Stories from an Empty Classroom

In Response to Slavery

How can any sane human being, any being capable of love, how can they look at a child, tears streaming, nose running, heart pounding, clinging to their mother, and see only a slave? See only property? How can you tear them away like that? How can you live with the fact that that child, one who looks so much like your own, will never know how much they're loved? How can you look at a man, one who will do anything to protect his wife, his brother, his son, and hand him to labour that will break his spirit? How can you look at a mother, one who screams and cries for her only child, the only thing tying her to earth, as you tear her away and only see the colour of her skin? 

Do you see that little girl over there? That girl with beautiful dark skin and glossy black hair? She believes that everything will be okay, did you know that? She believes that her mommy will protect her because she always has. But mommy can't protect her from you. Mommy can't stop you from beating and raping her little girl because she's being beaten and raped herself halfway across the country. Mommy can't protect her daughter because she can't get to her. And so they cry, each and every night, hoping, praying to your god and theirs and anyone else's that someone will save them. But you look at them, and you see property? You whip them and watch as they spill blood and all you see is livestock? Less? 

But I suppose all humans are like that, right? All the good Christians own slaves because it's endorsed by the bible, huh? Guess What!? There were rules and restrictions and basic human consideration. You have none of that! 

What if that was you and your family? Tears streaming as your only son is dragged, kicking and screaming, to some unknown place to be worked to death because it's more cost-efficient than providing simple accommodations. Heart breaking as you watch your best friend whipped for helping a white child, terrified that you'll be next because you gave that same child some water last week. Nerves racking as you're examined like livestock, every little flaw scrutinized and announced for everyone to hear. 

You mutilate them and criticize them and abuse them and pummel them to the ground and then you expect them to get up and go harvest crops so that you can make money to buy more of them and repeat the process all over again. You talk about being humane and moral and ethical. I want nothing to do with your system of ethics if this is how you treat your fellow man. I want nothing to do with your morals if this seems right to you in any way. I want nothing to do with humanity if all of you can stand back and watch as murderers and rapists and child abusers and thieves get off scot-free. In fact, I want you gone if this is the case. Get off of my land, get out of my waters, get off of my planet and away from my moon. Your presence is no longer required here, I can take care of it myself.