Blog #3

Economics or Racism?

When looking back at the slave trade economics and racism kind of go hand in hand in playing a role. Economics was the reasoning for the slave trade but racism and discrimination is what made it possible to exist. At the time peopled viewed Africa as distant and saw Africans as an inferior people. According to Painter, Africans sold of their own kind. Certain villagers high up would sell the lower status person for the slave trade. This was viewed as okay by the U.S. colonists and the British. Since the supply existed, demand for slaves grew. And the Atlantic Slave Trade became. Painter says that the slave trade was a "profit making endeavor" for Africa, the to be United States and Britain. Much money was made of this business. I think people overlooked the fact that Africans were normal human beings too at the time and somehow it was morally acceptable. At the time, it was seen as any other business that was making money. So overall, although they both played a huge role, economics played the greater role.