The Enduring Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Equality

The Enduring Impact of History and Religion on Society

Both history and religion have played a significant role in shaping contemporary society. Crucially, the effects of the slave trade continue to impact the world significantly today. James Baldwin, David Walker, and Barack Obama are all significant figures in the movement for equality in America, though they operated in different time periods.

James Baldwin: The American Optic

James Baldwin, an American novelist and essayist, focused extensively on the experience of being Black in America. He articulated the pervasive societal message:

All you are ever told in this country about being black is that it is a terrible thing to be and that the whole American optic is based on the necessity of keeping black people out of it.

Baldwin compared this societal view to “a most disagreeable mirror” that implies one's opportunity for jobs and education is severely hindered simply because of their skin color. Furthermore, he suggested that survival requires profound internal strength:

• You have to really dig down into yourself and recreate yourself.
• You have to decide who you are.
• You must face the world to deal with you, not the idea of you.

David Walker's Appeal and Religious Critique

David Walker shared beliefs similar to those of James Baldwin. Although born free, his freedom did not shield him from witnessing firsthand the degradations and injustices of slavery. This motivated him to write his famous work, the Appeal, intended to arouse enslaved people in the South to rebel against their masters.

In the Appeal, Walker referenced both historical and biblical texts, suggesting that white slave owners fundamentally misunderstood the religion they preached if they could treat African American slaves so inhumanely. He argued that the sin of white Americans lay in not understanding that God is the master of the whole family, not just one race; thus, slavery directly contradicted their faith.

Walker also highlighted that many biblical stories demonstrate a diversity of ethnicities and nationalities living in harmony.

Barack Obama on Slavery's Lingering Legacy

While speaking following the tragic death of Reverend Pinckney, Barack Obama discussed how the implications of slavery and the Confederate South continue to impact the lives of African Americans today.

In his eulogy, Obama conveyed his belief that America has made significant progress in bridging the racial divide, citing the reaction of the people in South Carolina to the killing of Reverend Pinckney as a tribute to this progress. He noted that few would have anticipated such revulsion and big-hearted generosity following the event.

However, Obama maintained that the presence of Confederate statues and the Confederate flag, which still stands for South Carolina, only prolongs prejudice toward African Americans. He argued that removing these historical reminders would not insult those who fought in the Civil War, but rather serve as an expression of the amazing change and transformation the U.S. has achieved and must continue to pursue.