I was thinking about some of the reactions to American history I have witnessed by English/British youngsters. Who, learning of slavery for the first time, and hearing of the cotton fields, and the various plantations, of 'strange fruit' (black people hanged on trees for looking at, or in some way upsetting their white masters) are justifiably shocked. Alongside the cruelty, and the hardships suffered there, for some two hundred years. Including the persecution by 'klu klux klan', that dreadful vigilante group. These English kids, mistakenly often believe it's their history. Which, in regards to black people, England was quite different.
In fact in all of Europe, any black people, no matter how they travelled here, and few if any would have come by British slave ships. Any immigrants, were in the main, treated fairly. Of the slavers themselves, it was viewed as a profitable cargo. This does not mean that the British were innocent in the trade, far from it. They profited by collected slaves from Africa, most sold to them after being captured by neighbouring tribes. It was commonplace for black tribes, to sell other black tribes. Or, the Arabs to make forays into the interior, and collect them.The ships involved, took many to the Americas, or to the Caribbean. There they worked on tobacco, or sugar plantations, as well as cotton.
Of course back then in the U.K. the poor, white or black, were victimised for being poor. For centuries in. Britain, wealthy land owners owned slaves. Of their own people, people belonging, to their land. Born on it, to work for them. These people were commonly called surfs. They could scratch a living off their homestead, but had to work for free for so many months of each year. They had no rights, nor could they marry without their masters permission. So, slavery has existed there virtually for ever. These uneducated people were penalised for being ignorant, sick, whatever. It was quoted many were too stupid to make good money if sold on the slave market. If course, no one bothered to educate them, it was survival.
As in many developing countries, the gap between the wealthy, and the poor was vast. For centuries, there were workhouses, and cruelty, and slave like wages, and work loads. Whatever they suffered, it was the same for all, at that level in society. You suffered, and died, or you pulled yourself up, and survived. Many died in dreadful conditions, for generations.
Britons were enslaved by foreign usurpers over the centuries too. The invasion by Rome, bought the first black people here, as part of their army, and took the English as slaves. The Vikings on their raids of the coastline did the same. People were spoils of war, and for trade, in less enlightened times. In history, the strong have always used the weak. It happened all around the world, and was not only the black who were victims. The Portuguese took many slaves, as did the Muslims. They were shipped to various places where they needed as a workforce. Brazil, being one. England also led the fight to stop slavery, which they did in the eighteenth century, taking their fight to the Americas too.
Yet, despite this flourishing worldwide trade, slavery just did not exist here! in the UK as it did in the USA. All over Europe, the black had the same rights, as the poor whites. They had the same chances as any immigrant. Look at the English who were sent to Australia, or who went to Amercia. They fought for what they wanted, or, they sunk into poverty, disease, and death. It was survival of the fittest. As it has ever been throughout history. The difference being, in America, during that two hundred period, they were also prisoners. The English, have been slaves many times, it would have been the same. Captured, taken across the sea, by the Vikings and other marauders of our coast.
I know it's not politically correct to say any of this today. Nothing in the slightest bit racist, but we must be honest. We should not forget that USA history, as we do not forget the world wars, but we should not make a platform from it. On which we build modern society. Surely the modern black person is too big for that, should be beyond that. I know there are racsists out there, narrow minded, frightened people. I have seen it, as over half of my grandchildren are half black. I see, and feel the animosity, but seldom. I also see how the black race call them niggers, and ignore their white blood. Scooping all half, and quarter peoples up, claiming them as part of the 'brothers.' That, in my eyes, is just as rascist. We should be amalgamating, not breaking into races. As for any animosity, or rascism, they have to learn to deal with it, like I deal with sexism as a woman, or fatism if you're overweight. There will always be people who act so. It is fear, of the unknown, and of the balance of power shifting, or, of basic bullying.
My grandchildren are West Indian black, and Brazilian black. I have six dearly loved family members of mixed race. They are not ashamed of my white face, or to call me grandmother, and I am not ashamed to call them grandchildren. I love them, and they know it. They love me, and it feel it. I would do anything for them, as I would by other grandchildren. No I do not parcel them into colour, but into ages, and personalities. Surely, this is how true integration works. By joining the races, and avoiding deliberate separatism. Yes, there are significant differences, if we dwell on them. But also far more, significant similarities. we are all people, with hearts,and souls, and minds. We, all people, have our own harsh histories, it's no good keep dragging them up.
The film then, was well acted, well written an important historical era In the American fight for equality. But in the UK we did not have separate schools, buses, wages. The black were not singled out or, victimised. Not shot with no recourse to justice. I found it interesting that the country who shouts the loudest about 'land of the free', and racial equality, still appear to staff the White House with black servants. Is it really not a mixture of all people's still? Or, did I get that wrong, has it changed.
This is my memory. Where I grew up, there were no black people, Indian people and little else. We saw our fist real black skins, in the fifties when a few adoptions of mixed races took place, we were spellbound, and fascinated. Not angry, or defensive. In the towns it was a different matter, more immigrants of all kinds. There were black successes way back, there were the barristers, the actors, the occasional wealthy man, or sportsman. More of a mix, in the ports, where people arrive. It may not be what the history books say, but what I remember. I gradually saw West Indians appear in london, true they took the lower paid jobs, but had the same rights as we all did, they came from a much worse economy, and wanted a better life in England. England needed a work force, again. As did many other countries. Holland encouraged Indonesians to go settle. But they were treated well, with all the rights of the indigenous population.Their children can be whatever they want, they can go to college, or work in a shop. They will have to work no harder, or no less than I did. In fact with equality today, and ratios of all races demanded, there are sometimes advantages to be had. Jobs kept for particular races, or disabilities. Even that, I am uncomfortable with. Such a fine line must be drawn, or it is counter productive I feel. Although, changes are always imperfect, gradually we find a way for fairness.
What I don't understand, is when my half West Indian granddaughter went to college. The all black cast portrayed how persecuted the black was. American history again, presented, as something quite incorrect. It was a festival of cruelty, and persecution. Portrayed by youngsters who all happily mix, white, black, yellow, and in between. I found it annoying, and I must admit subversive. Why do they want to give these youngsters a twisted version of what happened. Are they trying to promote racsimn? I am a little afraid, the film will do this too. My other grandaughter, Caucasian, of the same age was outraged, that we had treated black people, her family, that way. Those things stick, or they foster disbelief in other facts told them, as truths. If they are scewed to show persecution that did not exist. Not in the UK it didn't.
In Britain today, with the common market, we have a massive influx of Eastern Europeans. Who stick together, get each other jobs in the same place, speak their own language, don't really mix.They have flooded our streets, in too greater numbers. We seldom hear English as we walk the towns. These people are whiter than most if the locals.yet, they are stirring up strong feeling, akin to rascism. It has little to do with colour, only with fear, of being overrun. Fear of being forced into a lesser position. Perhaps that's what the American black person(some of them) are afraid of today.
I don't have all the answers, I only know how things effect me. I want to live peacefully. For my children, and grandchildren to live in safety, without suspicion, and hate.
Please let's not go so far, that we worsen the situation, instead of improve it. That's all I ask.
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