and control.
I agree to use TV as a medium to spread out the existence and horrible situation of slavery. Make them public and not hide in the smoke screen. We need to face the problem instead of escape. We can say millions of times that slaves are not exist, however it will never change the truth. Human are weak, especially in front of huge profits. However, I believe there are always people who are righteous and willing to help slaves to regain their human rights. We are all the same, all human beings; all gave birth by our mother. I wish slaveholders could realize and think about it. Hopefully, there is some compassions left in their heart and let slaves free or at least treat them as human beings. Government need to do something to stop slavery, laws against slavery have to establish now, right now. And force slaveholders to set them free and other organization could give them medication and help them come back to normal person’s life. I know it’s not easy, however at least we need have this passion and hope.
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What an awesome question! Damn bro, honestly, if we transported a slave owner forward in time and explained how TV worked and then he watched a basketball game or a football game — he'd probably crap his pants. Can you even imagine being in a world one moment, where you literally OWN a bunch of black dudes and then are thrown into a world where all the black bros are rakin' in WAY more dough than you've ever seen in your life? It'd be totally mind blowing. Our culture really has come a long way, it has just taken so long to get to where we are today. Just don't send the dude back to where he came from or he would MAKE SURE that this didn't happen, and that'd be real messed up man.
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A slaveowner that lived today would probably think he was living in another world, because, compared to the days of slavery, this really is a new world. Black people have excelled to the highest degree in almost every field imaginable: sports, academics, music, politics, the list goes on and on. I would hope the slaveowner would maybe take a second to realize how ridiculous it is to enslave a people because of their skin color and make them prisoners to another race of people for no reason. However, in a sense most of us have all now read Disposable People and realize slavery is still alive and well in many countries so the slaveowner would probably find out about this and then go to that country to continue his work as a slaveowner.
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I totally agree with this comment; we have come a long way. I think if a slave owner could watch a rap music video, they would be pretty surprised for a number of reasons. First, they would probably be really surprised to see a black person so successful, confident, and powerful. I do not know if they would feel angry or upset, but above all I think they would be mostly shocked. They probably would have never expected a black person to be in that position, because a large part of their livelihood depended on keeping black people on a lower level.
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I love questions like this because it really is amazing if you really think about it. What would slave owners do? Frankly, who cares what they would do because they were a disgusting waste of a human body. But, I’m sure they would freak out and I don’t know, maybe pass out, or have a heart attack, or seizure or something. Since being in my Sociology 119 course and even before it, I always would think about how far African Americans have come since the slave days. I constantly think about the Tupac song “Changes”. In the song there’s a lyrics where he says, “And although it seems heaven sent, We ain’t ready to see a black president.” He wrote that song in 1998. 11 years later, our country saw its first black president. I’m white and yet I couldn’t be more proud of our country for electing a black president, even though we’ve discussed his race in class and technically he’s half African and not half black.
Black people have come so far in this country since slavery and when you really think about it, it’s overwhelmingly emotional, at least to me and I’m not even black. Pop culture is where the African American race first exploded onto. Some of my favorite music of today features artist who are black. This would mean that they are some of the wealthiest people in this country. Why or how? I mean, come on, we all know how much money flows into the entertainment industry these days. The Senate and the House of Representatives is even filled with a good amount of black people these days which is great! It’s showing that this country is actually moving toward having real integrity by actually following what the Constitution states. Also, something else even blows my mind. Barack Obama’s biggest democratic opponent was Hilary Clinton. A woman! Isn’t that incredible? Even during slavery, African American women were still not even thought of as equal when compared to African American men. The fact that we had a woman and a half-African man running for democratic ticket to become president of the United States of America is absolutely astonishing, in a good way of course! The Senate and the House of Representatives is also loaded with women these days; another step in reaching our Constitutional integrity.
But back to the fact that the two candidates were a woman and a black man. Now that is something that slave owners would get a heart attack from. Actually, any man in general from the slavery days or even 30 years ago would fall over and die from seeing that.
All of this gives me for our future in that maybe even 20 or 30 years from now we’ll all be treated equally, even the LGBT community.
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This is a really interesting way to think about the progress we've made as a country regarding race relations. I would summarize the former slave owner's reaction into two categories-I think he would either come to understand his past wrongdoings or would stick to his opinions and convince himself that our modern society has gone astray. Either way, he'd sure as hell be surprised.
