Could Slavery Have Been Prevented

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Slavery is a big, heavy topic that makes us wonder: could it have been stopped, or was it just gonna happen no matter what? I am going to try my best to look into where slavery came from and if there was any way to avoid it. I’ll mostly be using the stuff I learned in Unit 2 as evidence.

Slavery started a long time ago when people from Africa were forced to go to the Americas. A guy named Juan Garrido wrote about it way back in 1538, showing how Africans were taken from their homes and sold as objects. This shows how slavery began because people were treated like things, not like humans. There were maps showing where the enslaved people came from and where they went. From the 1500s to the 1900s, millions of Africans were taken to the Americas …show more content…
Looking back, there were moments in history where decisions could have been made differently, potentially altering the course of events. For instance, the initial interactions between Europeans and Africans could have been characterized by cooperation and mutual respect rather than exploitation and domination. As Toussaint Louvre once said, "I was born a slave, but nature gave me the soul of a free man." This quote highlights the resilience and agency of enslaved individuals, suggesting that with a different approach to engagement, the institution of slavery could have been averted. Additionally, the economic incentives driving the transatlantic slave trade could have been addressed through alternative means of labor and commerce. If leaders and societies had prioritized the value of human dignity over economic gain, perhaps the horrors of slavery could have been avoided. As Martin Luther King Jr. famously stated, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." This quote underscores the interconnectedness of social and economic systems, suggesting that prioritizing justice and equity can lead to more humane and sustainable practices. Furthermore, the legal and political structures that upheld slavery could have been challenged and reformed earlier on. Instead of enacting laws that dehumanize and disenfranchize enslaved people, governments could have pursued policies that upheld equality and justice for all individuals. Additionally, the voices of abolitionists and advocates for human rights could have been amplified and heeded, leading to earlier abolition and the prevention of further atrocities. As Frederick Douglass once proclaimed, "Power concedes nothing without a demand." It never did, and it never will." This quote emphasizes the importance of active resistance and advocacy in challenging oppressive systems and effecting meaningful change.
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