Over the past few months, I've heard several prominent young black conservatives make the disturbing claim that slavery "wasn't all that bad." If I mentioned their names, you would recognize them, as they have national platforms through speaking engagements and podcasts.
Their statements are deeply concerning.
How can they assert that slavery wasn't bad when they never experienced it themselves? Making such claims shows a disregard of the personal testimonies of those who endured the horrors of slavery, something well-documented by historians.
One such individual is Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became a leading voice in the abolitionist movement. Douglass' narrative provides a powerful, firsthand account of slavery’s brutality. He detailed the physical abuse, psychological torment and the relentless deprivation of basic human rights. Douglass' experiences expose the harsh realities of slavery that cannot be dismissed.
In his 1846 speech delivered in Glasgow, Scotland, titled “An Account of American Slavery,” Douglass described how he was treated as property, subjected to cruel punishments, and denied the opportunity to pursue any form of personal development. He recounted the constant fear and suffering that permeated every aspect of a slave's life. He conveyed that the difficulty of slavery didn't stem from the hard physical labor, as some assume; rather, he pointed out that he worked much harder as a freeman than he did as a slave.
Douglass emphasized that the true hardship of slavery lies in the loss of control over one’s own liberty. He emotionally shared how every aspect of his life was dictated by someone else – what he could say and think, when he could come and go, when he could wash, where he could eat, when he could pray, what he could learn, whom he could associate with, and even what dreams he could pursue.
To claim that slavery "wasn't all that bad" is not only historically inaccurate but also deeply insensitive to the memories and legacies of those who suffered under it.
For those of us who believe in liberty, it's vital to understand that slavery is evil, and there's no excuse for it. This is precisely why we must strongly stand against any attempts to fundamentally transform the United States into a communist country. Communism, by its nature, concentrates power in the hands of the government, often leading to the suppression of individual rights and liberties. In such a system, the government can dictate nearly every aspect of life, from where you live and work to what you can say and believe.
If we allow the United States to transform into a communist nation, we will lose our freedoms and become slaves to the government.
To contact KCarl or request a speaking engagement, go to www.kcarlinc.com The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
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