The Blessing of Slavery
(George Fitzhugh, Pgs. 29-30 and Chapter XXI)
1. How does Fitzhugh compare slavery of his day to the slavery of ancient Rome and Greece?
At the bottom of page 297, Fitzhugh makes a comparison of the slavery of his era to that of ancient Rome and Greece. He references the fact that the enslaved people of the colonies were, in his mind, incapable of mechanic arts, trade and therefore could not pursue such trades and were best left for the middle class whites. The enslaved people were of a lower social class and during the pre-Civil War the proslavery colonies did not or would not allow a person of inferior class to perform such tasks. However, in the time of ancient Rome and Greece, slaves were commonly tradesman and left to do the work that the families could not or would not perform.
2. Does Fitzhugh see race as an important factor in terms of slavery?
Fitzhugh did see race as an important factor in terms of slavery. He states that in order for slavery to be successful, the enslaved people should be of a different race than that of the master. Fitzhugh even goes as far as to state that the wider the difference, the better the enslaved person will feel about his/her position. He states that the difference will in some way give them the feeling that they are less humiliated. He compares the practice of Jews enslaving their own. The act of owning a slave of the same race is viewed as apprenticeship, not as slavery. He further demonstrates the importance of not maintaining enslaved laborers from the slaveholder’s race by pointing out that in the history of the nations where it was legal to own a person native to the land that slavery was not as frequently practiced. The only reason he gives is that it is because they are of the same race rather than a different, inferior race so they are seen as equals or at least similar.
3. According to the excerpt, which group is persecuting free white laborers?
Fitzhugh’s theory concerning the oppression of white laborers is embedded throughout his writings. Fitzhugh defines free as one’s ability to live without the burden of financial obligations. According to this theory, the enslaved African American is far freer than that of his white laborer counterpart. Fitzhugh states that it is a burden of the free white laborer to work a full day without provision and then depart his employment nightly only to worry how food is put on the table, rent/bills are paid, and other life sustaining items. Whereas the enslaved African American can end his day and will be provided with a place to sleep and food to nourish his/her body. The lack of concern in one’s life is true freedom.
This ideology is supported in John Green’s Crash Courses (Slavery, Crash Court US #13, Extra Credit Assigned in Week 5). Green confirms that the proslavery forum pressed the idea that there was a true benefit to being an enslaved person. This benefit came in the form of food, clothing and continued care in one’s old age. Further, Green references John C. Calhoun’s speech given on the floor of the Senate in 1837 in which he describes slavery “is instead of an evil, a good—a positive good.”
Fitzhugh states two major contributions that lead to the oppression of the free white laborer. First, he acknowledges the fact that there were no laws to protect the rights of the free white laborers. Greedy slaveholders (employers) exploited its free laborers working them longer for fewer wages which caused a life of oppression and misery. According to Fitzhugh these capitalists and their imposition of taxes led to the persecution and oppression of the free white laborers.
Documenting the American South, (Genovese, Eugene, 2004) http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/fitzhughcan/bio.html
"Blessing of Slavery by George Fitzhugh, please click here to read article.
At the bottom of page 297, Fitzhugh makes a comparison of the slavery of his era to that of ancient Rome and Greece. He references the fact that the enslaved people of the colonies were, in his mind, incapable of mechanic arts, trade and therefore could not pursue such trades and were best left for the middle class whites. The enslaved people were of a lower social class and during the pre-Civil War the proslavery colonies did not or would not allow a person of inferior class to perform such tasks. However, in the time of ancient Rome and Greece, slaves were commonly tradesman and left to do the work that the families could not or would not perform.
2. Does Fitzhugh see race as an important factor in terms of slavery?
Fitzhugh did see race as an important factor in terms of slavery. He states that in order for slavery to be successful, the enslaved people should be of a different race than that of the master. Fitzhugh even goes as far as to state that the wider the difference, the better the enslaved person will feel about his/her position. He states that the difference will in some way give them the feeling that they are less humiliated. He compares the practice of Jews enslaving their own. The act of owning a slave of the same race is viewed as apprenticeship, not as slavery. He further demonstrates the importance of not maintaining enslaved laborers from the slaveholder’s race by pointing out that in the history of the nations where it was legal to own a person native to the land that slavery was not as frequently practiced. The only reason he gives is that it is because they are of the same race rather than a different, inferior race so they are seen as equals or at least similar.
