Why does America and Europe get chastised over the slave trade?

Question

The slave trade was an evil blot in the history of mankind. What puzzles me is when commentators give their view of this period in history there is very little emphasis in the part played by African and Arab traders who largely provided the unfortunate souls that were victims of that industry.

Answer 1

It may also have to do with culture as well, remember in parts of Africa and in Arab traditions it is/was perfectly acceptable to be involved in the slave trade.

But it is easier to blame the "evil" Americans and Europeans than the "good and kind" African/Arab slavers.

Try asking that question to a liberal college professor if you want to watch some one have a heart attack and see blood shoot out their ears.

Answer 2

It is probably due to the fact that the west often has these feelings of guilt because they are better off than the rest of the world. And, to be honest, the Africans and Arabs do not see much wrong with slavery so they do not feel the need for guilt over it. The main cause of the chastisement is from those trying to score a political point. Whether it be third world countries trying for the moral high ground or African American politicians trying to score a point over Anglo-American politicians.

The truth is it is in the past. At least in America and Europe. If anyone today feels the need to condemn slavery they ought to look at the parts of the world where it happens today. I never owned slaves and I'm not sure that any of my family did, so why should I feel guilt about it? If we start on the game of blaming people for what their ancestors did it could get very unpleasant because no ethnic grouping has a blame free history.

Answer 3

Errmm -I am going to get in so much trouble for this, but...
The view on slavery has been hijacked by professional victims, who make a good living in the US and UK as complainers. And yes, they are black and it is easier than working.
The UK was involved in slaving for a very short space and actually put an end to it ourselves, right through the empire - the only empire to have done this voluntarily. You SHOULD be hearing how great the Brits are to have realised the error of our ways so quickly and take action, but don't hold your breath waiting. In many Arab dialects the word for "Black person" is the same as the word for "slave". No complainers are asking the Arabs for recognition/apology/money, because they would be ignored or laughed at. Even the US fought a very bloody civil war, mostly to free slaves - but where is the thanks? Not there.
May as well ask where the demonstrators against white rule in Zimbabwe are, now that people are being murdered there on an unprecedented scale and it has the lowest life expectancy it has ever had...
Regards, Steve.

Answer 4

In two words, "Deep Pockets". If you blame the people that have the money, such as the highly industrialized nations, you are more likely to get some sort of payoff. The African and Arab states, couldn't care less, about slaves. In their countries, you either are rich or you are poor. No middle class, no political correctness.

Answer 5

Think about the arms trade. It only exists because there are people who want to buy. So the same goes for the slave trade. Europeans went to the Americas and started to grow cotton and sugar cane. They found that the climate was too harsh and went elsewhere for their work force.

Answer 6

Good question, there is not one American or European alive in the world today who ever owned, bought, or sold a slave. The fools in the rest of the world haven't got anything on us now so they use the past as justification for the blind hatred of their betters. Did you know that slavery STILL goes on in Saudi Arabia TO THIS DAY? Not uncommon at all in Muslim countries. So much for the UN......

Answer 7

Same as drugs if there is a customer for a product and there is money in it , there is always a buyer , How many times do you see a drug suplier charged with mass murder, for that is exactly what they are mass murderers guilty of deaths of hundreds of thousands of weak people with hardly any will of their own . society would be up in arms if they were to do it to an animal, but stands by as there children are destroyed . Same as the case of slavery the buyer is the guilty party not the seller

Answer 8

while neitehr group of people created the concpet of slavery, it has always and probably always wil exist in human society. african slavery existed long before europeans visited the gold and ivory coasts of africa, what was new though was the export of african slaves from the continent to the new world. the europeans and americans did create the treade as we kno it and study it in regards to american slavery,, vast fortunes and political power manifisted itself thru the slave trade, think of teh predominate slave trading nations in teh early era, england portugal spain and belgium all attempted to establish and control colonies in the world and england ending up being the most successful

Answer 9

History in the west is taught in terms of the west. The emphasis will naturally then fall on western nations and peoples even if other people acted as deplorably.

Answer 10

Just because somebody offers you something, it doesn't mean you're supposed to accept it.
Arab and African traders might have offered people to be sold as slaves, but those who bought them as such were just as much in the wrong if not more.