To the editor:

I read Mr. Fletcher’s extended letter “An atrocious history” with great interest. His historical recounting of the practices of slavery was instructive and thought provoking. 

Slavery has been a practice all over the world probably since early humans from different tribes had to compete for resources. Winner takes all, including the losers, as their spoil.

The common theme seems to be aggression, power, violence and material gain by the dominant group and the use of violence and torture to control the slaves.

The Bible references the people of Israel enslaved by the Pharos and taken out of Egypt by Moses. Slavery was legal in the Ottoman empire until early in the 20th century. Hitler enslaved millions of European Jews using those lucky enough not to be slaughtered to fuel his diabolical mission to create “the perfect race.” British ships carried the first Africans to the Americas in 1619 beginning 240 years of “legal” slavery and 400 years of actual slavery in our country. The Boko Haram captures and enslaves young boys and girls today as they ravage parts of central Africa spreading fear and violence. I agree, slavery has been a practice in all epochs, in every part of the world and often unrelated to religion or race.

What is distinct to our American history is that slavery in our country was entirely a function of race. This practice eliminated the family histories for millions of our fellow Americans while it helped to establish many of America’s most successful current financial institutions and businesses: JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Citizens Bank, Bank of America, Dominos Sugar, Brooks Brothers, Tiffany’s, Most, if not all, of the early elite universities owned slaves.

So, while I admire Mr. Fletcher’s review of the practices of slavery it is important to recognize that our American practice of slavery was entirely based on race, and the reverberation of that racially based practice is evident today as racism. 

Many will claim: “There is no systemic racism”?

Imagine a game of Monopoly where one player has to wait to play for 400 rounds while the other is allowed to “Pass Go” 400 times, collecting the $200 and buying houses and hotels while the other player watches. After 400 rounds the dormant player is told: ”OK. Now play … and you are expected to win!”

It is true that slavery and its scion, racism, has been and is still practiced in many places against many people outside and within the US. We have the opportunity to be true to our American ideals by recognizing this truth and standing up for the equality and protection of all Americans. 

Chris Clyne 

Barrington