One does need a full knowledge of the slave trade and slavery to know that those coming from the continent of Africa and those born into slavery suffered various forms of psychological rewiring, some positive but most negatively. Yet, it is scarcely asked what the mental state of the White population was, despite the generalized notion of accepting. There most have been some sort of ‘something’ felt.
For this paper , we will be analyzing the relations betweens races, specifically the racial attitudes in 18th century Portugal and Brazil. To do so , we will be using Robert Edgar Conrad’s, Children of God’s Fire: A documentary History of Black Slavery in Brazil, primary source, 5.1 (202), focusing our analysis on the language used by these two white men—a lawyer and miner. “The fact is that I have a Negro whom i suppose must have been sent into this world for my Purgatory,” is one of the first lines of the discussion between the characters of this primary source, the Miner and Lawyer(203). Simply stated, ‘a burden’; ‘ a curse’. Immediately intros discussion, possession is being attributed to suffering. Despite being ironic in the since that it was the possession who suffered most, this is also indicative of that ‘something’ being closely relatable to that of guilt—as we deem it today— was something that required the justifications of another to be remedy whatever this ‘something’ was in that world. A comparison is made by the two white men—who of are different classes—between slaves and youth under the subject of patience; for the youth one should have lots, but not for slaves (203-204). Between the two there is a fundamental difference. The miner “cannot endure to hear it said that patience is necessary in dealing with slaves; for after all they are Negroes…(204). The lawyer does not adhere to this thought process and rather looks to the “truth,” attesting that it is that which matters. He asserts that the truth is, slaves, “are also somebody’s children,” thus making them youth requiring patience(204). This apparent discrepancy in fundament beliefs reveals the various caucasian understanding of whites role in slavery; evidently it was the definition of slaves was not universal. At the core of each man’s belief system there are fundamental differences stemming from education. …show more content…
Though both are aware of the story of Adam and Eve, the Lawyer has a more complete understanding of the Arts and Sciences involved. He, unlike the Miner seems to understand Rhetorics, the consequences of the omission of language, and a basic knowledge of science. In one part of the primary source, it discusses the geneology of the blacks and whites. The Miner believes that Whites descended from Adam; Black descended from Cain(204). From a series of premises similar, one is able to conclude that education—or the lack of— was deeply embedded in slavery. The Miner, who learned a major lesson from repetition, something that had been told since he was a little boy. That, however, is not formalized training or learning, that is conditioning—ignorance. Now by comparison, the Lawyer has significant knowledge of the “scriptural truths” (205). Simply stated, the Miner’s understanding of the arts has yet to be developed, just as his knowledge of sciences lacks. He, sadly like the majority of the population, were undoubtedly unaware that the blackness of slaves skins is not due to the sun, among many things(205) and okay with the fact that Black was bad. A few things are evident about the two men at this point. First, the occupations should be considered as significantly influencing factor , as one’s level of education determines the way one shapes the world. A Lawyer would have knowledge in Philosophy, History, and Religion—the Arts. There may have been a basic requirement in the sciences as well, but i cannot attest. While the Lawyer has undergone such extensive training, the Miner is required to know none of this, perhaps slave management, but that is not formalized a teachable. Through the use of rhetorics its is clear to see which of the two men can formulate syllogisms, ultimately revealing then ‘inability’ of, if allowed to generalize, the masses who would have been of the Miner’s education level. they were the ones who truly , one could argue,
For this paper , we will be analyzing the relations betweens races, specifically the racial attitudes in 18th century Portugal and Brazil. To do so , we will be using Robert Edgar Conrad’s, Children of God’s Fire: A documentary History of Black Slavery in Brazil, primary source, 5.1 (202), focusing our analysis on the language used by these two white men—a lawyer and miner. “The fact is that I have a Negro whom i suppose must have been sent into this world for my Purgatory,” is one of the first lines of the discussion between the characters of this primary source, the Miner and Lawyer(203). Simply stated, ‘a burden’; ‘ a curse’. Immediately intros discussion, possession is being attributed to suffering. Despite being ironic in the since that it was the possession who suffered most, this is also indicative of that ‘something’ being closely relatable to that of guilt—as we deem it today— was something that required the justifications of another to be remedy whatever this ‘something’ was in that world. A comparison is made by the two white men—who of are different classes—between slaves and youth under the subject of patience; for the youth one should have lots, but not for slaves (203-204). Between the two there is a fundamental difference. The miner “cannot endure to hear it said that patience is necessary in dealing with slaves; for after all they are Negroes…(204). The lawyer does not adhere to this thought process and rather looks to the “truth,” attesting that it is that which matters. He asserts that the truth is, slaves, “are also somebody’s children,” thus making them youth requiring patience(204). This apparent discrepancy in fundament beliefs reveals the various caucasian understanding of whites role in slavery; evidently it was the definition of slaves was not universal. At the core of each man’s belief system there are fundamental differences stemming from education. …show more content…
Though both are aware of the story of Adam and Eve, the Lawyer has a more complete understanding of the Arts and Sciences involved. He, unlike the Miner seems to understand Rhetorics, the consequences of the omission of language, and a basic knowledge of science. In one part of the primary source, it discusses the geneology of the blacks and whites. The Miner believes that Whites descended from Adam; Black descended from Cain(204). From a series of premises similar, one is able to conclude that education—or the lack of— was deeply embedded in slavery. The Miner, who learned a major lesson from repetition, something that had been told since he was a little boy. That, however, is not formalized training or learning, that is conditioning—ignorance. Now by comparison, the Lawyer has significant knowledge of the “scriptural truths” (205). Simply stated, the Miner’s understanding of the arts has yet to be developed, just as his knowledge of sciences lacks. He, sadly like the majority of the population, were undoubtedly unaware that the blackness of slaves skins is not due to the sun, among many things(205) and okay with the fact that Black was bad. A few things are evident about the two men at this point. First, the occupations should be considered as significantly influencing factor , as one’s level of education determines the way one shapes the world. A Lawyer would have knowledge in Philosophy, History, and Religion—the Arts. There may have been a basic requirement in the sciences as well, but i cannot attest. While the Lawyer has undergone such extensive training, the Miner is required to know none of this, perhaps slave management, but that is not formalized a teachable. Through the use of rhetorics its is clear to see which of the two men can formulate syllogisms, ultimately revealing then ‘inability’ of, if allowed to generalize, the masses who would have been of the Miner’s education level. they were the ones who truly , one could argue,