If he were to turn on MTV, he would see African Americans musicians topping the music charts and beating out white musicians for music awards. If he were to turn on ESPN, he would see professional black athletes dominating, excelling at, and setting new records for a number of sports. If he were to even flip through any news channels, he would be shocked to find out that US citizens voted a president who is half black into office.
Seeing all of this would surely confuse him and make him rethink many of his previously held beliefs. In this process, he would come to a conclusion- either he was wrong or we are wrong.
Hopefully this conclusion would be the former. By seeing how the talents of black people come to view when they are respected and given the chance to succeed, he could come to understand how they are not unlike himself. They are human beings who have the same potential as him, only in the past their potential has been hindered. He would see how African Americans can coexist with not just whites, but every other race, relatively peacefully. Obviously prejudice and discrimination are not completely ousted from our society, but he would see the great amount of progress we have made since his time. In addition he could become part of our accepting society, identify with our new ideals and beliefs, and help us further our progress.
However, in seeing the prominent roles that African Americans play in our society today, he could have a more negative reaction. If he were adamant about slavery, which many slave owners were, he might blame us, the people of today's society for allowing this to happen. If he were to stick to his beliefs about blacks being inferior human beings, he would think our country's people had lost touch with our roots and forgotten the justification for slavery. He would most likely not be accepting to living in a society that is grounded on fairness that, unlike in his time, makes efforts to make sure it is carried out. Unfortunately there are people who actually live among us who still hold strong to this outdated belief.
I think another interesting thing to think about would be a former slave owner’s reaction to Barack Obama as president…
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I love thinking about this topic. It would be funny to see a slave owner in our society. He would probably learn pretty quickly that things have changed. Not even by watching tv but just by walking down a street. He would also probably get the shit kicked out of him if he met the wrong people. I'm glad you asked that question so I know I'm not the only one thinking about that.
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klpeace1 Reply:
March 5th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
I completely agree. Thinking about a slave owner coming into today's society is crazy. I cannot even imagine what one would think when they got to society today. Despite the problems we have today, we have come extremely far than we were in the 1800s and that is a good thing. I think a slave owner would probably be completely shocked by the leaps and bounds we have made in society. I think if he saw MTV, he would be in shock to see African-American musicians topping the charts and then turn to CNN and see the president of the Untied States. When we think about all that, it really puts into persepective how far we have, even though we have a ways to go.
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I think that slaveholders would be shocked, confused, and most likely speechless. Back in the eighteen hundreds, in the pre-civil war era—these slaves were property, expensive property, but property nonetheless. They didn’t know how to read, write, much less make a lot of money (enough for the “bling” nowadays that seems to define most celebrities). I mean if they saw the rap videos of people like fifty cent or lil wayne, maybe they would be a little disgusted—although, I do not think they would know what half the words being said were. It has been a long way since slavery in the sense that the culture has changed, the world has changed—where black people were then (the lowest of the low) is very different to where they are now (the president). I think mostly, the slave owners would be very curious about the culture and nature of our world today in correlation with black people. I mean, sure, maybe in the most extreme cases there would be slave owners absolutely freaking out, appalled at what our country “has come to” and possibly a conversation about how the confederacy was the best—but for the most part, I think curiosity would prevail above all else.
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I think that slave owners would be appalled to see all the black people on tv today. But if they turned off their tv's and went to a mall to see how differently blacks are treated when they are amongst secret racists, they would be proud of America. The fact that black people who have never been to jail don't get called back as much as white people who have been to jail is insane! Slave owners would be happy to see that despite the freedom that black people have gained, they still have a long way to go.
We definitely have come a long, long way since the era of the Civil War, but we still have a lot of work to do. We have a new president, but there are still acts of racism happening every day. I think it will take baby steps, but some day we will all see people the same way, no matter what color or gender they are.
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Interesting thought. Personally I believe that if a slaveholder were to see how far black people have come, they would probably have a stroke. Not only would they be astonished, but I think there would be some anger mixed in there as well. According to the slave owners, their slaves are their property. They are not singers, actors, doctors, lawyers, or athletes. Unfortunately, there are still people existing today who think this is astounding and possibly enraging. There are many, many discriminatory people living in the United States, and even though they are living in 2010 with the rest of us, their mentality is that of slaveholders. I look forward to the day when color is overlooked completely.
