What to Do with Race Relations
Written By: Thomas Pirnat
This problem is a problem today. But why is it a problem, where did it start. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the triangular trade. This trade was a simple, straight-forward concept. America was a new country, so it needed people to work it's plantations so it could make profit. What would happen is America would grow crops (mostly cotton) and sell it to Europe. From their, Europe would manufacture different goods and export them to Africa. Africa would then send slaves to America in slave ships (ships with the "cargo" being tens to hundreds of slaves). From their the process repeats.
Once slaves were delivered to America, things took a turn for the worse. As slaves were delivered, they were auctioned off to the highest bidder. They were given a new name, and taken to the plantation. There, they spent their days picking cotton. Now, that may not seem like a bad job, you go outside, pick a bunch of cotton, put it in a basket, and your done! No, it was not like that at all. First off, the working ours. From early in the morning (5 or 6 o'clock) to as early as 8 o'clock. Not only that, but if you didn't arrive on time, didn't pick enough cotton, or talked back to your owner, you were whipped in the back. Commonly known as "lashings", after you've received your lashings, you were left with painful marks that left you unable to, comfortably, lay down on your back. Food wasn't great either. Some plantations would give them a decent meal, but most plantations left a couple pieces of stale bread and a bit of water. Now, if you were lucky, you could do well and get rewarded. From better food to special provisions, it was best to do as you were told.
The African-Americans were free, but many Americans didn't like them. They didn't allow the former slaves to use their bathrooms, drinking fountains, or even set one foot into their shop, tavern, or restaurant. Life was hard for them, but Civil Rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X worked towards a better country were the phrase "all men are created equal" meant something. Through boycotts, speeches, and other forms of protests, these leaders brought America to where it is today. Although we have gotten better, a majority of Americans still are racist towards the African-Americans. Most hatred towards them is from people thinking about the past, and the influence children get from their parents and people around them. While kids are still impressionable, at the young ages ranging from two to four years old, we should create a kids television show teaching them about making friends, not enemies. About treating people the way you would want to be treated. But most importantly, to see others as equals.
This show would be called "America's Dream". It would have one white male, one white female, one African-American male, and one African-American female. These characters would dress in colorful but casual clothing and would talk about different things relating to growing into a nice person, to treat others nicely and as equals, rather then different people.