To the editor:

Matthew Fletcher, in his letter of October 26, argues that “slavery isn’t a function of race, religion, or culture but rather stems from the depravity of man.” In support of his argument, he cites numerous historical examples of slavery dating back to the Code of Hammurabi in 1,780 BCE. For the sake of argument, I will accept the veracity of Mr. Fletcher’s historical research. However, none of his examples should be used as an apology for, or in defense of the enslavement of Africans in the United States, a practice and system that was most definitely based on a racial ideology, that of white supremacy.

Mr. Fletcher is correct. It is indeed depraved to kidnap human beings; to own them and force them to labor for you in order to build your wealth; to torture and rape them; to consider them chattel (property); to sell their children away from them; to kill them. Enslavers, usually white Christians, justified their depravity by telling themselves that black bodies were different from, less than white bodies, that the “white race” was superior.

I will give one example. John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, speaking in support of slavery, said in 1837: “But I take higher ground. I hold that in the present state of civilization, where two races of different origin, and distinguished by color, and other physical differences, as well as intellectual, are brought together, the relation now existing in the slaveholding States between the two, is, instead of an evil, a good–a positive good...” He continued, “...the labor of the African race is, among us, commanded by the European.” (bold-faced mine)

Unfortunately, the racialized hatred of Black bodies did not end with the Emancipation Proclamation. White people continued to deny freedom, and life, to Black people through the practice of convict leasing and the evil terrorism of the Era of Lynching (1880-1940); through relining, unequal application of the law, and mass incarceration.

Today, many white Americans refuse to acknowledge the reality of the history of the white supremacist ideology that built our country. Today, because they continue to fear the loss of their historical power to Black people, white people continue to demonize others who don’t look like they do. They work to restrict voting rights and to curtail the teaching of history in our public schools. And they still lynch Black bodies.

Very sadly, although Mr. Fletcher is wrong about the institution of slavery in our country, he is appears to be right about depravity.

Trinki Brueckner 

Barrington