Second Essay
Africans and Europeans during the 17th and 18th century began to coincide with one another after the increasing movement of the slave trade. Within Europe itself, many of its leaders challenge the ethics and characteristics that determines a free man and their status in society. The religion of Christianity plays a pivotal role in the social position Africans would be held and connected to in the Christian world. Too much power and social status would give Africans that same stature as the common man, which many Europeans in power challenged while some wanted more than the status of a slave man. The challenges would begin in finding a common bond to bring freed men and slaves together in a predominantly Christian society in Europe. Many countries within Europe would develop different solutions to their challenges, yet would still come together due to the connection all hold with Christianity.
Much of Christianity itself was pushing the abolitionist movement. With other groups also calling it an abomination to help the slaves, many felt that it was a tradition that aligned with the values of being free and Christian. The writings of Peabody dealt with the freedom of men in France. Very little was spoken about Christianity and more about the social politics of France during that time. Trials for Boucaux were argued for his freedom and the decision to call him equal to any other man.1 Boucaux was a man that believed in Christianity and that everyone in humanity should be equal. Hudson talks more about the legal approach of slavery as it is decided in Great Britain. Other groups such as Quakers are leading the movement for freed slaves in Europe.2 While the influences of religion also masked social politics, many groups pushed the abolitionist movement even though rivals had political and economic motivations for slavery.
Christopher Brown talks much about Christianity and it's determination to rid the world from harsh and degrading practices the human race as endured with each other. Slave owners and worshipers clashed on the morality and ethics to keep slaves or to follow Christian teachings to let all individuals under God to be free.3 Boulle writing emphasizes the religious aspect of Christianity and slavery in France. Slaves may face prejudice for not being a modern civilized European and not practicing the Christian religion.4
In Equiano memoirs gives us an image of Christianity and the politics that were involves in practicing his religion. Once he was immersed in the Church as a young child he writes about how different he was treated compared to the others.5 His writings talk to how equal he is to the other white men that go to Church. It gives a prime example of one situation were the Christian faith proved to make equality true to it's nature without any stereotype of race or stature.
The struggle for Africans to become freed men between social changes and the involvement of Christianity varied across Europe. Many clashes with political and social values in for the power that blacks should have and the thought of economic improvement for having slaves were a constant debate. Many different viewpoints on religion itself and certain beliefs causes the connection between Christians and slaves to be free different in all parts of Europe. In spite of these problems, many groups would still ban together and risk fallout for a important cause. Power and social hierarchy in Europe were on the fringe of being changed, which made the determination of also putting Africans as freed men another challenge which made individuals of prestige protest. Other Africans who were in Europe banned together as a community to challenge the problems and alleviate the situations that many faced.
Christianity's hope during the 1600-1800s was to help slaves that were coming from Africa to become free. Many would find their freedom through escaping, seeking refuge, arguing in trial, finding common ground with whites, and religion. The religion affects many aspects of how Africans lived in this time and how they were viewed politically and in society. In the end, much of the thought to free slaves and even give them endowed rights came from society becoming more practical and understanding to the livelihood of humanity.
1Peabody, Sue. “Race, Slavery, and the Law in Early Modern France.” Historian 56, no. 3
(1994): 501-510.
2Peabody, 501-510.
3Brown, Christopher Leslie. Christianity and the Campaign Against Slavery and the Slave Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
4Boulle, Pierre H. “Racial Purity or Legal Clarity? The Status of Black Residents in
Eighteenth-Century France.” The Journal of the Historical Society 4, no. 1
(2006): 19-46.
5Equiano, Olaudah. Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Or Gustavus Westminster, MD: Random House, 2004.
I thought that some of our readings failed to give adequate attention to ulterior political motives that may have driven some abolitionists (viz. conservative Tories). I appreciate your insight that “…influences of religion also masked social politics…” because keeps one from becoming too enamored of the often stirring religious rhetoric that gave such luster to the abolition movement.
ReplyDeleteI think that the sentence beginning with “Slave owners and worshippers…” implies that all Christians during the period in question agreed that the Christian faith taught freedom and equality for all persons, which was not the case. Based on statements made later in the essay, however, I gather that you did not intend this implication.