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This is definitely an interesting question. Yes, race relations still has a ways to go, but when you take a step back and look at how far we have actually progressed, since even the emancipation proclamation, it is mind blowing. Things are pretty crazy. Slaveholders/owners, I’m sure, could not have imagined the world today and the way everything turned out. If they ended up turning on modern day television or reading tomorrow’s newspaper, they would in shock. The race(s) they once regarded and treated as “inferior” has/have undoubtedly, in many ways, excelled. Further, this argument goes beyond “black” and “white,” as many other “races” have also made unforeseen progress in today’s society.
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I find this question really fascinating. What would slaveowners think of the amount of black or brown people now in power situations over white people? I think this change to equality between the races is phenomenal and I think that the past slaveowners would too. Honestly, I think that because owning slaves was all the white people really knew of black and brown people, they might not have really understood the inherent belief that black and brown people are no different than white people. As we know, there were various forms of slaveowners. Some were brutal and violent whereas others actually did help to educate their slaves. I think that if slaveowners were to see how society is today, they would be OK with it. Of course it’d be a shock because it’s completely opposite than what was the normal societal situation in their time, but honestly, if they were to see that black and brown people are no different than white people, I think they’d accept it too. My response probably sounds very naïve but I honestly would like to believe that most people have a moral compass and would be able to accept people for people, no matter what skin color they are.
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I think this is a very interesting point that this boy has chosen to bring up. I think not only slave owners but anyone who discriminated against people of color would be SHOCKED to see how far they have come. In history we have learned that many people treated people of color like animals. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think too many animals have the same talent as Jay-Z, or Rhianna, or Lil’ Wayne. These people of color are talented, skillful, hard-working individuals who were given the opportunity to do something with their talent. If we went back to the early 1900’s and they were living in the time of slavery, we never would have even known about them.
As much as people think that there hasn’t been much of a change of how people of color are treated, I believe we as a nation have come a long way. If we were all still racist and didn’t care about people of color, they wouldn’t be making millions of dollars a year on record albums, or sports contracts. What I am trying to say is that even though people think that people of color are not supported and still not treated with respect, they are. Millions of people listen to Jay-Z, whether you are white or of color. Many people cheer on Kobe Bryant when they watch him play basketball. People do appreciate people of color for who they are and what they have done with their lives. I am not saying that a person of color has to become famous in order to get the respect they deserve. But the people who did make something of them are quite amazing. These people refuse to let the color of their skin affect who they wanted to be and what they wanted to do with their lives. More people should have the same attitudes these people portrayed.
I think slave owners would be appalled to see how far we have come. Not only do we have people of color in the music industry, or playing on every sport team, but also we have one running our country. I think that more recent generations were educated the right way, which allows for each person to be rational about race relations issues.
I also personally think that everyone should have to take a class like Soc119 and have to go to the race relations meeting classes. I am not in the discussion group but I had to go to one for my first year seminar and it was a great experience for me. You get to listen and talk about issues with all different races of people. You become more knowledgeable and respectful of all different kinds of people.
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It truly is amazing to see how far we have come with race relations in this country. I feel as though seeing black people on MTV would be a slap on the faces of all the slave owners and people who stood for segregation in American history. They may also be angry and disgusted, but that would be because their mentality is from years and years ago. If they experienced American history and seen it change as we have, their reactions may be different. Race relations has made steady progress, and so taking a slave owner and putting him or her into today’s world would be an extreme shock to them.
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The question that seemed to be presented was what would slaveholders think of the world we live in today. And using the term slaveholder and not specifying which generation of slaveholders presents two different types of answers. From the book we read in class, Disposable People, we know that slavery is still very present in our society and their thoughts about race relations today would be significantly different than the thoughts of a southern slaveholder living in the 1800s.
A slaveholder living in the south in the 1800s, I think would be absolutely astounded with the changes that have occurred in the world since the official, paper-signed, government recognized abolition of slavery. When it is true to say that we have come a long way with race relations in the 1800s, we still have a long way to go. (We would not be taking this class if we didn’t). But anyway, a slaveholder in the 1800s would be astonished at the look of integrated schools and universities (including students, teachers, and professors) involvement in hospitals (including patient care, doctors, surgeons, etc), the set-up of restaurants and the minuscule chance of refusal based on your race, and more into the work force and how many people of many different races have taken high employee positions in all different fields of study. I think I could go on and on about the changes to have occurred in race relations from then till today. But I would also have to explain to them that it didn’t just happen in the blink of an eye, it has been and still continues to be a bumpy road towards progress. But overall we have come a long way.
