Slavery

Our readings this week on personal accounts of slavery in those who experienced it first-hand reminded me much of what I wrote my report on. Of course, the general idea was the same, and many of the slaved had indeed been abused. Interestingly enough, only some of them were willing to share it. The class was under the impression that these people didn't want to share with the entire world what had happened to them. Why? Perhaps they were ashamed, perhaps they didn't want others to peek too far into their memories and their history. But then, there were others, particularly one man that I had read about, that said they had it a lot better, although he didn't mention the comparison. In fact, he spoke nothing about beatings or abuse whatsoever. He was a cattle and horse rancher, a favored one at that. He had worked to deliver 200 horses over from Mexico to Texas with four other men...in a hail storm. Lucky for him, he managed to make sure that each and every horse had made it over the border to his master, and for that, he was given a new saddle. It was hardly ever mentioned where the slave's owners would give them presents, let alone brand new equipment. This goes to show that perhaps he was actually telling the full truth. Perhaps there was some good and generosity within the world of slavery, as odd as that sentence sounds. No, slavery will never be a good thing, but to show that there were people that showed genuine kindness to their workers goes to show the shining light in a world of darkness. Perhaps, in dark times as we, America, and many other countries are facing in our and their own problems, that we too, should look for the light, and live happily in reminder that there will always be some good.

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light."

- Albus Dumbledore