...RIGHTS AGAINST COMTEMPORARY SLAVERY (DOMESTIC WORKERS AND BONDED LABOUR) IN NIGERIA AND THE UNITED STATES. WRITTEN BY: 2121745 DATE: 26TH APRIL 2014 WORD COUNT: 2,770 WORDS As estimated by the International Labour organization (ILO), there are over 20.9 million people in this 21st century that are still enslaved. Another source states that there are 29.8 million people who are still held in modern day slavery. When the word “slavery” is mentioned, the idea that comes to mind is when people are taken from India, Africa and other third world countries, to the West Indies or America, for the purpose of them to work in sugar cane plantation. Although that kind of slavery was abolished in the 19th century, men, women and children are still slaves, thus, the birth of modern slavery. “Slavery is the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised”. Slavery is so much graver than forced labour, Slavery involves forced labour, but not every forced labour involves slavery. Despite being prohibited by so many International instruments, which includes the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1956 UN Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery and the 1926 UN Slavery Convention, Contemporary slavery still takes place in various forms, affecting all gender, races and color. Modern slavery has been in many forms, ranging...
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...includes (in his article) a quote from Jefferson Davis on the eve of secession who argues that the “degradation of being menials belongs to the the descendants of Ham.” He is referring to the curse of Ham from the bible and the popular belief that African-Americans are Ham's descendants and are therefore forever cursed. The reality is that in the bible one of Ham's four sons was cursed, and therefore there would be no justification behind all of his children (Black People) being forever cursed as slaves. It shows that white people wanted (and still want) so desperately to justify their inhumane and cruel actions that they were willing to adjust what bible says. The effect of this on black people is incredible and can still be found in the modern day. Using the bible to cast a whole race as inferior is a very good way to create separation or otherness between white people and the inferior “descendants of Ham.” The reality of the Christian religion is that it would never allow white people to treat blacks as they do but as Baldwin says “Neither civilized reason nor Christian love would cause any of those people to treat you as they presumably wanted to be treated.”(Baldwin 21) The need to feel superior to someone is so powerful in white society that it has transcended the religious “morals” so deeply ingrained in American society. Baldwin acknowledges this otherness created by religion by discussing the Nation of Islam movement lead by Elijah Muhammad. Muhammad preached the ideology...
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...ENGL107-1301B-11 American Intercontinental University Abstract Victims of human trafficking are being sold and degraded for little to nothing at all. This is known as modern day slavery and something needs to be done to stop this crime. Human trafficking is a clear violation of human rights is an increasing crime that seems to be getting worse. Many laws are being put in place to stop this crime from spreading at the rate that it is going. Human trafficking is the illegal trade of another human being. There are over 27 million people all over the world that are currently being forced into this form of slavery everyday with little to no way out. The problem in the United States is continually growing at a rapid rate (Safehorizon, 2013). As a transnational crime, human trafficking requires intense international co-operation to be limited and controlled. To pinpoint the problem to one particular region or nation would be to challenge any efforts to control it. Human trafficking is the modern day equivalent of slavery and must be recognized as such by the international community if this transnational crime is to be controlled and stopped. Many believe that human trafficking began in the 1800s, as blacks were forced to do unwanted gestures but people of all races and also children started to become victims of this heinous crime. Many laws have been put into place to stop the trade of humans over the years but there is still more that needs to be done. We have to raise awareness...
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...song “How can I be proud of my Jamaican roots, when my ancestors had been slaves”? This question asked by a woman with Jamaican roots followed British novelist Andrea Levy for a long time. She wondered how anyone could be ashamed of his or her legacy and thus the foundation of her book, The Long Song, was laid. However, writing the book was a more difficult task than presumed. Levy considered many things at the preliminary stage of the book as she knew that she didn’t want to write yet another historical novel about slavery. This is the reason why she chose to write the “behind the scenes”-essay, The Writing of The Long Song. Herein she elaborates and discusses the process of writing her book and raises important questions that deal with extremely relevant themes such as family pride and the filtering of history. Levy opens her essay with a flashback to the conference she attended several years earlier in London where the main theme was the legacy of slavery. She remembers a woman asking the panel how she could be proud of her Jamaican roots when her ancestors had been slaves (p. 7, ll. 5-7). Levy doesn’t remember the panel’s answer to the woman but the question stayed with her for a long time and it ended up being her motivation for writing the book The Long Song. Levy is of Jamaican heritage herself and in contrary to the young woman, she proudly acknowledges her slave ancestry: “If our ancestors survived the slave ships they were strong. If they survived the plantations...
