Untouchable claims

Nicole Alvarez

04/23/13

 

            In the novel Untouchable, we see a world where people are divided by a caste system that controls everyday life. Over the course of the novel we come across several instances in which the inequality and discrimination is clear . One major event is the hockey game during which members of different castes mingle and engage in a contact sport. The main character, Bahka participates in this game after receiving a hockey stick as a secret gift from a member of an upper caste. After Bahka, an untouchable scores a goal a fight erupts among men of different castes and from different neighborhoods. During this quarrel there was an incident with a young boy who gets injured. Bahka is the only person that tried helping the boy yet instead of receiving gratitude he is met with disdain by the boy’s mother. She automatically assumes he is responsible for the injury and insults him. Although he is an untouchable he behaved in a noble manner and was still condemned by society. Throughout the novel Bahka is faced with this constant disapproval which makes he feels resentment towards upper castes but also a strong desire to be accepted into their realm.

 

The conflict in the novel between Bahka’s resentment and his longing for acceptance demonstrates to readers how effective racial formation is and that accepting this idea places an internalized notion of prejudice.

The balance of power always places groups on opposite ends of the spectrum which results in conflict

Blog Four: Cluster Connections

As a transfer student I was a bit surprised when I went to new student registration and was handed a packet of pre sorted classes with assigned times and a common theme. As I looked through the different options Race and Culture was among the few that caught my eye.  I was curious about how this idea of the cluster classes would work out and now that we are about halfway through the semester I understand why cluster courses are successful. All of my classes are interrelated and focus on basically the same core principle. This connection has been extremely helpful with understanding all the material and being able to make connection even helps participation grades. At the same time each class and professor takes this common theme and further elaborates in different aspects. Overall we came across several common key words and ideologies in all our classes. One common idea among the three classes is that Race is not in fact a biological concept. Instead it is a cultural logic that we use to classify one another. In all three classes we discuss racial discrimination and power in different areas and towards different groups of people. In Slave and Citizen, Tannenbaum provides evidence of the slave system in areas outside of America such as Portugal, Brazil and Spain. In Cultural Anthropology we read a few articles that focus on African Americans during and post slavery adapting to several countries such as “ The Black Diaspora in Costa Rica” and “Blessed Anastacia”. The connection among the courses really offered insight because one of the predominant issues is that race is not real and we created it. I find it interesting that we ourselves created this elusive barrier of race that is responsible for much of the injustice throughout history and present in the world. I’ve acknowledged the fact that we ultimately may never be color blind because we live by this set of rules that involve a hierarchy based on race and gender. I am pleasantly surprised at how effective the cluster courses can be and believe it would be beneficial for freshman and new students to experience this during their first semester to help with the transition process. What I enjoy about these courses the most is that they pose challenging questions such as how we would describe ourselves when asked about our ethnicity or race. Another thing I find extremely refreshing is that our professors give us information and news that most people are not aware of. As students we appreciate not being taught simply based on a syllabus. We like receiving other information such as global/internal affairs or the hidden support of drug cartels in governments because it makes us feel as if receiving this information is a sign that we are respected not just as students but also as adults and intellectual minds. This would be ideal if it were part of each student’s college experience in every class all throughout America.

Response to classmate's blog

            I am writing this blog to reflect and offer feedback on my classmate Nico Colomer’s blog. She addressed several issues that I too found myself questioning throughout this reading. She had reservations about whether she agreed or disagreed with Tannenbaum because she felt his stand was sometimes unclear and he often contradicted himself. This is one particular argument that I found interesting “In the end no one denied being involved in the enslavement of humans they simply justified the means. So maybe until that is unveiled then slavery will truly be over” (Colomer).  Colomer argues that those responsible for slavery have at no point refused to admit they practiced slavery. Instead they used societal issues such a religion to justify their actions.  I strongly agree with her theory that although Tannenbaum provides facts that depict the different living conditions in the Anglo and Latin American societies they are both guilty of the same crime. Both regions are responsible for the initial practice of this inhumane enslavement and the middle passage. Therefore although later on slaves were given a better lifestyle and opportunities in Latin America that does not in turn completely erase all the horror they have caused. The Latin American used religion to ease their guilty conscience and continue reaping the benefits of slavery. Therefore simply because African Americans suffered different degrees of punishment in some regions it should not be enough to exempt or lessen the magnitude of each nation's contributions to slavery. I think my classmate should use this claim in her essay because she raises a valid point that challenges Tannenbaum’s claim about the different slave systems.  She can elaborate further on her theory and why she disagrees with Tannenbaum by providing evidence.

Blog Two

After reading Slave and Citizen I feel more confident about my knowledge of slavery. Tannenbaum enlightened me with his vivid descriptions of the differences between Latin America and United States. Although we talked about many of Tannebaum’s major claims one particular idea really stood out. “ The Emancipation may have legally freed the Negro, but it failed morally to free the white man” (Tannenbaum 42). African Americans were free according to the law but white Americans continued to associate people of color with slavery. They were unable to accept that African Americans were now free people and part of society.  When I first read this passage it provoked many unsettling questions about White America and their attitude to manumission.

