Transcript
"G's-Us" Slavery is one of the most controversial issues in U.S. History. The historic, wholesale exploitation of black people often overshadows its economic origins and many, mistakenly, believe that slavery was based on racism. Racism was a feature of slavery that facilitated dehumanization and furthered economic aims. However, slavery's roots are buried deeply within the capitalist ideal. Property ownership and profit provide the motive for capitalism/slavery. As capitalists strive to produce something for a profit labor costs are a primary consideration. Slave labor is a capitalist manna! Developing America demanded a lot of work and slavery satisfied the demand for cheap labor. Consequently, it was a key feature of the early American landscape. Early America was bustling with opportunities and as enterprising individuals took advantage of them others were routinely exploited for their work potential. Native Americans were enslaved as settlers took control of and cultivated their lands. Europeans seeking passage would contract as "indentured servants" agreeing to specified periods of servitude for the cost of living. Eventually, Africans were imported as slaves. Their robust nature and physical contrast to Europeans made them ideal chattel. They spent over 200 years in American slavery. Consequently, African American culture reflects the residue of this experience. Slavery's alleged end is marked by the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation, via the 13th amendment, abolished the outright practice of slavery -- making it lawful only "as punishment for a crime." Although the E.P. essentially freed A.A.'s the political and psychological consequences of centuries in bondage continued to run their course. Black people were routinely exploited as American capitalism took from. These conditions shaped A.A. culture and intricately, interwove themselves into the fabric of American capitalism. A.A.'s positioning in the American economy continues to be a source of great controversy. Capitalism consists of the micro and the macro. In the micro individual entrepreneurs strive to produce goods/services and make a profit. The macro is compromised of powerful governments or conglomerates concerned with controlling populations and/or providences by influencing monetary circulation. As a capitalist country both the American people and its government are involved in capitalist processes. Money, the medium of exchange, reigns supreme. As a self-governing body America was founded through the American Revolution. Its origins are traced to rebellion against the exploitative policies of the English monarchy. Early Americans believed that they had a right to be free from exploitation and established a system of governance with that aim in mind. The Bill of Rights, upon which America stands, reflects the anti-oppression/exploitation sentiments of its founders. The Bill of Rights gave birth to the Emancipation Proclamation less than a century later. The founders' intentions were clear -- every American citizen is guaranteed fundamental, unalienable rights and a watchful eye should be kept for colonizing powers seeking to infringe upon them. To this end America's first president, George Washington, sought to secure America's sovereignty. In his farewell address he advised Americans to be on guard against "artful, enterprising, minority interest groups and the establishment of a large, centralized policing force." The early twentieth-century witnessed the rise of both entities within America: The Federal Reserve (est. 1913) and the F.B.I. (est. 1936). Reflecting the interests of an "artful, enterprising minority" the Federal Reserve has commandeered the creation of U.S. currency. Commonly thought to be a government organization the Fed is a privately held corporation boasting some of bankings greatest personas (Rockefellers, Rothschilds, Warburgs, etc.) The Fed contracts with the U.S. government to produce "our" money. Monetary control has always been a prerequisite to governance and particular attention should be paid to the Fed. Shortly after its establishment in 1913 America's economic landscape was drastically altered. The stock market crash of 1929 resulted in the Great Depression (1929-1931). The Great Depression ravaged America and led to a complete restructuring of its economy. In the wake of the Great Depression, president Franklin Delano Roosevelt instituted the New Deal. During this 100 day session all banks were closed and Americans were ordered to "turn in their gold." America went off of the gold standard and onto the "modified gold bullion standard"-the money was no longer backed by gold. It's worthwhile to consider the effect this had upon the Feds relationship with the government. Theorists speculate that the crash of '29 was intentionally orchestrated with this aim in mind and point to F.D.R.'s banking career as evidence of collusion. Just five short years after the New Deal the F.B.I. was established. "A large, centralized, policing force" the F.B.I. is best known for its clandestine activities. The integrity of any organization that specializes in deception is always questionable and the F.BI. is no exception. Since its inception it has been a little queer. Its first director, Edgar Hoover, identified as the a closet homosexual and cross dresser refused, unto death, to relinquish the reigns of power. He is renowned for his exploits of espionage and blackmail -- his abnormal psychology perfectly suited for such subversive work. Although historically attributed for the notorious Lindberg Kidnapping, the F.B.I.'s prime objective has, clearly, always been the preservation of centralized power. To this end it has come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court for its counter intelligence program, aptly dubbed "Cointelpro." Cointelpro is the F.B.I.'s initiative to eliminate any potential threat to the status quo. It was used to undermine, discredit, and eliminate prominent civil rights leaders such as Huey P. Newton, Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X. As African Americans fought for equal rights the F.B.I. subversively sought to sabotage their advancement. In a famous hearing known as the Church Committee, the Supreme Court found "Cointelpro" to be unconstitutional and ordered the F.B.I. to "immediately cease their subversive activities." Since this edict would, essentially, put them out of business, evidence suggests that they ignored it. In recent history the F.B.I. has been implicated in the assassination of the legendary Hip Hop activist, Tupac Shakur. His music is peppered with "paranoia" of the federalès. The F.B.I's historic hindrance of black people has obvious economic implications. Some theorists even suggest that they are actively involved in the wholesale spread of criminal culture. Since exploiters make a great exploitable class, we can only wonder. Today the F.B.I. stands as the most powerful and influential "public" organization in America. It may very well be the long arm of a colonizing force. Crime, currently, provides the backbone of America's economy and, naturally, we should wonder has it somehow then taken the place of slavery. Criminal justice continues to be the governments chief form of employment -- it seems that either you're an employee or an inmate. The commercialization of crime is an obvious aspect of American culture and the prison industrial complex a key feature. Capitalize all the capital lies and then you'll realize where real capital lies...for the love of $. Vino Wynder [ID] Attica, NY
