Preview

Amistad Ethnic Relations in America

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
714 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Amistad Ethnic Relations in America
Soc/His 340 Ethnic Relations in America
Rosado
5/28/13
Amistad
Amistad was a very touching film about the struggle that the Africans faced during the slave trade. As we have talked about in class watching these movies in the light of the class is very impactful. I originally watched this movie as part of a history class. I watched in as a series of events that impacted the civil war nothing more nothing less. Now as I watched it again in light of the class the Amazing Grace, I started seeing the relation between why things progressed the way they did in the case. Because of this events set forth by William Wilberforce we see the illegality of acquiring new slaves from Africa, and how they were smuggled into the country. Side noting to our discussion in class about the progression of social acceptance. Where we see progression through our history slowing getting a little better and better and how in each laying category it branched from one event to the other, we see the events from William Wilberforce affecting that of the abolition in the United States. Wilberforce in my opinion was the starting catalyst that changed the history of slavery as an economic dependence. Without his acts in parliament to abolish slavery in England the men and women of the Amistad very well be put right back into slavery. It was what Wilberforce had the courage to stand against that fueled the change around the world. One aspect of the movie that I thought was well thought out and impactful was the fact that when the Mende spoke there were no subtitles. There was that barrier between the audience and the people of the Mende. This gave that audience the perspective that the Americans of that time had. It stove to show how easy it is to dehumanize a person because you cannot understand what they say. To people of that time the language of the Mende sounded nothing more then grunts and groans. It is not till the Roger Boldwin and the other people understand what they are

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Amistad Questions

    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages

    England had abolished slavery at this point making it illegal to take slaves from West Africa…

    • 375 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Amistad Case Study

    • 1414 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In this legal study, the case of United States v. Libellants and Claimants of the Schooner Amistad, 40 U.S. 518 will be examined in relation to a supreme court precedent in the freeing of slaves in the American North . The date of the Supreme Court trial was 1841. The initial location of the Amistad trial began in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford, Connecticut, but was eventually tried in Washington D.C. in the U.S. Supreme Court. The liberation of illegally kidnapped slaves was a major shift in the Northern cause for the abolition of slavery in the 1840s. Slavery, after all, was still legal in the U.S., but the Supreme Court Chief justice Joseph Story defined illegality of the kidnapping of the slaves…

    • 1414 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    I like this movie and thought it was very interesting. It was very interesting to see the language barrier between Dunbar and the Indians. Although there was a translator, it was interesting to see how the translator had interacted in the situation. One could tell she knew English and was able to take what Dunbar was saying and translate it. However, when taking what the other person had said she would use actions and signs to explain what he had said. Dunbar has no struggle in learning their language. However, it was interesting to see the Indians try to say “lieutenant” as “loo ten…

    • 855 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    More than a decade later, in 1807, Wilberforce wept as the law was passed to abolish slavery. Fellow politicians, as well as President Abraham Lincoln, gave Wilberforce credit for the end of the slave trade. Wilberforce’s abolitionist endeavors, while outstanding, were part of his overarching goal of moral reform. Today, there are awards, forums, universities, museums, alliances, documentaries, books, and now, a movie all in honor of William…

    • 414 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Slavery in the United States is most historically notorious for its inherent injustice toward blacks. In the decades prior to the Civil War, the slavery controversy carried increasing political weight. Proslavery and antislavery factions began to consider how slavery fit into the United States’ political and historical background.1 Accelerating expansionism in the 1840s revived conflicts earlier settled by the 1820 Missouri Compromise.2…

    • 4060 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Ada Diaz’s article Hispanic in America: starting points, she explains how Hispanics in America are not here to repel against the American society, and have nothing but respect towards this country. Hispanics in America; starting points was published in may13, 1991 issue of Christianity in crisis. Diaz explains the struggles of Hispanics throughout America and, shows how the struggle does exist. She writes from the perspective of a Hispanic woman herself. The purpose of the article is simply to elaborate how Hispanics blend into the American society. The situation in this article is Diaz’s desire to show the Hispanic struggles going on through America. The target audiences of this article are obviously Hispanics in America. Mainly and most impor-tantly Diaz does claim that Hispanics were here first…