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...Modern Day Understanding of Liberty The idea of ‘Modern Day Liberty’ is not a new concept as such. The question is how did we as a nation arrived to a secular viewpoint on liberty considering our Puritan foundation and influenced that helped to shape our country from the early beginnings. For a better perspective, we must look back at the Puritan period for the seed of contemporary liberty. While Winthrop was a staunch follower of the Puritan lifestyle and a prominent figure within its structure, however on the other hand, there was also side of him that was partial to the precursor thought of contemporary liberty. For example, he was partial to Roger Williams aiding him safe passage to exile. As a matter of fact, I consider Roger Williams one of the first outspoken activists and proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Furthermore, he was an early abolitionist in North America against slavery and developed mutually agreeable relationships with Native Americans. In addition, some of Williams’s ideas may have also influenced the religion clause and the first amendment of the United States Constitution . Arguably, the catalyst for ‘modern liberty’ has always been part of the American psyche....
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...Lloyd Wyse Melissa Hull EN 209-014 April 18, 2012 Critical Essay: Civil Disobedience Civil disobedience is the active refusal to comply with certain laws or demands of a government, such as paying fines or taxes. Although it is not necessarily on-violent, it has classically been attributed to nonviolent resistance. The etymological origin of the term is from Henry David Thoreau’s essay Resistance to Government, written in 1849, which was eventually renamed to Essay on Civil Disobedience. Since its republication in 1866, Thoreau’s essay has inspired many important activists over the course of history. Its messages have resonated within countless people unsatisfied or disgusted with the law of the land; one of the most prominent lessons it teaches is that an unjust government can only be corrected by the defiance of its people. As long as there is an imperfect government, there will be a need for civil disobedience. Citizens of nations from all over the globe still read and learn from Civil Disobedience because even in modern times a perfect government does not exist. In Civil Disobedience, Thoreau prompts the reader to take direct action against injustice. He argues that the government is a representative of corruption and injustice that, like a machine, fuels the enabling of its wrongdoings through enforcement of law. He states that an individual’s silent compliance with the law is essentially the same as cooperation with injustices that the lawmaker commits. In particular...
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...Analytical essay – “Saving Mr Ugwu” In historical context, Africa has always been a great market for slavery, and especially western countries like France and Great Britain have exploited that in the past through their colonization of the continent. Although it might be popular thinking that slavery organized by western countries has been abolished many decades ago, it is not necessarily true. Modern slavery in Africa has just had a slight change in character since then. This short story deals with the white man’s continuous oppression and exploitation of black people and their labour force. Furthermore the text thematizes deeply rooted historical conflicts between whites and different black ethnicities within Nigeria. The short story”Saving Mr Ugwu” is written by the Scottish author Lin Anderson. The story takes place in Nigeria, a former British colony, and mostly focuses around Mr. Ugwu and his family who was forced to move from Lagos to the Nigerian Bush because of his job. Mr. Ugwu is an Ibo and is born in the former capital of Nigeria, Lagos. Ugwu works for a big western sugarcane company, and manages the pay checks of the workers who harvest the sugarcanes. These workers mostly belong to another ethnic group, the Hausa. The text gives us the impression that some sort of hierarchy exist amongst the different Nigerian ethnicities and the few white men who live in the bush. “Mr Ugwu thinks once again, how lazy and dirty these Hausa people are”(S2, L59) This hierarchy...
