Romero, Melanie

Which brings the subject of the peonage system affecting black men differently from black women more often and how it directly affected the black man within the justice system today. Black women were affected as well but it differed in family roles because they were not scouted out for hard labor like men that were manipulated into dangerous labor forces like mine work. So many women lost their husbands, fathers, and brothers because black men were being manipulated into a type of slavery that was disguised as “debt servitude”. As stated in the Netflix documentary The 13th, The 13th amendment grants freedom to all Americans but there is a an exception, criminals. There is a clause, a loop hole within the justice system and its is a tool to be used however one wants to use it. The prison system of today still incarcerates black men coercing them into work hard labor for a significantly low amount money that they require to purchase essentials and survive in prison. It is a system that has been partnered with slavery and justifies that the 13th amendment is biased and disastrous for the black community, making it almost impossible for a race to flourish in America the way white people had the opportunity too.

The impact of Ronald Reagan's presidency affected the black community negatively with his “War on drugs” campaign as stated in the The 13th amendment documentary. The campaign caused prison sentences that were longer for crack cocaine than powder cocaine sentences for crack dealers whom were majority black and latino in the 80’s. The movement cut men off from their families and caused a fundamental unfairness in support for black families. It may have seemed as a good idea from the Reagan administration but it resulted in being a war on enslaving black men into the prison system for 20 plus years impacting black families and wealth in the black communities until today. Black men are shown as criminals or as “super predators” through systems like prison. So in turn the system of slavery is still being practiced legally through the prison system to keep the black man and woman down in status and class just like they were as slaves and destroying the family dynamic by eliminating the head of household, the black man.

The White Woman in the south was viewed as beautiful and polite in the antebellum and most were raised with a lot of etiquette and grace and if the white woman rebelled in any way they would suffer from consequences or embarrassment from the white man due to the southern culture but black women suffered the real consequences if they did not present themselves like they were expected to by white people they faced even up to death in many cases. The antebellum era was in the 1800’s and all black woman were still slaves in the beginning of that time and then became segregated free black woman towards the end of the era so in that time black woman were treated very poorly compared to white women. The law was also set up to protect and defend any white woman against any “black offender” so black woman could get in serious legal trouble and suffer the consequences because the legal system was built to prosecute the black woman even if she was innocent of any crime or allegation. The best defense for black woman to be fully safe from harm was if they could pass for white which made the fair skinned black women learn how to navigate in a white mans world without being treated like a criminal or servant. It was a way for them to pretend to be white women and complete missions that could have never been able to accomplish as a darker woman.

According to history editors, “In October 1970, Davis was arrested in New York City in connection with a shootout that occurred on August 7th in a San Raphael, California, courtroom”. Angela's Davis relationship with George Jackson whom was apart of the shooting resulted in an indictment from the FBI where she then went into hiding, after her capture she spent 18 months in prison and was acquitted of all charges in 1972. She served as a political figure with the black communist party and used her experience with the case and life experiences as a black woman to become a legendary activist, author, and scholar. She has resisted racial inequality since the 60’s and is a voice for topics like incarceration and the death penalty today. She continues to resist anti-black racism today through many of her published books like “Women, Race, and Class”, influencing the younger generation to become advocates for the black community and understand that America has always had a racial problem and it must be addressed by any means necessary because black Americans deserve the right to live freely and prosper progressively without any man made loopholes in our justice system.

There is not enough money or resources in the world that can truly repair the harm slavery has caused for people of color. However, I believe there is one way to repair the harm and that is through correcting the constitution of the United States to abolish loopholes in amendments like the 13th that is using prison as a slave system and financially supporting the black race through more grants to fund more educational programs. I think there should be more government funded programs that offer more opportunities to attain wealth and offer education on things like financial literacy, taxes, and different money markets. I also believe black children deserve the same opportunities as a white children but due to the delay in success and access as a race impacted by slavery not every little black girl or boy has had the privilege to dance, sing, or paint because most black households cannot support extra curricular activities for their children thus creating an adverse effect on children in poverty ridden communities. Children that cannot express themselves through the arts or education due to a lack of resources in black communities deserve studios, programs, and equipment at the cost of the same government that enslaved their ancestors.

My personal role in reparations is unique and personal due to my ancestors being in the slave trade in Puerto Rico, so I am aware of my mixed race being caused by the Atlantic slave trade. Understanding my culture and accepting it has been difficult but encouraging because I want to be successful for my people of color the most. I think every person of color in the U.S should work hard to be a good hard working American because the opportunity to be as great as our ancestors is right now. My role in repairing reparations is to make sure the family I create is positive, educated, and fair so future generations can continue to create strong family bonds that contribute to the moral development of this country.