The tales of the horrible slavery which the Africans faced at the hands of the white is very much recorded in the writings of many authors. One such Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Douglas Blackmon spoke at the campus of Northeastern University about his extensive research in African American slavery in the late 19th and early 20th century.
This event was titled, ‘Slavery By Another Name: Uncovering the Untold Stories’. These stories of racial injustice and slavery were bought to the forefront in Blackmon’s lecture where he said, “We absolutely cannot forget these things. We have to remember them because primarily, it is the only thing we can do to restore some sort of dignity to the lives that were taken.”
The event was attended by more than 120 people and they claimed that the program reflected the scenario of the civil rights struggles and it imaged the slavery of the African Americans and their forced labour systems. Blackmon, through his work, also examines the toxic laws during that time, which initiated and worsened the conditions of slavery and how difficult was it for the black person to live. The blacks were tortured to the extent where they lost their identity and culture. Also, two Northeastern law students, who investigated and litigated civil rights cold cases, shared stories about the brutal murders of two African American men.
Northeastern Law professor, Margaret Burnham shared the goals and purposes of the community, where it is of utmost importance to educate the students on the difficulties of making justice and to provide remedies and support for communities that have been abused and victimised. To honour the event and its purpose, there was a performance held by the band Joyful Noise led by Leonard Brown, an associate professor in the Department of Music and Department of Afro-American studies. The event elaborated on the atrocities faced by the marginalised who lived in the utmost slavery and conditions which transgressed the ethics of humanity.
Akshara Palshetkar
Commentaires