Kanye West, Twitter and the Slave Trade - For The Blockchain Memory Project #2
If you have been following the latest information on twitter, then you surely would know that right now, Kanye West is trending. For a few days now, he's come under fire, first for showing solidarity to Donald Trump (President of the United States of America) and now for saying that 400 years of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade was a choice. He's literally trying to say that the black man had a choice to walk out of slavery or walk away from being a slave, but he chose to remain so. Well, according to my own understanding of the tweet.
You see, as a little kid, I read a lot about the trans-Atlantic slave trade and ever since then, it has become a very touchy subject for me. For Kanye West to openly say this, he's being super insensitive, ignorant and (permit me to add) silly. He might want to claim that it is his opinion and he has a right to his opinion, but what he doesn't know is that as a super star, every word he utters count; his words are capable of influencing children and youths who look up to him, his words have the power to change opinions and strengthen resolves. He is causing actual damage, without him probably realising it.
So right now, I am in this dark room, light sprinkling little rays upon my keypad. I am typing this and shaking my head in pity. Our forefathers did not die painful deaths for our generation to spit on their graves.
But I'm not here to talk about those who think slavery was a choice; at times, you cannot help an ignorant soul. I am here to clasp your wrists, as we walk down the dark tunnels - where our ancestors toiled day and night, their backs hunched and whipped heavily, sweat breaking forth from their pores, tears colouring their faces, chains dangling on their ankles. On the plantation. Let me summarize.
Memories.
The trans-Atlantic slave trade fully started in the 17th century, and went on till the 19th century before it was finally abolished. During this period, over twelve million Africans were brought to the New World against their will to perform back-breaking labour under terrible conditions. Most of them were sold off, chained like animals, and trafficked across the Atlantic to become slaves. They worked on the plantation, providing cheap labour for their masters especially on the sugar and cotton plantation.
Perhaps what made the Atlantic slave trade more gruesome is the inhumane treatment meted out on the slaves. They worked round the clock, whipped regularly by the slave masters - their skin tearing off their flesh as blood soiled the floors. They had identification marks (the names of their masters) written on their bodies - created with the use of very heated iron. They were bound by chains, padlocks used on their mouth to stop them from stealing or eating foods. Their women were brutally raped, reduced to sex objects. They were silenced - their existence made void and meaningless.
Perhaps, you do not know the story of Ota Benga, a Congolese slave who was exhibited alongside monkeys in a zoo. Or the story of Kunta Kinta, a rebellious slave who fought back against his masters.
Perhaps you do not know the pain of tearing a baby off his mother's breasts.
Or the pain of watching your father chained and bundled off to lands unknown.
I listen to my grandmother - whose sister was carted off to slavery. I listen to her talk, wondering if her sister is still alive or if she was one of those raped or whipped to death.
Perhaps you were not taught this song 'sweet home, sweet chariot, coming forth to carry me home...' Perhaps it was just one of the many stories you were told, that bounced off the walls of your earlobes. You do not know the gravity of the trade.
...I shall write about Ota Benga, I shall write about these slaves one day. I shall write that the world, instead of concentrating on the inhumane treatment of the Europeans is making Africans feel like the whole slave trade is their fault. I shall write that Africans, rather than embracing their past, are trying so hard to forget it and make it sound like the slave trade is no big deal. They are spitting on their fathers' graves.
I shall write that racism keeps growing in the western world - another form of slavery that no one seems to be paying much attention to.
So when next they tell you it doesn't matter, or when they say Africans enjoyed it or never fought back, remind them of this statement made by Killmonger - in Black Panther, "bury me at the bottom of the ocean, with my ancestors that jumped off the ships...cos they knew death was better than bondage." or better still, tell them reading history and learning will cure their ignorance.
These memories should be crested in our hearts. They should tell us where we come from, who we are and where we are headed.
Never forget.
P.S - These images are from twitter. Main source is unknown.
@oluwadunsin
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blacks have gone through so much to get where we at right at this present moment in time
Yes we have. Its only painful seeing how most African leader act as selfishness. Eating the entitlement of the masses.
I've always thought that Africa has been cursed with bad leaders. But I'm still optimistic that one day, all these would come to an end. The glory of Africa would one day shine and there'll be no room for all these horrible leaders we presently have.
Right. That's why we must learn our history and maintain our heritage.
Definitely dear
This is touchy and very thoughtful.... I bet Kanye just spoke due to an half-baked information... Not understanding the full details of the circumstances face by our forefathers. But then again we thank God we are gain more ground than they could ever imagine.
FYI: the foundation of american civilization was built with the strength of the black, their cities foundations laid by the aches of our forefathers backs!
You're totally right. That's why we should correct that impression now, so that generations to come would not be brainwashed into thinking our forefathers were slaves out of 'choice.'
Kanye knows damn well that slavery was not a choice. He is seeking attention and wants to create a buzz around his name because he is about to launch an album and wants maximum sales. Most of these celebs put money and power above everything else. He doesn't care if he hurts a whole community or opens up closed wounds. All that siding with Trump, twitter rants, firing his manager is all publicity stunts.
Hmmn, that's quite horrible, to be sincere. That is why we shouldn't keep quiet about it. A lot of young people look up to Kanye and it will be unfortunate if they hold on to his words, and then grow up with that belief.
Thank you for the upvote.
You are welcome.....I liked reading your post- slavery was such a great injustice to Africa.
The only ish I saw that I was not too happy with in the slavery history was how African leaders/elders actually sold our own people to the whites.
That was mindset haven't totally left us.
Hi Solomon....you are right....I didn't look at it from that angle. But like in my country Kenya, the arabs would come through the Indian Ocean, capture the Africans then sell them to the whites without the consent of the elders.
Are you talking about the trade or does this still happen in Kenya?
Yes am talking about the trade in the 16th and 17th century. At-least it can't happen these days :)
Ah okay. Well, it can happen these days o. Did you hear about Nigerians used as slaves in Libya? They were also sold, and that is recent.
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