course materials

1. Why does slavery have a racial-ethnic origin? The origins of the slave
trade can
Why does slavery have a racial-ethnic origin?The origins of the slave trade can be traced
back to the 16th century. The text states that the influx of riches and precious minerals such
as silver and gold made Spain a mighty nation (Healey, 2023). Portuguese and Spanish
colonizers began to enslave indigenous people in the Americas and Africa. The transatlantic
slave trade, however, was not officially sanctioned by European governments until the late
1600s when the French, the British, and the Dutch began to trade enslaved Africans to the
Americas as a source of cheap labor. Slavery has a racial-ethnic basis due to a long history of
prejudice, discrimination, and power imbalances. For example, according to historian Ira
Berlin in his book “Many Thousands Gone: The First Two Centuries of Slavery in North
America,” the transatlantic slave trade was a significant factor in the development of
slavery, as millions of enslaved Africans were brought to the Americas to work as cheap
labor. This exploitation was justified through racial and ethnic prejudices, as many
European colonizers saw enslaved Africans as inferior and uncivilized. Racial and ethnic
prejudices played a significant role in the development of slavery, as enslaved Africans were
seen as substandard. These prejudices were used to justify the brutal treatment of enslaved
Africans, who were often subjected to inhumane conditions, including physical and sexual
abuse, harsh punishments, and forced labor. For example, the infamous “Black Codes” of
the antebellum South in the United States regulated the behavior and movement of enslaved
Africans, limiting their rights and freedoms. As John Bounds notes in his article “The Social
Origin of Modern Racism: Slavery, Colonialism, and the ‘Red Man,’” these laws helped to
maintain a system of control and exploitation and reinforced the notion that enslaved
Africans were racially and ethnically inferior. Cultural attitudes and beliefs about race and
ethnicity also sustained slavery. For example, as historian Reginald Horsman explains in his
book “Race and Manifest Destiny: The Origins of American Racial Anglo-Saxonism,” many
white Americans believed in the notion of white superiority and saw slavery as a necessary
evil to maintain their racial and ethnic dominance. In addition to these laws, cultural
attitudes and beliefs about race and ethnicity also helped to sustain slavery. For example,
many white Americans believed in the notion of white superiority and saw slavery as a
necessary evil to maintain their racial and ethnic dominance. These cultural attitudes and
beliefs persisted well after the end of slavery and contributed to the development of
systemic racism and discrimination in American society. The legacy of slavery has had a

2. profound impact on race and ethnicity in the United States and other parts of the world.
Despite the abolition of slavery, African Americans continued to experience discrimination
and oppression through Jim Crow laws, segregation, and the denial of fundamental rights
and freedoms. The remnant of slavery has also contributed to ongoing disparities and
inequalities, including poverty, inadequate housing, and limited education and employment
opportunities, disproportionately affecting African Americans and other people of color. In
conclusion, slavery has a racial-ethnic origin due to a long history of prejudice,
discrimination, and power imbalances. Racial and ethnic prejudices were used to justify
enslaved Africans’ brutal treatment and helped sustain slavery through laws, policies, and
cultural attitudes and beliefs. The legacy of slavery continues to impact race and ethnicity in
the United States and other parts of the world, contributing to ongoing disparities and
inequalities.(word count:565)Berlin, I. (1998). Many Thousands Gone: The First Two
Centuries of Slavery in North America. Harvard University Press.Bounds, J. (2013). The
Social Origin of Modern Racism: Slavery, Colonialism and the ‘Red Man’. Journal of Global
History, 8(1), 27-50Healey, J. & A. Stepnick. (2023). Diversity and society: Race, ethnicity
and gender. Thousand Oaks, CA: SageHorsman, R. (1981). Race and Manifest Destiny: The
Origins of American Racial Anglo- Saxonism. Harvard University Press.