    • 610 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In my opinion, I though the film was powerful and overwhelming at times. As, the public figures and political activists gave a lot of information. Analyzing the film, you see how America’s complex prison system affects people of color. It is shocking. Because despite living in a country that gives liberty to all…

    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    When people think about who helped the world grow and solve problems, most would think about famous scientists or presidents. People aren't the people that helped abolish one of the main issues in the 1800’s. Slavery. One person, that inspired many, named Fredrick Douglass, that has contributed to the abolishment of slavery, powered through many challenges that came his way, and inspired many people to join him in his journey.…

    • 884 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Brown Essay Example

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The efforts of john brown were almost unrecognized. In his attempt to abolish slavery with the raid upon Harpers Ferry he endangered his life as well as the life of others. According to an SAS Curriculum Pathways video, while in the raid, several of his men were killed. Brown even had two of his sons killed while in battle. Even he himself was injured in the raid. Despite the horrendous raid and what was lost, truly the end result of insignificant because slavery was not abolished at once. Unfortunately, his strenuous efforts only caused a “polarized” reaction from the nation, who wanted so badly to end slavery, but handed no support to those truly trying.…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Before the late 18th century, slavery was expected to become unprofitable and demise quickly. Many slave owners, including Thomas Jefferson, were even speaking openly of freeing their slaves. Either way, slavery was seen as a dying trend. By 1793, however, all of those predictions were shattered. Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin had changed everything, deeply affecting the economic, political, and social lives of the American people.…

    • 531 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Watching Amistad - A Slave's Journey highlights the fact that slavery has always been around for decades and this problem is sadly still prevalent in our society. W. E. B. Du Bois ask "the problem of the color line, is it still with us." Or, to put it differently: Is it possible for whites and blacks to live together without hatred? It is imperative to discuss our advancement as a nation without underlying the inhumane treatment meted out against slaves, mostly blacks. Several point pique my interest: I have always known that some of our banks and big insurance companies are/were involved in atrocities committed in the past but my struggles have been, how do one evade not using some of these groups? The treatment of slaves in reality would…

    • 244 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout this time there were many events that began affecting the views of slaves and slavery itself. For example, in 1832 Kentucky put an end to buying and importing slaves. Many important events led up to Kentucky deciding to move away from slavery. During the year of 1831 there were many things that made it clear for the whites that slaves were ready to fight for their freedom. Nat Turner, a black slave who planned a rebellion, was the most important event to take place during the American Revolution who help put an end to slavery because without him whites would have never…

    • 851 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    If it wasn’t for the final parliamentary reform, campaigns and religious groups getting together to abolish slavery our ancestor would be still in slavery in the world would not have been a better place. Many people were very prejudiced in their beliefs. Slavery’s primary victims, mostly knowing nothing of the Declaration itself, would corroborate its truth by their various acts of resistance, displaying their natural love of liberty and their moral humanity as rights possessors. These displays of humanity would naturally arouse the sympathy of non-slaveholders, a few of whom at first, and more with the passage of time, would take up the cause of abolition. Frederick Douglas as a free man reflective of racial prejudice that it was wrong how slaves had been mistreated. Why was it important for them to have liberty and be…

    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Slavery Argument Analysis

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Slavery had a major impact on society in the 1800’s. Since the slaves were different in color, intellect, and origin, many individuals such as John C. Calhoun and George Fitzhugh, had no problem with treating blacks like property. However, with religious, political, and general arguments, others like Theodore D. Weld and Henry David Thoreau, felt that slavery was downright unacceptable and inhumane. This subject was a key argument in many debates, which have shaped the way our society is run.…

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people during this time thought that slavery should be abolished. However, just because these individuals thought slavery should be done away with does not mean that every one of them actually voiced their concerns and stood up for the slaves. For example, George Washington was a slave owner himself, but after fighting a huge battle for his own independence he soon began rethinking being a slave owner. Washington never voiced his opinion on slavery, but freed every one of his slaves in his will. Many people thought that slavery should be abolished because of the way that it violated the slave’s human rights and gave the so called masters total control and the ability to dictate. Phyllis Wheatley was one of the many people that fought for the enslaved African American. Phyllis was a writer who wrote and spoke about the injustice of slavery. James Otis was a white colonist that believed slavery was “a huge violation of the law of nature.” John Allen shares the same beliefs as Otis and did all that he could to let his voice be heard and free slaves.…

    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics