Professional Sports: the New Slave Trade Essay Example
Professional Sports: The New Slave Trade
While many Americans believe that the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that, “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction,” effectively ended slavery in America, there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. Slavery is not only alive and well, but it is practiced; and in fact, celebrated all over the country, nearly every night of the week — especially on weekends. That is right; the practice of rich Whites owning and utilizing Blacks for profit and personal gain is still flourishing, even in an alleged “post-racial” America. Although modern day slaves make substantially more money, even more than the majority of the population, they are cut off from their people using a method referred to as “the Conveyor Belt,” a system that is in many ways comparable to the Middle Passage, and forced to work on the plantation for the profit of the White man. Who are these supposed slaves? They are professional Black athletes.
First, the meaning behind the word, “slave” should be clarified. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a slave as, “a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another.” Another definition clarifies that, “slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to receive compensation.” Between those 2 definitions there exists a comprehensive definition and idea of what it would mean to be a slave. American slavery, while initially done for reasons of economy than a race, inevitably turned into Whites exclusively owning Black slaves based on the belief that they were inherently inferior as well as easy to control. Today’s slaves are not inferior, but rather excel at many of the sports in which they play, so much so that they are in the majority. Yet, history has shown us that anytime there is
While many Americans believe that the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that, “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude… shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction,” effectively ended slavery in America, there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. Slavery is not only alive and well, but it is practiced; and in fact, celebrated all over the country, nearly every night of the week — especially on weekends. That is right; the practice of rich Whites owning and utilizing Blacks for profit and personal gain is still flourishing, even in an alleged “post-racial” America. Although modern day slaves make substantially more money, even more than the majority of the population, they are cut off from their people using a method referred to as “the Conveyor Belt,” a system that is in many ways comparable to the Middle Passage, and forced to work on the plantation for the profit of the White man. Who are these supposed slaves? They are professional Black athletes.
First, the meaning behind the word, “slave” should be clarified. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a slave as, “a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another.” Another definition clarifies that, “slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to receive compensation.” Between those 2 definitions there exists a comprehensive definition and idea of what it would mean to be a slave. American slavery, while initially done for reasons of economy than a race, inevitably turned into Whites exclusively owning Black slaves based on the belief that they were inherently inferior as well as easy to control. Today’s slaves are not inferior, but rather excel at many of the sports in which they play, so much so that they are in the majority. Yet, history has shown us that anytime there is