Citadel Kaepernick and the Neg Marron | Page 8

History of Slavery & the Comparison with the NFL

Taking into account the indisputable economic benefits of free labor, many have argued that racism was never the main cause of the modern slavery system (referring to European colonize slavery system) but the mere idea of economic subjugation of an individual was the actual principle cornerstone of slavery irrespective of the race factor. Therefore, slavery intrinsic purpose is simply to exercise the economic power of one man over another, however, it was morphed to a racial dominance activity whereby one race is taking advantage of another perceived “inferior race”. In other words, racism was/is simply a by-product of the concept of slavery.

Based on the historical characteristic of slavery itself, a case could be made for such argument. Slavery essentially began with modern civilization. During the time of primitive farming (hunting and gathering), there was no use for a slave because humans were able to collect or grow food just enough to be self-sufficient. Slavery, nonetheless, became “necessary” whence people begin to gather in towns and cities. The economic need for the surplus of food created large farms and there was a benefit for cheap/slave labor. Throughout history, until the Portuguese Slave Trade from the 15th-17th century, slavery served primarily as an economic purpose notwithstanding the issue of race.