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...Name: Patrick Amara Essay #4: Research Paper Pro. Murray March 28, 2013 Human Trafficking INTRODUCTION The social issue of human trafficking has garnered the attention of the United Nations, as a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. A global problem exists reaching every developed, developing, and undeveloped country on the planet. The first ever global forum to fight human trafficking was held February 13-15, 2008 in Vienna. One of the major issues addressed was the lack of information and varied responses from countries and their agencies formed to combat the growing crime. In attendance were delegates from more than 100 countries, law enforcement teams, business leaders, legislators, and recognized experts on human trafficking (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, n.d). The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Maria Costa, described the problem as "a monster whose shape, size and ferocity we can only guess" (UNODC, n.d). Throughout this paper the researchers will examine the nature of the population and social issues confronting them and explore the macro practice interventions. First, look at human trafficking and what defines it. DEFINITION Human Trafficking is the modern day practice of slavery, according to the Polaris Project (Polaris Project, n.d.). Human trafficking has a basis of the recruitment, harboring, and transportation of people solely for the purpose of exploitation...
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...against. This really shaped the lives of African Americans in a huge way, there freedom was taken away, and they were left behind to be slaves and discriminated against in circumstances that dehumanized them. They did what they were told without asking any questions. They were also confident that freedom would soon be theirs, and that they would have their own voice, and take their rightful place as people among others. ( Berlin, Ira.). Tradition plays a part in keeping people in slavery because it is the only thing that is known. Many slaves were promised freedom for being a slave for certain set time, but for the most part it was not true. According to the case study There Is No such thing as Rest slaves would do the same labors, and chores everyday. Law’s allowed owners to use whatever disciplinary measures they deemed necessary to ensure that slaves were obedient and hardworking (Macionis, 2010). Slaves fear of getting whipped or punished played a part in keeping people in slavery. Slavery, was the tradition because it was accepted, being that African-American were viewed as being inferior they were the white men property. Although, the law states that every one should be treated equally, this was not the same...
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...and climatic influences on Native American societies. SLO2. Compare and contrast religious, social and cultural differences among the major European settlers. SLO3. Describe the events that helped create American nationalism and lead to the American Revolution. SLO4. Explain the Constitutional Convention, the Articles of Confederation, and the emergence of a democratic nation. SLO5. Explain the U.S. Constitution as it related to the separation of powers, checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, and the major principles of democracy. SLO6. Evaluate the Jeffersonian dream of expansion and its effect on Native Americans SLO7. Describe Jacksonian democracy and the creation of a two party system SLO8. Explain slavery and associated issues that led to the Civil War and its aftermath. Module Titles Module 1—Early American exploration and colonization (SLO1) Module 2—British colonies (SLO2) Module 3—Road to the Revolution and the American Revolution (SLO3) Module 4—Early Republic (SLO4 and SLO5) Module 5—Jacksonian America (SLO 6 and SLO7) Module 6—Road to the Civil War (SLO8) Module 7—Civil War (SLO8) Module 8—Shaping American history: Signature Assignment (all SLOs) Module 1 Early Exploration and Contact with Native Americans Welcome to HIS 120: U.S. History and the Constitution How to be Successful in the Course Each module has a lecture homepage, reading assignments, required videos, and two threaded discussions. You should...
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...Slavery: A Free but Forced Civilization from Origin Slavery is predated to the earliest known and existing cultures. Regardless of the culture, time, period or race, slavery is a discriminating concept in which people are held against their own will. Before new age society found a more humorous and sexual definition for the concept, slavery was and still is, in some parts of the world, humiliating. In particular, there is one which has been historically long lasting; the Transatlantic African slave trade. This long and grueling migration paved the way for new races and culture. African Americans thrive all over the world but unfortunately descendants from this race did not come to the Americas on their own free will. A world altering voyage and conquest took shape when Christopher Columbus traveled and discovered the Americas in 1492 (1). Historically true, the America’s took shape but not without risk, sacrifice, or discrimination of a divine civilization. Columbus was on venture seeking route to Asia, in turn; found an untouched land devoured by Native Americans (2). Being distracted new ideas and opportunities, he reset is path. The mark of the Columbian Exchange happened; bringing the eventual commerce of food, disease, culture, power and new races (3). All of the changes were not as promising or good. The transatlantic slave trade brought new life but also brought darker times. Columbus didn’t develop this concept, he actually adapted to it. Although, slavery in the...
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...Thoreau, in his essay, writes about the importance of assertively yet, respectively, standing up for what one believes in. Thoreau writes, “Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it” (1.) Thoreau claims that if a man wants respect from his government, he must make known of his wishes through civil protest. Thoreau does hide his animosity towards the government, he prefers a government whose involvement is at the minimum. Thoreau asks, “Can there not be a government in which majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience?” (1.) Thoreau explores the consequences of the law sometimes violating human conscience. He asks the reader if majority rule is always based on justice which, according to Thoreau, is typically not the case. He asks whether it might be possible to base a government on human conscience, and let the majority decide only on what pertains to practical matters. He concludes that we must consider the demands of conscience above all. Thoreau repeatedly attacks those who claim to be against slavery in the South while simultaneously contributing to the commerce that supports it. He believed that the only effective way to express one’s opposition is through resistive acts. Thoreau writes, “If ten...
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...Daryl Smith Introduction to African-American Studies March 23, 2014 Professor Yeboah Midterm Paper: Essay Questions 1. Describe (3) three African (Ancient or Medieval) civilizations that pre-date enslavement? Kush, Axum, and Ghana are three Ancient African civilizations that pre-date enslavement. The Kush civilization started in 1700 BC, where it reached its first peak. Its second peak dated to 1500 BC. The Kingdom of the Kush was also known as Nubia. It is located south of Egypt and was built at the bottom of the mountains, beginning at the Nile River. The Kush kingdom was exceptionally wealthy with many natural resources. They had gold mines, iron ore, and rich soil. Their soil was rich due to the ample amount of rainfall they had all year long, which kept all of the natural resources fresh and growing. Many kingdoms were jealous of the Kush’s wealth and prosperity, and wanted to take it over, but the Kush did now allow it to happen. The “Iron Age” was when iron ore was at its peak and every kingdom wanted it to make weapons and tools. Kush was the center of the iron trade in ancient Africa. Burnt wood was needed to produce iron from ore and because wood was running out, the Kush had to trade other goods. The Kush was the reason for the Trans- Saharan Trade Route. In 750 CE, the Kush used camels and camel trains to cross the sand. They knew it was a miserable and dangerous journey, but knew it could be done. Attention was then turned to trade with West...
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...Native Americans, development of racial slavery as a labor source, and European cultural influences on the various colonial regions. American Literature (0.5) Throughout the course of American Literature, students will be able to encounter and experience the full span of America’s rich literary history. The course begins with the literary contributions of America’s first settlers, and explores how their faith and difficult circumstances shaped their lives and the literature through which they captured these early moments of America. The course then moves through the Age of Faith, during which the core of American Literature was shaped by a strong and foundational faith, and then into the Age of Reason, during which the world of science and modern thinking started to shape the literature of the times. The study of literature then moves into the Romantic period, and then the Realist period, both of which shaped American Literature at its core and brought about significant changes to the style, structure, and purpose of literature. The introduction of Modern literature includes the literature of the early 1900s, including the Harlem Renaissance, and then Post-Modern literature brings students into the study of current day texts. Overall, the course includes literature spanning from the 1500’s to current day, and introduces students to some of the greatest authors and works in American Literature. Genres that are included are: nonfiction essays, diaries, sermons, letters, and...
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...This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Schultz, K. M. (2012). HIST2, Volume 1 (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: Contact, Settlement, Slavery | | Details | Due | Points | Objectives | 1.1 Describe the clash of cultures that took place in North America between the Native Americans, colonists, and Black slaves. 1.2 Describe the establishment of early colonies. 1.3 Describe the development of regional differences among the British colonies. 1.4 Explain the paradoxical rise of slavery and freedom in Colonial America. | | | Course Preparation | Read the course description and objectives.Read the instructor’s biography and post your own. | | | Reading | Read Ch. 1 of HIST2, Volume 1. | | | Reading | Read Ch. 2 of HIST2, Volume 1. | | | Reading | Read Ch. 3 of HIST2, Volume 1. | | | Reading...
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