Race And Racism In The 19th Century

Many historians believe that race and the development of racism came about as a by-product of colonialism with its economic reliance on slavery . When slavery was abolished in all British territories at the end of the 19th century, there was cause for celebration and many assumed that this would help begin to put an end to racial issues. This expectation was described in a brief article published in The London Times when the ‘friends of the abolition of slavery’ met on August 1, 1834 to dine and celebrate the end of slavery in British territories. While this description demonstrates the joy some of the British felt with emancipation of the slaves, it also reveals a lack of human understanding regarding race and racism. Race identification
The gentlemen diners described in the London Times article who gathered to hear about the state of affairs in the West Indies learned that the slave population of Jamaica had been in a ‘state of dangerous excitement’ which was only relieved when the Earl of Mulgrave, who was serving as Governor of Jamaica, addressed the masses and explained that since new laws had been enacted, they were being granted their freedom. These laws reduced or eliminated punishments of females, granted the immediate freedom for children and began education for all people. Unspoken in this article is that the large population of slaves were most likely on a course of revolt against their British masters and emancipation may have been the only way to ensure peace. The prospect of violence between slave and masters was quite obviously a very real
Slavery is still in existence today, and racism is a well-documented global issue. The inherent argument with race and development of subsequent racism is that many believe we cannot help ourselves because racism is a system unto itself; a system perpetrated by social norms and cultural teachings. Whether it is judgement of intelligence, prejudices based on skin color, or the quest to equalize all people regardless of skin color, society is slightly obsessed with the notion of race; all while proclaiming racism should be eliminated or educated away. It seems that the more we try to eliminate race, the more it divides us. The celebration dinner of the ‘friends of the abolition of slavery’ who met on August 1, 1834 had reason to celebrate emancipation of the British Colonies and were wise enough to realize there was still work to do in order for eliminating all slavery. Slavery was abolished over a hundred years ago, but race identification and racism still exists today and will continue to hold us hostage in a system of race permeate society because cultural beliefs and perceptions have created a self-perpetuating system of