Essay:The American Descendants of Slaves

The American Descendants of Slaves, is a term [|term] that has been utilized to define the inherited birthright of the offspring of Americans who were brought and sold as property. The term was given credibility, recently, via the teachings and discourse of author, activist, and entrepreneur, Norris Shelton. Due to the publication of Norris Shelton’s America’s Little Black Book in 2005; a growing movement has started to evolve, that is focused on replacing the current term “African American” with “American Descendants of Slaves.” This is a term that some consider more apopro. Mr. Shelton expounds on the importance of using the term to “correctly” define the ethnicity of so-called African Americans … “The after effects of slavery have been growing in America since the end of corporal slavery. This unstable influence is seemingly encouraged to fester unimpeded. Because of misplaced shame, openly discussing slavery is painful to many and a taboo topic even in circles where dialogue is necessary to ensure the stability of our country. If allowed to worsen, simmering racial discontentment could turn into a crisis. It is my goal to help remedy the situation and work to ensure a peaceful coexistence between Descendants of American Slaves and other American cultures.

Mr. Shelton expounds on the importance of using the term to “correctly” define the ethnicity of so-called African Americans … “The after effects of slavery have been growing in America since the end of corporal slavery. This unstable influence is seemingly encouraged to fester unimpeded. Because of misplaced shame, openly discussing slavery is painful to many and a taboo topic even in circles where dialogue is necessary to ensure the stability of our country. If allowed to worsen, simmering racial discontentment could turn into a crisis. It is my goal to help remedy the situation and work to ensure a peaceful coexistence between Descendants of American Slaves and other American cultures.

Mr. Shelton goes on to state…Because African-Americans have not accepted their true identity as the descendants of slaves; they are as lost as their emancipated forefathers were nearly 150 years ago.1 Creating an “apopro” definition/ debates and discussions The term “American Descendants of Slaves” has been included in the debate over the call for the true identity of people of African descent who have had generations of offspring who were birthed on American soil. It has been a challenge for people of color to establish their true identity here in the United States, post diaspora. Often several terms were in use simultaneously. In the 1890 census, for instance, blacks were asked to choose among four ethnic labels: black, mulatto, quadroon, and octoroon, depending on the degree of white blood in their ancestry. And in the 20th century, many black Americans shifted from colored to Negro to black, and most recently, to African American, sometimes within one generation.2 Now there is a push to consider “American Descendants of Slaves” as a more accurate representation of ethnic identity.Providing the “correct term” is an ongoing, intentional focus, mission and purpose toward providing an “accurate” prospective, narrative and definition. Seeking an appropriate definition draws people back to the days of Lincoln when former slaves were (and still are), facilitating the Emancipation. Continuing into a present-day awakening of seeking a correct term. The current definitions have evolved into American descendants of slaves (ADS).

Many descendants of American slaves who have known nothing but the life that they have lived on American soil, are not comfortable with the current term that is used to define them. Gibré George, an entrepreneur from Miami, started a Facebook page called “Don’t Call Me African-American” on a whim. It now has about 300 “likes.” “We respect our African heritage, but that term is not really us,” George said. “We’re several generations down the line. If anyone were to ship us back to Africa, we’d be like fish out of water.”3

Shifting ethnic labels have long inspired fierce debates and discussions among blacks in this country, reflecting changes in socioeconomic circumstances, political strategies, and evolving views of identity since Africans were first brought here as slaves.4

One of the ideas that Norris Shelton expounds on in America’s Little Black Book is the issue of us being called “African Americans.” The book challenges this definition, by pointing out that the Africans who were “born and bred” on American soil, are indeed “not” African Americans. In fact, they are American, because of their birth. Their seeds, may have come from Africa; but their heritage was established here. These new Americans evolved into the people that we have today. This evolution was affected by the conditions imposed upon former slaves; as they transitioned from slavery to life in America. In the book, the term “evolution” has been applied to the change in cultural, behavioral, and sometimes, biological traits of former Africans, as they have now been bred on American soil.

