Zinn ch 2

In Zinn’s second chapter, “Drawing the Color Line,” the beginnings of slavery are shown and Zinn states that American slavery is the basis for racism today. The reason racism in America and racism in Africa are different, Zinn states, is that the Americans treated the black slaves cruel and when Africans had slaves it was comparable to servants in Europe because they were treated like people who had to work, instead of animals. Zinn also says that there isn’t a country where racism has been so important for so long. Zinn says that the reason Americans enslaved Africans instead of Native Americans is that when we first began slavery, the natives gave a much higher resistance due to their numbers. When the rich whites began to think that the poor whites were going to side with the slaves to help with a revolt, the rich whites started giving white indentured servants benefits after the time served was up. This helped to prevent the uprising because the poor whites no longer disliked rich whites due to jealousy. The poor whites were also given reduced sentences compared to what they received before to halt a revolution effort.

I was shocked to hear that racism here is more than in other countries. I did not realize that America was the highest racist country. It sort of puts me into place realizing that all other countries have gotten over the difference of looks while as a whole, America hasn’t. It shows me that I have to step up to help other races get over the glass ceiling they experience in the working world. I think to myself, how can one country who has a high influence on other nations set an example to smaller, less powerful nations that racism is okay. Racism is not okay and we, as a nation, need to show other nations that looking at someone, not by their skin color, but by their actions. If one person everyday was changed to think this way, it would be beneficial, but more people to need change their mindframes than that.