Reading Disposable People really opened my eyes to the different types of slavery that are occurring in our world today. I knew from other classes that slavery did exist today and was still a huge problem, but I was not familiar with the degree, the severity, and the different types that was going on. Slaveholders today are so much different then the slaveholders that we traditionally think of when we think of slavery. Slaveholders today do not always look at the color of someone’s skin to see them as inferior. Instead, for instance in Thailand it was based on woman (mainly their own Thai women), and in Brazil it was based on extreme efforts to find work, and in places like Pakistan and India the caste system played a huge role. I think the slaveholders of today do not look at race to find their victims; they look for the weakest link and the group that they can take the most advantage of. When we look from the perspective of slaveholders in the 1800s, it is clear that we indeed have come a long way. But when we think of slavery today that long way we believe we think we have came gets pushed back a million more steps.
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This student brings up a thought that would have never crossed my mind normally. I think that slave owners would not even know how to react to rappers that are of color on MTV. I think especially with black people have made a huge impact on the hip hop industry. To think that the majority of artists are people of color is astonishing. I think slave owners wouldn’t be slave owners if this was the case, because society wouldn’t allow them to keep them and treat them this way especially because of the fame and glory that has been shown .
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erika4179 Reply:
March 6th, 2010 at 1:32 am
I agree I would have never thought of this idea before. I think slave owners would be very surprised and amazed to see many people of color status today. Some of the most well known and richest people in our country are African American. Like you said they have made an enormous impact on our society and the lifestyles we live. In the entertainment world and many other areas people of color have made a huge significance and definitely come a long way. Many of the needed changes have taken place in our society, but even more still need to occur.
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Additional blog #1
If slave owners were to see the efforts made on race relations today, they would be completely amazed and disgusted Slave owners would just hate the fact some of us are giving equality of chance. They would never accept us working together to try and make this world a better place for all people involved.
In conjunction with that, I think that these slave owners would do everything in their powers to try in sabotage all of the hard work that some of us put into race relations. Our new ways of doing things across the world concerning all races as well as religions would be too much for them to handle. However, the scariest part of this whole question is not what slave owners would think to see us now, but what they would do if they saw us now. We have come a long way, but the fight is not over yet.
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I think that would be really crazy if the slave owners heard the hip hop music! They must be really mad! because in their minds, the African Americans are just some kind of animals and not valuable and talented artists. Well personally I don't like hip-hop music ( yes, I'm a metal head), but hip-hop is considered the most popular and wide spread music style! Hey look at it there are people singing hiphop songs in korean, in chinese, and in taiwanese! Hip-hop is everywhere. It represents a lifestyle. A fashion aesthetic. A way of communication. It connects the people in every continent and every country. This is how amazing it is. Rap is easy for entry, but hard for being really good at it. So that's why you see a lot people trying to do some hiphop songs and only a small part of them succeeded and got know by the public. If the slaveowners could live up to today, thay gonna be really mad.~ From this I can see that– hey the society is taking its solid steps forward! It is improving itself every year. It is why the United States is so amazing. It is always improving itself. The abolishing of slavery was a very giant leap in its history-but not like the popular thinking, I personally don't just treat it as a sort of socalled "freedom for the black". I think the freedom part is just a very little part that president Lincoln thought about. More importantly, the freedom of productivity for the industrial revolution is what it is about. So many black slaves were freed from farming, that means they are able to work in factories and make money on their own. This is why the freedom of slaver is so important in American history. Instead of farming, now the black people can enhance the society's total productivity. With the freedom, now they can do things that have a much higher value (like becoming a hiphop singer). Once I remember a highschool teacher told us that never just look at things on its surface, but to see the “nature" of it. That is the nature from my point of view. the African Americans are just some kind of animals and not valuable and talented artists. Well personally I don't like hip-hop music ( yes, I'm a metal head), but hip-hop is considered the most popular and wide spread music style! Hey look at it there are people singing hiphop songs in korean, in chinese, and in taiwanese! Hip-hop is everywhere. So hail to the hiphop singers! Althought the music is not my dish, your music is still the best thing ever in the 21th century. In Taiwan, there are hiphop singers sing songs about freedom and democracy, in China, there are hiphop singers sing songs about fighting against dictatorship… The hiphop spirit is amazing, isn't it?