3. According to the excerpt, which group is persecuting free white laborers?
Fitzhugh’s theory concerning the oppression of white laborers is embedded throughout his writings. Fitzhugh defines free as one’s ability to live without the burden of financial obligations. According to this theory, the enslaved African American is far freer than that of his white laborer counterpart. Fitzhugh states that it is a burden of the free white laborer to work a full day without provision and then depart his employment nightly only to worry how food is put on the table, rent/bills are paid, and other life sustaining items. Whereas the enslaved African American can end his day and will be provided with a place to sleep and food to nourish his/her body. The lack of concern in one’s life is true freedom.
This ideology is supported in John Green’s Crash Courses (Slavery, Crash Court US #13, Extra Credit Assigned in Week 5). Green confirms that the proslavery forum pressed the idea that there was a true benefit to being an enslaved person. This benefit came in the form of food, clothing and continued care in one’s old age. Further, Green references John C. Calhoun’s speech given on the floor of the Senate in 1837 in which he describes slavery “is instead of an evil, a good—a positive good.”
Fitzhugh states two major contributions that lead to the oppression of the free white laborer. First, he acknowledges the fact that there were no laws to protect the rights of the free white laborers. Greedy slaveholders (employers) exploited its free laborers working them longer for fewer wages which caused a life of oppression and misery. According to Fitzhugh these capitalists and their imposition of taxes led to the persecution and oppression of the free white laborers.
Documenting the American South, (Genovese, Eugene, 2004) http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/fitzhughcan/bio.html
"Blessing of Slavery by George Fitzhugh, please click here to read article.
Reflection
The concept of slavery has plagued the history of all societies from early primitive man-kind to modern day. It is argued that different forms of slavery were used as the laboring oar to build cities and scholars and experts debate the issue relentlessly. I would argue that tax breaks, food, and shelter in exchange for years of servitude with no true hope for a better life is slavery. Ultimately these rural concepts of cheap labor pathed ways for the chattel type slavery we have discussed in this class. The depth in which slavery was prevalent at the foundation of America is a sensitive subject and continues to stir great arguments with feelings of frustration, anger and resentment.
As a student advances the learning setting does not sugar coat the sting of what slavery is or was in early America nor should it. Learning the truths and reality the American’s indifference of how the African American’s were treated is important to develop compassion and sensitivity to the horrendous flight of African Americans endured and the continued racism that exists in today’s world. The article by George Fitzhugh, The Blessing of Slavery, was eye-opening. I did not understand the extent of racism the early settlers of America possessed. It is difficult to comprehend how a group of people could regard another group as unequal and believe they have a right to hold another person as chattel.
Fitzhugh’s ideology for proslavery was a difficult concept to process. This assignment took time to process Fitzhugh’s words. It was a trying to place myself in an early American settler’s shoes and view life as he may have. This assignment helped me realized that as I enroll in advanced classes I will be faced with many opinions that I may not agree with. However, if I want to be a better student it is important for me to read these writings with an open mind. To contain my own personal opinions so that I could best listen to what the author has to offer. In the end I do not need to agree but I need to fairly analyze.
As a student advances the learning setting does not sugar coat the sting of what slavery is or was in early America nor should it. Learning the truths and reality the American’s indifference of how the African American’s were treated is important to develop compassion and sensitivity to the horrendous flight of African Americans endured and the continued racism that exists in today’s world. The article by George Fitzhugh, The Blessing of Slavery, was eye-opening. I did not understand the extent of racism the early settlers of America possessed. It is difficult to comprehend how a group of people could regard another group as unequal and believe they have a right to hold another person as chattel.
Fitzhugh’s ideology for proslavery was a difficult concept to process. This assignment took time to process Fitzhugh’s words. It was a trying to place myself in an early American settler’s shoes and view life as he may have. This assignment helped me realized that as I enroll in advanced classes I will be faced with many opinions that I may not agree with. However, if I want to be a better student it is important for me to read these writings with an open mind. To contain my own personal opinions so that I could best listen to what the author has to offer. In the end I do not need to agree but I need to fairly analyze.