Why did Africans sell other Africans into slavery? What did Africans sell other Africans for? Connect that response to why African Americans sell each other out today and what do they sell each other out for? Pull on specific, preferably pop cultural examples, to further explain your point.
Africans sold other Africans into slavery for various reasons such as punishment for crimes, inability to pay the debt, or due being a war prisoner. This practice had started long before the Europeans arrived, however; this practice has been abolished long ago. It is considered that due to selling each other into slavery in the past that today, African Americans stills sell each other out as it runs in their blood. However; this notion is completely wrong and baseless as the discrimination that they face may drive them to such an action of snitching on the other as an attempt of survival. It is no secret that being a Black person in America can bring unnecessary attention even if Black people are minding their own business. The recent unfortunate incident of George Floyd is an example of this discrimination (Nwaubani, 2020).
What is the difference between Africans enslaving other Africans and Europeans enslaving Africans in the Americas. You may also reference the experience of Africans with European captors on the slave ship.
The main difference between the Africans enslaving other Africans and Europeans enslaving Africans is; the Africans did this as a punishment due to a crime, if a person was unable to his debts then he was made to work for the money lender to pay his debts or if the person was a war prisoner. However; the Europeans would kidnap the Africans without rhyme or reason and then sell them into slavery in Europe and America. The men that took these slaves would travel from coast to coast in search of more slaves and during this time these slaves were kept in the worst conditions. They would be abused mentally and physically to the point that some Africans would not be able to make it to the destination dying due to such abuse. Their bodies would be then tossed into the ocean without a second thought. Women slaves also suffered violence and sexual abuse. This treatment would last up to two months or more (International, 2015).
References
International, L. (2015, August 25). Life on board slave ships. Black History Month 2021. https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/history-of-slavery/life-on-board-slave-ships/
Nwaubani, A. T. (2020, July 19). ’My Nigerian great-grandfather sold slaves’—BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53444752
