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One of the points I found most interesting in this week’s reading came in the first few pages of the chapter. David Brion Davis discusses, for a few lines, the term “black” itself. He cuts the moral complexity of European colonization and African slavery down to a single word. While this is certainly not all encompassing, a closer look at the racial label is representative of larger issues and discussions of the topic. Davis brings up “depictions of black demons, devils, and torturers” that were common in Europe when the term was introduced. Thus, through the labeling of the victims of their racial subjugation as black, Europeans were “creating a perception of the ultimate Outsiders.” Modern conversations about race still discuss the use of “black” as a racial identification. While some argue for the use of the term African American as more politically correct alternative, others feel that this separates black Americans from their national identity by also linking them to Africa. Regardless, this still leaves a gap in labeling people of non-African origin and non-Americans. This is also relevant to our discussion in class of the labeling of Native Americans as Indians or American Indians. The fundamental issue in these labels, both black and Native American, is that white Europeans imposed them upon a group of people in order to differentiate them from themselves, the white elite. Although Davis only touches on this issue briefly, it is a fascinating one that is as relevant today as it was in Medieval Europe.
In addition, Davis’ discussion of the changes that European workers underwent as a result of the Atlantic slave trade reminded me of Sylvia’s post from last week. She talked about history as multiple story lines, not simply as one person or group’s experience. The fact that European workers changed their wage expectations and workplace standards because they desired New World products made available by the slave trade is a unique perspective on the issue. Slavery did not only affect the Africans kidnapped from their homes and the white masters in the Americas. It also changed the way people lived in Europe.