“The Slave Ship” by J. M. W. Turner
We Americans pride ourselves in our colorblind society. We have reached a point where we can transcend racial differences. We have created a system in which every citizen lives the “American Dream,” given equal advantages and opportunities. We have abandoned the dilapidated institution of African American slavery and the ideology of white supremacy with it. Or so we like to think. While it is easy to block out the dismaying truth, the reality is that society still revolves around the black and white racial dichotomy. This is an aspect of American race relations that has not changed since the beginning of slavery itself. White supremacy is still overwhelmingly contingent on minority oppression, especially …show more content…
In a moment of inspiration, Turner wrote in a poem, “Before it sweeps your decks, throw overboard the dead and dying – ne 'er heed their chains”. In his painting, Turner depicts a ship with sails furled, preparing to brave the storm ahead. In the ship’s wake are the remains of bodies: the arms and legs of slaves the ship’s captain abandoned in the ocean. Turner exhibited this painting in 1840, a time when abolition was a highly controversial, global issue. Britain, Turner’s own country, had become actively involved in expanding abolition to other countries. It had signed treaties with both Spain and Portugal to abolish the slave trade in 1818, and did the same with France and Denmark in 1835. During this time, Britain had the ability to stop and seize American slave ships. Thus, Turner’s artwork is a message of encouragement for his country to expand efforts of American …show more content…
It is easy to find instances of racism in our society. Black Americans are nearly three times more likely to be victims in police shootings than whites, and when they are not killed, they are persecuted unfairly by the criminal “justice” system. Five times as many white Americans are using illegal drugs as African Americans, yet blacks are sent to prison for drug offenses at ten times the rate of whites. The injustice blacks feel today is directly parallel to the pain felt by the slaves in the scene of the Slave Ship. They too, are still slaves to the system. The Zong becomes white privilege. The captain becomes the justice system. The shackles and chains become the prisons of
We Americans pride ourselves in our colorblind society. We have reached a point where we can transcend racial differences. We have created a system in which every citizen lives the “American Dream,” given equal advantages and opportunities. We have abandoned the dilapidated institution of African American slavery and the ideology of white supremacy with it. Or so we like to think. While it is easy to block out the dismaying truth, the reality is that society still revolves around the black and white racial dichotomy. This is an aspect of American race relations that has not changed since the beginning of slavery itself. White supremacy is still overwhelmingly contingent on minority oppression, especially …show more content…
In a moment of inspiration, Turner wrote in a poem, “Before it sweeps your decks, throw overboard the dead and dying – ne 'er heed their chains”. In his painting, Turner depicts a ship with sails furled, preparing to brave the storm ahead. In the ship’s wake are the remains of bodies: the arms and legs of slaves the ship’s captain abandoned in the ocean. Turner exhibited this painting in 1840, a time when abolition was a highly controversial, global issue. Britain, Turner’s own country, had become actively involved in expanding abolition to other countries. It had signed treaties with both Spain and Portugal to abolish the slave trade in 1818, and did the same with France and Denmark in 1835. During this time, Britain had the ability to stop and seize American slave ships. Thus, Turner’s artwork is a message of encouragement for his country to expand efforts of American …show more content…
It is easy to find instances of racism in our society. Black Americans are nearly three times more likely to be victims in police shootings than whites, and when they are not killed, they are persecuted unfairly by the criminal “justice” system. Five times as many white Americans are using illegal drugs as African Americans, yet blacks are sent to prison for drug offenses at ten times the rate of whites. The injustice blacks feel today is directly parallel to the pain felt by the slaves in the scene of the Slave Ship. They too, are still slaves to the system. The Zong becomes white privilege. The captain becomes the justice system. The shackles and chains become the prisons of