#slavery
#slavery

How Wall Street Funded Slavery

Wall Street played a significant role in financing slavery in the United States, with many bankers and industrial magnates profiting from the institution.

The wealth generated through slavery did not disappear after the Civil War, but continued to contribute to private and public wealth, including in the form of institutional fortunes. [ more ]

english.elpais.com

California unveils ambitious first-in-nation slavery reparations package

California lawmakers present a package of 14 measures to address historical harm caused by slavery.

The package does not include cash payments to descendants of slaves. [ more ]

Chicago Tribune

Clarence Page: Where the Civil War never seems to end - our presidential campaigns

Nikki Haley's recent gaffe about the causes of the Civil War highlights the ongoing debate and sensitivity surrounding the topic.

Critics accuse Haley of political posturing and failing to acknowledge the role of slavery in causing the Civil War. [ more ]

HuffPost

'I Was A History Major': CNN's Jake Tapper Pushes Back At Nikki Haley Over Racism Claim

Nikki Haley claimed America has never been a racist country, but Jake Tapper challenged her on this assertion during a town hall event.

Tapper reminded Haley of America's history of slavery and racism, and questioned whether she truly believed that America has never been a racist country. [ more ]

LGBTQ Nation

Nikki Haley's refusal to acknowledge America's racism is exactly why schools need to teach about it

Nikki Haley avoids mentioning slavery when asked about the cause of the Civil War.

Haley's response sparks criticism and confusion from the questioner. [ more ]

www.npr.org

Prisoners are suing Alabama over forced labor, calling it a 'form of slavery'

Current and former Alabama prisoners file a lawsuit alleging that the state's prison labor practices amount to a 'modern-day form of slavery.'

Plaintiffs argue that incarcerated individuals are forced to work for little or no pay, benefiting government entities and private businesses. [ more ]

HuffPost

Lawsuit Alleges 'Modern-Day Slavery' In Alabama Prison System

Current and former prisoners in Alabama have filed a lawsuit arguing that the state's prison labor system is a form of slavery.

The lawsuit seeks to abolish the labor system and award damages to current and past prisoners. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Prisoners Sue Alabama, Calling Prison Labor System a Form of Slavery'

A group of current and former prisoners in Alabama are suing the state, alleging that the prison labor system is a form of modern-day slavery.

The lawsuit alleges that incarcerated workers are denied parole to force them into prison work programs that generate millions of dollars in profits. [ more ]

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Axios

1 month ago

National monument honoring enslaved Black people set to open in Alabama

The Legacy Sites project by Equal Justice Initiative opens after years of planning.

The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park showcases historical artifacts, art, research, and narratives related to slavery in the U.S. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

2 months ago

A Love Story That Endured Through Slavery

Enslaved families faced hardship but found love and comfort in each other during the 19th century.

The value of family relationships and marriages among African Americans during slavery is highlighted by historical accounts. [ more ]

The Atlantic

2 months ago

Education

The Nation Still Needs a New Birth in Liberty

Readers found the December 2023 issue of The Atlantic, titled "To Reconstruct the Nation," to be poignant, inspiring, and a necessary corrective to previous narratives of American history.

The articles in the issue shed light on the pernicious aftereffects of slavery and the creation of Black Codes, as well as the racist roots of America's juvenile justice system.

Some readers feel that the issue should be read in schools to educate students about the history and ongoing struggles related to Reconstruction and racial and economic progress. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Europe news

Will a New Monument for Those Enslaved by France Heal or Divide?

The construction of a National Memorial for the Victims of Slavery in Paris has become a source of division in France.

Some see the memorial as contradictory lip service, glorifying France for abolishing slavery rather than atoning for its history of holding people in bondage. [ more ]

Metro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly

Silicon Valley

If Toxic Air Is a Monument to Slavery, How Do We Take It Down? in San Jose | Metro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly

The art exhibit by Forensic Architecture investigates human rights violations and examines environmental degradation and cancer risk as manifestations of colonialism and slavery.

The agency uses digital reconstruction, remote sensing, and fluid dynamics simulation to develop evidentiary materials that can be used in various settings. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Boston

The Boston Tea Party Turns 250 and Raises 21st-Century Questions

The 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party is being celebrated with re-enactments and events

Planners are grappling with the conflicting themes of liberty, slavery, protest, and revolution [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Books

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward review a plantation hell

Jesmyn Ward's memoir 'Men We Reaped' explores the lives of five men close to her who died prematurely, and her dissatisfaction with her first novel in capturing the realities of young Black people in the South.

Ward's novels, including 'Salvage the Bones' and 'Sing, Unburied, Sing', tackle difficult subjects such as Hurricane Katrina and the challenges faced by impoverished families, while also highlighting the characters' individuality, autonomy, and love despite overwhelming odds. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com