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There can be no doubt that race relations have taken a giant leap. From slavery to becoming some of the best known and paid performers on television is a huge change. What the blog does not address and what I think is interesting is the timing of those changes. To some of us the response might be “wow, so much over such a short period of time.” For others, “it sure took forever to get here and discrimination still exists.” My position on the timing of the advances in racial relations would be that it took a long time and we have a way to go. The treatment of African Americans was so abhorrent through most of American history that every day must have seemed like an eternity to those directly affected. From the utter cruelty of slavery to the present day, the struggle has continued. I am sure that those that marched in Southern towns in Mississippi or tried to integrate white universities would take issue with any thought that the changes came quickly or without intense struggle. During those years we may not have had MTV but we did have television, theater and the movies. African Americans appeared in these genres, notwithstanding the inability of their children to attend schools of their choice or sit in the front of a bus. Although much has changed and certain offspring of slave ancestry are reveled and idolized in our culture the vast majority of the black community still deals with unpleasant remnants of its past.
The speed of the societal changes from slavery to Barack Obama can only be understood in the context of other changes in our society over the same period of time. We managed to move from the horse and buggy to sleek automobiles and commute in jets allowing us to travel coast to coast in moments rather than months. We once looked at the moon and wondered. We now view the earth from cameras placed in space by current day descendants of 18th explorers who considered the Allegheny Mountains to be a dangerous and foreign terrain. The social, emotional and technological changes in our society have been immense. Those slave owners would be amazed at any of the examples I cited and with hundreds of other changes I did not—some as simple as an electric hair blower. With a century and a half of incredible change I think that the emergence of black actors and performers would be the least of the changes that would impress the slave owner. A war was fought and won over these principles. But that was 150 years ago and even with a president of color I think that most would feel that remnants of that bleak past still remain.
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I agree with this. Race Relations have definitely come a long way in our country. It has come so far especially in such a sort period of time. I know some of our grandparents and even parents were around when the civil rights movement was happening in our country. Segregation was normal and blacks had little rights. Present day we have a president who is half black. A man who would have not been treated equally in the 50’s, is now the leader of our country. That is something to think about. If you think about all the successful actors, singers, athletes that are black it makes this even more impressive of how far we have come in race relations.
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This is a very interesting topic, and I never tried putting slave owners in present day and having them observe how far we as a nation and as a world have come from past times. It would be something to see the expressions on their faces. I couldn't even begin to think what slave owners would think if they were to turn on a television. The sport and entertainment industry is mostly black now when in the past it was predominately white. Think about it the biggest names in the music industry, Alicia Keys, Beyonce Knowles, Jay-z and the biggest names in sports, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and so on. The reaction of someone who treated African-Americans like dirt and also believed that whites were the only ones who deserved any kind of rights would be very confused and wouldn't know what to say or do.
There is no denying that when slavery occurred and when blacks weren't allowed to do anything and they definitely had no self confidence as any other race that would've been put in that situation. Now in sports and mostly music they have a lot of confidence and the slave owner wouldn't understand why blacks would have the freedom and the power they have now. If slaves from back in the day were to witness all this as well they would also be in a shock because of the change in times. Witnessing it first hand and seeing that our president is half black is quite remarkable in its self. But back to what I was saying about how slave owners who believed that they were doing nothing wrong and what they were doing to others was cruel and unapologetic. If they were placed in present day like the student expressed they would not know what to say or do. From just walking down the street and seeing how the world has changed and what they believed in was actually the wrong perspective on life would be something very new to them because treating blacks like that is or any race is wrong on so many levels. No I'm not sticking up for people who owned slaves but that is what was happening everywhere back then and still happening today in many countries. But if those same owners were to see how much more accepted blacks and many different walks of life are included into the culture would change his idea on life and what it truly means to be free.
But we still have a long way to go but the question used was a nice one to use. It really made me think about how far we have made it but we still have a long way to go.
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