'''Social contexts in which the term “American Descendants of Slaves” is currently being utilized. '''

Reparations

The term is applied to define the identity of current US citizens who may be entitled to reparations in response to the crimes of the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade The discussion of reparations for the descendants of black American slaves broke into the media a number of years ago while lawsuits were moving through the courts of Europe demanding that reparations be paid by German companies who had benefited from slave labor during the Nazi era. A number of voices within the African-American community began calling for the same kind of compensation to be made here.5 For some descendants of persons held in U.S. chattel bondage, no monetary sum can compensate for the enslavement of their ancestors. However, for those looking for a number, there are various ways to calculate the value of involuntary servitude.6 Current dialogues about the "humanity" of the descendants of American slaves has come under scrutiny on the world stage. The United States should consider reparations to African-American descendants of slavery, establish a national human rights commission and publicly acknowledge that the trans-Atlantic slave trade was a crime against humanity, a United Nations working group exclaimed recently.

Georgetown University is the latest college in the national spotlight for its historic link to slavery. The university, during an existential financial crisis in 1838, earned millions from selling 272 of its slaves. Many at Georgetown are now asking whether it’s time for the Catholic university to make amends to the slaves’ descendants, according to The New York Times.7

Racism/Discrimination The term has been utilized to identify the demographic that is more commonly affected by racism and discrimination.

The transatlantic slave trade saw the greatest deportation in history. From the mid-15th century to the closing decades of the 19th century tens of millions of Africans were brutally wrenched from their villages and transported to the plantations and mines of the Americas and West Indies. The impact of this unprecedented movement is still burdening the descendants of these stolen people, and the continent that was their home.8 The systematic dehumanization of African slaves was the initial trauma, explains Leary (professor and social worker), and generations of their descendants have borne the scars.9 Whether descendants of those Africans that were displaced to the Americas during the transatlantic slave trade many generations back, or more recent migrants who have journeyed to the Americas, Europe, Asia and within Africa itself, people of African descent throughout the world make up some of the most marginalised groups.10

Cultural Heritage The term has been utilized to define the cultural heritage of those affected by the diaspora. The United Nations has declared an International Decade for Persons of African Descent. Launched in January, the decade focuses on protecting the rights of people of African heritage, recognizing their contributions and preserving their rich cultural heritage. This also includes the descendants of slaves - the Gullah Geechee people - who live in South Carolina and Georgia in the United States.11

Current Supporters/ Advocates for the term

Meshorn T. Daniels

Meshorn T. Daniels is a community advocate and socialpreneur who has provided public support for the use of the term “Descendants of American Slaves” via his community workshops and events. Mr. Daniels goes on to state…” We, DAS, have come a long way since our illegitimate emancipation. Yet; we continue to languish in a state of relative obscurity. At issue is the identity crisis that plagues us unaware,self-proclaimed ‘African-Americans.”

Dr. Gerald Higginbotham

Dr. Gerald Higginbotham is an educator, motivational speaker, and coach. He has also lent his collective wisdom to the DAS movement; as well as started a  petition on MoveOn.Org. to recognize “Descendants of American Slaves " as an American ethnic group.

References http://www.leoweekly.com/2011/11/american-slaves-inc/ http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/29/us/african-american-becomes-a-term-for-debate.html?_r=0 http://thegrio.com/2012/02/06/some-blacks-insist-im-not-african-american/ http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/29/us/african-american-becomes-a-term-for-debate.html?_r=0 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/reparations-descendants-american-slaves-coleman-luck http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/calculating-reparations-15-million-each-slave-descendant-us http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-01-29/un-working-group-suggests-us-work-on-racialreconciliation http://newsone.com/3413066/should-georgetown-university-compensate-descendants-of-its-slaves/ http://www.unesco.org/bpi/eng/unescopress/2001/01-91e.shtml http://inthesetimes.com/article/2523 http://www.un.org/en/events/africandescentdecade/assets/pdf/PAD-final%20for%20NY.pdf http://webtv.un.org/news-features/watch/descendants-of-slaves-ancestral-land/4163402635001#full-text