Dear Editor,
To begin, the abolition of slavery dates back to June 22, 1772, when a slave named James Somerset got sick and was abandoned by his planter and left on the street in England. Granville Sharp took him and cared for him until he got better. After his recovery his owner demanded him back. Sharp took the case to court. The general verdict was that James Somerset, the slave, was set free. After that in 1776 David Hartley presented a motion in the House of Commons stating that the slave trade was against human rights and God’s laws, but the majority of members of the House voted against it because the slave trade was too beneficial for the country’s economy.
Then in 1807 the parliament in Britain passed a bill to abolish the slave trade, and in 1833 the abolition law was passed in England to stop the cruel and illegal trading of slaves. Denmark was the first country in Europe to put an end to slavery in 1792, followed by Britain in 1807, Sweden in 1813, followed by the Netherlands in 1814, France in 1818, Spain in 1820, and Portugal in 1836. In 1862 President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in all rebel states. All slaves in combat uniforms had the same rights as their white counterparts in the same uniforms. On January 1, 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation Act was passed in the United States and established that slaves in all states must be freed.
As you know, the abolition of slavery came with a huge price. During the abolition, true identity was lost, new culture was adapted, slaves cut off from all birthrights, slaves had to carry property traits or trademarks, slaves were given their masters’ names, no access to education on the plantations, and no compensations for their labor. This is not an exhaustive list. When slaves on the plantations in the West Indies got the news that they were freed, many went back to their master in tears, saying, “Master, they told us we are free! What are we going to do without you?” Such thoughts resulted in low wages and psychological influences in the workplace today.
It wasn’t only African, African-American, and West Indian peoples were in the struggle for freedom and put a stop to slavery. White people also joined the fight to help liberate slaves from a cruel and senseless system. People and organizations that fought against the slave trade and helped to put an end to slavery: Men like Granville Sharp, William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson, Earl Grey, Henry Broughman, Abraham Lincoln, David Hartley, and Zackary Macaulay. Such organizations are the Anti-slavery Society, and the Society for the abolition of the Slave Trade (founded by the Quakers) in Britain, the Encomienda System for Latin America and the Caribbean Region (Spain), and the French Code Noir (France).
The excitement on the plantations came when the joy of freedom with the Talking Drums of Africa and the sounds of shells echoed across the Caribbean shores with the lyrics, free at last! Free at last! As the sun set beautifully beyond the plantations in the horizon, imagine for a moment the joy of happiness of such great day for people of all races to embrace each other in love, friendship, education, culture, and harmony regardless of color, creed or class. Similarly, just think about yourself as a slave working tiredly on a plantation in the West Indies from sunrise to sunset with meager ration, and only to find yourself in a slave holding center to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Don’t you think that was awful, shameful, and cruel?
Regardless of your answer! Now is the time for Africans, African-Americans, and Caribbean people to unite and embrace each other in love, business, education, culture, sports, and theology, etc. As you know, during the slave trade a lot of people suffered and died, but that was over 300 years ago. There is now a whole new world of opportunities in business, science and technology, education and culture, theology, government and politics, entrepreneurial management, and environmental technology. Now is the perfect time to move on and become educated, productive, and positive. Show love and kindness, be humble, and give thanks to the Almighty. These tips will lead to great success.
In summary, abolition and emancipation are the expressions of freedom. Black history should be knowledge-based and not as a racial ideological tool. The chains and shackles are gone, but the doors of freedom are open to embrace togetherness.
This article is dedicated to black history celebration. Very many thanks to everyone reading this article.
Joseph Harvey
All Rights Reserved
