The current political climate of the United States has been
on my mind a lot lately, and many aspects of the America of 1860 described by
William Craft have eerie similarities to the America of 2017.
“it
is well known…all over the world, that the Americans, as a people, are
notoriously mean and cruel towards all coloured persons” –William Craft
One of the foundations of Donald Trump’s campaign, and of
his presidency so far, is an attack of all of the values that we, as Americans,
claim to hold dear. Craft skillfully uses the foundational documents of our
nations to show the disparities between the values of our forefathers and the
practices of our country. He quotes the Declaration of Independence’s assertion
that “all men are created equal”, a philosophy which is in direct opposition to
the institution of slavery. He also pointed out the “unalienable rights” that
we are entitled to: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I would argue
that, while much progress has been made towards equality, we still have a very
long way to go in this country before we fulfill the ideals of our founding document.
Rejection by Trump and his supporters of refugees, immigrants, people of color,
women, disabled people and the LGBT community show that they do not believe in
the equality of human beings. They would deny people their fundamental right to
the best life possible on primarily racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist or
xenophobic grounds that they will call “protection” or “morally right”. The
lies told by this administration are similar to the slave trader in Craft’s
tale who loudly proclaims America the “greatest and freest country under the
whole universe” while in the same breath describing how inhumanely he would
treat enslaved Americans. This sort of hypocrisy and attack on American values
by the current President endangers the civil rights that many groups have
worked very hard to obtain.
“i know nothing about David
Duke. I know nothing about white supremacists. You wouldn’t want me to condemn
a group I know nothing about.”—Donald Trump, refusing to denounce the KKK, an
American terrorist group
“the reason a lot of Klan
members like Donald Trump is because a lot of what he believes, we believe in” –
Virginia KKK leader
A denial of basic human and civil rights is central to
Donald Trump’s rhetoric. A denial of humanity is what led William and Ellen
Craft to run “a thousand miles to freedom” to obtain the rights that should
have been guaranteed to them by the Declaration of Independence. The Dred Scott
decision showed that black people were not considered citizens at that time,
and while black people now have citizenship under the law, it does not come
with full benefits bestowed on white Americans, especially those who are
heterosexual and/or men.
"United States, your
banner wears,
Two emblems, — one of fame;
Alas, the other that it bears
Reminds us of your shame!
The white man' s liberty in
types
Stands blazoned by your stars;
But what's the meaning of
your stripes?
They mean your Negro-scars.
"
--Thomas Campbell
As a black person in America I, like the Craft’s, often feel
that my “very existence” is “at stake”, although we are from different times
and under very different circumstances. Under different circumstances as well,
some of the quotes provided by Craft are applicable in a different context. A
quote from the biblical book of Isaiah meant to oppose the Fugitive Slave Law
now finds relevance when applied to refugees: “Hide the outcast. Betray not him
that wandereth. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee.” The Bible would have us
protect those that are lost.
However, the Bible is often deliberately misinterpreted to
serve the needs of the oppressors. Craft makes a distinction between the piety
of the slaveholders and true Christianity, which is an important one. Nowadays
many people claim to be Christians, but espouse a true hatred towards other
people that is not in keeping with Jesus’ teachings. Back then and now people
use religion as an excuse, and claim that “God would have wanted this!” or “God
meant this ____”. My feelings about this hostile, unwelcoming version of
Christianity are nicely summed up by the southerner Ellen Craft encountered on
the train: “If she has religion, may the devil prevent me from ever being
converted!”
These people fail to realize that the persecution will not
stop with who they have deemed to be “sinners”. Craft ruminates on human nature
and the corruption of power several times during the narrative:
“he who has the power and
is inhuman enough to trample upon the sacred rights of the weak, cares nothing
for race or colour”—William Craft
Trump will not stop with Muslims or immigrants. A person who
tramples on one of us will trample on all of us, and that is what people need
to realize.
“injustice anywhere is a
threat to justice everywhere”—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Many people voted against their
own self-interests to serve their own prejudices. 53% of white women voted for
Trump, choosing their race over their gender. This is not a new phenomenon, as
white women stood by during the antebellum period and allowed slavery. They
turned a blind eye to the rape and abuse of their fellow women because of the
color of their skin, and it seems that this racism has pervaded to this day.
“such men would, if they
had the power…sell their country’s independence, and barter away every man’s
birthright for a mess of pottage”—William Craft
However, in addition to providing historical context for
phenomena we are experiencing today, the reading also provides many useful
messages for those resisting the new administration and the hate and prejudice
that goes along with it. Craft remarks that it was due to the “untiring” and “uncompromising”
efforts of Boston abolitionists that public opinion was strongly against
slavery, and therefore protected fugitive slaves to the best of their ability.
This community action to promote tolerance and champion civil rights will be
crucial in the coming weeks, months, and years. As I navigate our complicated
and divided country, I find hope in the capacity for kindness of individuals,
and strive to be as much of a blessing in someone’s life as Mr. Barkley Ivens
and his family was to the Crafts, who welcomed them wholeheartedly.
“’we would as soon send one
of our own daughters into slavery as thee; so thou mayest make thyself quite at
ease!’ These soft and soothing words fell like balm upon my wife’s unstrung
nerves, and melted her to tears; her fears and prejudices vanished, and from
that day she has firmly believed that there are good and bad persons of every
shade of complexion” –William Craft
