Slavery Vs Slavery Essay

What was first the chicken or the egg? The title of this essay can be used to explain the man debate on slavery and race. For many years people have been debating the topic of race creating slavery or slavery creating race. In order to make an informed decision on the subject matter one must look at both sides, and look arguments that were already presented in order to be completely informed. To start how this debate one must know basic definition of slavery and race. Race, as defined in discussion, is a preset structure that is defined in society to help identify culture. Whereas, slavery “is a condition compared to that of a slave in respect of exhausting labor or restricted freedom” (Google.com). Race and slavery have two very different …show more content…
In these documents Aristotle gives both the begins of was we in today’s society would call race, and the idea of a natural slave. He states, “Meet it that barbarous people should be governed by the Greeks….that barbarian and slave are by nature one and the same” (Aristotle; page 11). Aristotle does not say anything about race, but he gives the foundation of race which is difference. The ideas presented here is that people that are not presumed to be civilized, need guidance and the leadership of others. Another division that Aristotle uses is the difference between men and women he places them on the same level and as barbarians. Aristotle states, “the female and the slave occupy the same position” (Aristotle; page 11). BAsed on these documents even Ancient Greek cultures had an understanding of what race was, because they understood that each group of people is different whether that be male or female, cultured or …show more content…
The first topic to be address is was Anthony Johnson’s success in pre-colonial America just plain lucky? In the book “Mynes Own Ground”, Anthony Johnson was a slave that gained his freedom and found financial success. The events that were apart of Anthony Johnson’s experience was not common for many slaves from his time period, and even his success was meet with jealous. Anthony Johnson was due in part, because he know the European culture, and he know the benefits of financial success. Anthony Johnson’s family, after his passing, lost everything that they owned and because of his previous condition of a slave the government took his land. These opportunities for a slave to gain this amount of success faded over time. The success of Anthony Johnson is diminished because in death, even after of years of being free, he was still given the condition of a