These truths add complexity to American history:
Not all slaves were Black
Not all Blacks were slaves
Not all Whites were slaveowners
Not all slaveowners were White
Not all slaves were held in the South
At the start of the Civil War, the Union controlled over 21% of US’s enslaved:
Delaware ~1.8k
Kansas 2*
Kentucky ~225k
Louisiana’s ports ~93k
Maryland ~87k
Missouri ~115k
New Jersey 18*
Tennessee ~276k
*Kansas and New Jersey were supposedly “Free States”.
Loyal Union States maintained the practice of chattel slavery during the Civil War, and slaves that escaped Confederate States were held as contraband by Union forces.
These truths add complexity to our socioeconomic landscape:
Not all poor/oppressed are Black
Not all Blacks are poor/oppressed
Not all Whites have privilege
Not all with privilege are White
And, let’s not forget this mind-blower:
But this is the truth that might truly shock you:
Slavery hasn’t ended.2
“In 2021, eight former child slaves from Mali named Cargill in a class action lawsuit, alleging that it aided and abetted their enslavement on cocoa plantations in Côte d'Ivoire. The suit accused Cargill, along with Nestlé, Barry Callebaut, Mars, Incorporated, Olam International, The Hershey Company, and Mondelez International, of knowingly engaging in forced labor, and sought damages for unjust enrichment, negligent supervision, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.”3
Think about that the next time you’re snacking on a chocolate bar, brought to you courtesy of West African slave labor.
Nestlé and Cargill support Ivory Coast farmers through capital investments in equipment, training and cash advances and have sent representatives on location to inspect and influence operations there. They lobbied "against legislation intended to make the use of child slavery transparent to the public".4
SCOTUS deemed it not our problem.5
I don’t see it that way. I choose to avoid brands that rely on slavery.6
Your own convictions might compel you to do the same.7
Let’s do this!
Wikipedia article on Modern Slavery.
Wikipedia article on Cargill, referencing The Guardian.