Through establishing new beliefs and rules while undermining the old to establish power, man has abused and taken advantage of authority. When the District Commissioner arrested the six men, he explained to them the ‘advantages’ of the new system and why it needed to be followed; “We have brought a peaceful administration to you and your people so they may be happy. If any man ill-treats you we shall come to your rescue. But we will not allow you to ill-treat others. We have a court of law where we judge cases and administer justice just as it is done in my own country under a great queen…I have decided that you will pay a fine of 200 cowries…” The article by Boddy-Evans on ‘The Role of Islam in African Slavery Pt. 1’ backs up my point any new authority established decides rules and punishments to give them control. He explains that the “The Qur'an prescribes that free men could not be enslaved, and those faithful to foreign religions could live as protected persons, dhimmis, under Muslim rule (as long as they maintained payment of taxes called Kharaj and Jizya). However, the spread of the Islamic Empire resulted in a much harsher interpretation of the law. For example, if a dhimmis was unable to pay the taxes they could be enslaved, and people from outside the borders of the Islamic Empire were considered an acceptable source of slaves.” In conclusion, the way the word ‘tribe’ is used to perpetuate ignorance of Africa, its countries, cultures and customs within, so too do many examples, articles and books on the destruction of African clans, lineages and cultures perpetuate hate against a set of beliefs. Not only does it continue separation of the human race, but makes it easier to have prejudices against people with these beliefs by putting the Christian religion in the center of the deterioration. The emphasis of blame should be placed on man alone because all men that have had a hand in the slow but consistent breakdown of Africa, its resources and people have come from different religions (or none at all) and walks of life, including Africans themselves. The desire and greed of prosperity and power is what blinded them to the atrocious actions and crimes they were and still are committing.
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