After we discussed this excerpt in class I gained even more insight on this idea.  Not only were white men unable to process that African Americans were now free but also that they were responsible for such torture. We discussed the theory that the white man could not accept all the inhumane conditions they had inflicted. The realization of the magnitude of suffering they caused may have traumatized them. This caused enough trauma to the mind of white Americans to the point that it might be the reason behind so many sociopaths. Although I  have not done enough research on this theory just the implication that 99% of all serial killers are White Americans because of the trauma of slavery is mind blowing. Tannenbaum states"the shadow of slavery is still cast ahead of us" which sheds some insight on this possible theory.
Meanwhile in Latin America the idea of manumission was widely accepted and even encouraged. The process was rather easy in this region. Once they were free they automatically offered opportunities that were unheard of in America. In essence this major difference in approach of manumission supports Tannenbaum's major claim about the slave system in these regions. I agree with him about the divergence between Latin America and United States. However I also think just because conditions were less harsh in Latin America it does not absolve them of the initial middle passage and the practice of slavery in general.

Tannenbaum's Claims

     In discussions of slavery, one controversial issue has been the divergence of morality between America and countries such as Brazil, Spain and Portugal. The Northwestern and Southwestern hemispheres consisted of opposing views on the slave system. Tannenbaum’s argument that conditions were different in these areas and that America was harsher is supported by his lengthy research. We can see evidence to support his claim when he discusses the various opportunities Negros had in Brazil. In colonial Brazil it was socially acceptable for attractive women of color to be romantically involved with white men and even own slaves themselves. African Americans were given the opportunity to pursue significant endeavors like attaining a political role or becoming a doctor.

From Tannenbaum’s perspective the main reason for this split in ideologies is a matter of morality. One the one hand we have the Latin who reap the benefits of slavery while also offering slaves opportunities to participate in society. On the other hand however, we have Americans who considered this approach unheard of because they did not consider Negros human beings. A prime example of these ethical issues is their opposing views on manumission and how they went out of their way to either support or prevent it.

Peer Tweets

One common theme among my news feed is that this book really enlightened us by showing us new

aspects of slavery in different regions. Tannenbaum really did his research and as many of peers

 pointed out this book is nothing like what we have learned from other sources. One particular idea I

found interesting is Nico's point about Immigrants and minorities being the backbone of the country

just as African Americans used to be. I completely agree with this point because not only are miniorities a

monumental part of the economy and they do not recieve as much respect as they should.

Blog One

            Throughout my academic career I have come across numerous books and excerpts about slavery. Each time the notion that human beings are capable of such horror continues to elude me. Tannenbaum considers it part of human nature and declares that slavery is not exclusively a white man’s idea. He gives prime examples of other cultures that have practiced slavery and have in turn been enslaved themselves. (Example: Spaniards)  Although I don’t entirely agree with his theory that it’s part of human nature, I do agree that most of the time it stems from power and greed. “Slave and Citizen” is unlike any other reading I have encountered on this topic. Personally, it enlightened me by describing the juxtaposition of the Northwestern and Southwestern hemispheres.

            I used to have a very broad understanding of what slavery entailed. I always focused on the treatment of African Americans in the U.S. and assumed it was about the same elsewhere. Tannenbaum gave examples of the opportunities Negroes where given in Colonial Brazil and Other regions. He also explained that one of the main points of divergence between the Anglo and other regions was their opposing views on manumission. In Latin America they were huge supporters of manumission while in America they were vehemently against this idea. Americans went out of their way to make laws and find loopholes to place limitations on any attempts at freedom.

            Another idea introduced by Tannenbaum is that African Americans basically built the new world. In other references to Negro Labor they mostly focus on the hard labor such as cotton picking and working plantations. However in areas such as Argentina they actually did handled all the labor including the most artistic jobs. I was surprised to learn that they were artists, musicians, cooks, construction workers and they helped build entire cities. The fact that these enslaved people were responsible for all the progress and growth of the new world is amazing to me. Yet, only in certain areas where they actually able to participate in this society they helped shape.

                        The most significant difference between the two slave systems comes down to moral issues. Latin America, Spain and Portugal were involved with slavery for their own benefit and to profit from the huge cash flow it created. They did it because they were eager for power and they used their religion as a scapegoat for guilt. In America and the British West Islands slavery existed for the sole reason that they genuinely believed African Americans were not human beings. I agree with Tannenbaum’s belief that if we were capable of this evil before then it will likely rise up again. It might not be to the same degree or last as long but I believe it is possible. On the other hand I also believe that now we have enough sense to not let it ever escalate to such horrible proportions.