Trying to explain slavery.

Edward wanted to know what slavery is.

I did not tell Edward all about my half of the presentation of Our Favourite Things About The Powerhouse Museum until last Friday.  Of course one of my favourite items is the Slave Medallion.

Then on Saturday and again on Sunday Edward asked me, "What is slavery, Dad?"

Here's how I tried to explain it:

- Slavery happened 200 years ago when some bad people kidnapped men and women from Africa and took them in ships to other parts of the world.  The bad people made the people they took work for no pay and sold them to other people as if they were a thing to be owned instead of free to make the choices we can about how we live.

- The slave medallion was used to advertise that slavery was a very bad thing and that it should be stopped.

"Is there any more slavery going on nowadays, Dad?"

- Well, there is.  There is not as much as there used to be, but there are still people being made to work for no pay.

[ I know there are some historical inaccuracies in my explanation, for example leaving out Caribbean slavery, but it was the best I could do at the time. ]

 

[ Photograph shows half-length portrait of two girls wearing banners with slogan "ABOLISH CH[ILD] SLAVERY!!" in English and Yiddish, one carrying American flag; spectators stand nearby. Probably taken during May 1, 1909 labor parade in New York City. From Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA -  Digital ID:cph 3a23285 ]

Comments

[lynne jordan]

You did just fine. descendant of a slave (my great grandmother)

[Bob Meade]

Thank you Lynne.