Zinn CH. 2: Drawing the Color Line

The United States have a long history of racism, which makes this a very important topic of discussion. There is no other country in the world that has experienced more racism than the U.S. In chapter 2, Zinn asks a few essential questions: How did it start? How might it end? Is it possible for whites and blacks to live together without hatred? Most of these questions have never been fully answered, but in this chapter, Zinn helps us to grasp a better understanding of racisms’ history. In 1619, people of Virginia needed people for labor. It was too much work for them to grow enough to survive. Although turning to the Indians (like Columbus) for this kind of help might have seemed like a good idea, the Virginians were outnumbered, canceling out this option. They came to the realization that the use of black slaves would work. It was illegal at the time, but it had gone on for hundreds of years; black slavery. A reason for this enslavement was due to their helplessness from being ripped from their land and culture. Their culture wasn’t inferior to others, it was even “more admirable” in some ways. Slavery was also used in Africa, as well as Europeans. It’s stated that the slaves which were in Africa were more like the majority of Europe’s population. “African slavery lacked two elements that made American slavery the most cruel form of slavery in history: the frenzy for limitless profit that comes from capitalistic agriculture, the reduction of the slave to less than human status by the use of racial hatred, with that relentless clarity based on color, where white was master, black was slave” (25-26). The conditions the pre-traded slaves had to go through were unbearable for many. Marching for thousands of miles and being packed on a ship so tightly that they are practically suffocating are just a few of these awful conditions. Although this sounds terrible, the slave traders found it all to be “worthwhile.”

The Dutch were the first to dominate the slave trade, followed by the English. Americans over in New England even began to trade slaves. “By 1800, ten to fifteen million blacks had been transported as slaves to the Americas, representing perhaps one-third of those originally seized in Africa (26). Unequal treatment became an issue, which is part of what racism means. Zinn states that there is even evidence showing both whites and blacks seeming more equal than we may think. Common problem, work and enemy (their master) make blacks and whites somewhat similar. In 1763, about half of the population became enslaved. Punishments were harsh for running away and other things. “From time to time, whites were involved in the slave resistance” (30). I feel that this is a very important aspect in this chapter. This seemed to be what people feared most; whites and blacks rebelling together to overthrow power.

To go back to one of Zinn’s questions, Is it possible for whites and blacks to live together without hatred among each other? I believe that it is. I feel that no matter what, we will have certain people of different races who have issues and are racist, but I don’t feel it’s fair that being called racist should be thrown around. There are so many people who don’t see race as an issue, and each decade improves with less feelings of hate. Although there is still so much racism in our society, I believe that one day people will look past that and learn to understand each other for who we are.