Slavery, "Not Necessary", But Evil

By Eddie D. Gillis

The U.S. is going through a transformative period, but where, no one is in a position to say. A nation that was founded on slavery and violence in its' beginning 400 years ago, has come full circle. "Slavery", called America's "original sin", seems to be one sin that no amount of stain cleansing can erase, as the legacy that it has left on America is like a leper being called "unclean". Slavery is an issue that perhaps could have been settled long ago, but the people who served as America's leaders during the founding days refused, leaving it to the future generations who won't, (or don't want to" settle the issue. There are those who don't want to discuss slavery, keeping it in the past to those who say the history should be discussed, but by those who believe as they do. Case in point, Sen. Tom Cotton. The good senator from Louisiana's immediate northern state has a lot to explain after he allegedly said that "slavery was a necessary evil" recently in an interview. Cotton has said that he didn't say those words and that anyone saying that he did, is reporting "fake news". Cotton was giving his views concerning the 1619 Project, a "series of essays" by the New York Times to be added to schools curriculum that would "reexamine the history and legacy of slavery" in the U.S. Students would receive a much more detailed look at slavery over what is currently being taught. 1619 refers to the year Africans arrived on the shores of a nation that hadn't yet existed as one. Cotton was livid, lashing out at the "liberal media" for taking his words out of context. Here is Cotton's quote and you be the judge.

Cotton said, "We have to study the history and its role and impact on the development of our country, because otherwise we can't understand our country. As the Founding Fathers said, it was the necessary evil upon which the union was built, but the nation was built in such a way, as Lincoln said, to put slavery on the course to its ultimate extinction". Slavery will "kill" itself? One of two things is happening here. Cotton is agreeing with the Founders(who?) and Lincoln(when), that slavery "was the necessary evil" that built this nation, or he didn't agree. Nowhere did Cotton say or is now saying that he DIDN'T agree with the Founders, meaning he meant what he said. After all, what conservative politician would disagree with men the likes of Washington, Jefferson and Madison, all of whom were slave owners. These men were aware of the conditions that slaves lived under, the beatings, auction blocks, separation of families and even sexual exploitations. These men were seen as the "pillars" of society, educated and moral in every sense of the word. Men from whom religious principles were based, leading to this nation's independence from England, as we have been led to believe. Nonetheless, the man(Jefferson)who wrote the words, "all men are created equal", knew it was morally wrong to treat Black people as slaves, subject to the "laws" of the times, knowing that he, and others were in positions(before/after as president) of power/authority to change things. They simply "kicked the can" further along down the road.

Men and other prominent leaders who were wealthy and wanted to maintain their status, knew that slavery was "necessary" to them and at the same time, evil. When those men incurred debt and needed money, it "was necessary" for them to sell Black people because they owned them as property. A simple transaction in order to keep their families intact, while destroying another one was all that was needed. Religious leaders of the times in the South saw nothing wrong with that because they would preach sermons admonishing slaves to be true to their masters, and never about being free people. It was also "necessary" to quell any kind of rebellion by Black people, hence the harsh treatments, separating of families and the promises of freeing them, that for only a select few, never came. Sen. Cotton wants a history taught that glorifies America's past with only a passing glance at her ugly side. The further this nation goes in time, the farther away some want to take it from learning the truth about her original sin. Remember, the world is watching. So is God.