Prompt I would like for you to write about racism, particularly as it is discussed in Owen 'Alik Shahadah’s 2005 award winning documentary 500 Years Later. First, address the following questions raised in the film: What was unique about slavery in the Americas as opposed to slavery in Africa? What reasons were given in the film about why we should talk about slavery? What did you take away from the documentary.

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According to the video 500 years later slavery in Africa was much more brutal than what it became in America, not just physically but mentally. Slavery in Africa was a simple form of endangered servitude, the serfs had respect and dignity while American slaves lacked such basic human rights. Slavery in America wasn’t something one could escape by the rules of the system. It was created in a way where people were forced to accept the fate handed to them. How did they keep African American slaves from challenging the status quo? First thought would be using force, or armed guards keeping them in check. The actual brilliant, and I use that in sociopathic way is that they found that by removing all education, and replacing that with propaganda, and a new culture in which they are the lower class. They found that the easiest way to control a population is to control the education. They educated the slaves in a new culture, a new low standard of life and they told the slaves this is the status quo, this is how life is, this is how it has been an how it will be. White children were taught the same thing, so they saw no moral objection to it. I wonder how the first slaves to reach the Americas were treated?

Why should we still talk about slavery? In the video they attack the public system of education for covering up the topic, my personal experience within the public school system is that we spend many years studying slavery and the ripples it has created. From the revolutionist Nat Turner who lead a violent revolt in America, to the revolt of Amastad , we studied Rosa parks to Martin Luther king. We have read Huck fin, studied brown v board, the end of segregation, Jim Crow laws, the beating of Emmit Till. It frustrated me in the video when they said we never spent time in school learning about slavery and racism in school. In the video it was made out that we are trying to cover up what happened. The fact is that there are other subjects that need to be taught as well for a rounded education, and suggesting that we should force children to give up those other interesting history lessons to focus on slavery is overzealous. Then there comes the subject of talking about slavery outside of a public education. I agree there is a problem with African Americans, the distribution of wealth, the fact that such a small population makes up the majority in prisons. In a country where social mobility is not as high as it should be, African Americans are left at a disadvantage. Should we talk about this though? There are some people who think we would be better off teaching our youth in equality. If we don’t talk about slavery and racism, racism will cease to exist. In a perfect world yes this may seem like a simple solution, but the fact is this problem is more complex than that and deserves a more complex solution.

Psychiatrist Frances Cress Welsing states, “The system of racism, white supremacy...is a behavior power system that is local, national, and global...It [is] carried out in all areas of activity: economics, education, entertainment, labor, law, politics, religion, sex, and war. It determines patterns of perception, patterns of logic, thought, speech, action, and emotional response as well as symbol formation.” What I don’t understand is why racism has to be white supremacy. If we as a nation are going to combat racism why not take a united stand, as Asian, African American, Mexican, Middle Eastern, even White. Throughout America’s history great social injustice has been done to many people. From the abuse of Asian American immigrants to the current abuse of Mexican workers. Since the start of the gulf war to the recent war on terrorism the system of racism that Frances Welsing has listed can be seen. Middle Eastern people being singled out post 9-11, the Muslim religion being labeled as dangerous. On the internet videos of American troops shooting Taliban forces brings comments like “ Kill the towlheads” “Sand niggers must die”. Social injustice is a huge problem in America and nothing is going to happen unless you can make people relate to the problem. There should be no us African American’s deserve this and that from the Government, but that we the people united deserve something better. Instead of just African American’s receiving a free education, why not try to give a free education to all people living in poverty.

The movie “500 Years Later” gave good insight in what it means to be African American in today's society, but I can’t help to feel as some of the ideas in the movie were counter productive to furthering a better future. Yes America’s history is stained with social injustice, but why let your history define your future? Why do some African Americans feel as if it is okay to be prejudiced against others because of what happened almost 200 years ago. As long as communities keep dividing and only supporting each other racism will continue to exist.