Slavery was not invented in America in 1619, nor did it end Juneteenth 1865. Abolition was a unique new concept in the enlightened 18th century, considered radical and against nature. Slavery is as old as biology. Some species of animal enslave other species. When it appears in ancient text, like the Bible, it is mentioned as casually as any natural biological function. After all, “All great fleas have lesser fleas upon their backs to bite ‘em. The lesser fleas still lesser fleas, and so on infinitum.” So it was with slavery, top to bottom. The lowest level of slave, or serf did the dirtiest work. In many cultures, there were not any really free people, they had different names for different levels of vassalage.
In the book of genesis. Sarah gives her handmaid Hannah to Abraham for sex so he can have a son, no abortion option. Later, Joseph is sold into slavery by his envious brothers. The 10th Commandment lumps slaves along with other property. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s (goods) house or fields, nor his male or female slaves, nor his ox or ass, or anything that belongs to him.” Deuteronomy 5:21.
Medieval Europe was governed by a system of vassalage. Each level was subservient to a higher level, roughly: pope, emperor, king, duke, earl, baron, knight, squire, yeoman, peasant, serf. The highest level, sovereign, aka, king. But the king reigned at the pleasure of an emperor, who himself was subservient to the church as represented by the pope: You might say just like business or possibly the military. A sovereign held absolute power over his vassal’s life, liberty and property. The vassal could be deprived of any on the king’s whim. A noble could be deprived of his lands, which were then given to another. Various versions of this arrangement replaced tribalism through much of the parts of the world that call themselves civilization.
We mark the year 1215 where English barons banded together revolted and produced the Magna Carta (Great Charter) a declaration that the king’s authority was not absolute. He had to obey the law and citizens had some rights. King John signed it, then he died. He may have been the despised Prince John of the Robin Hood legend. The concept was mostly ignored since kings still had armies.
Henry VIII 1509-47 known for his six successive disposable wives, if one displeased him, she was thrown out (or away). He treated his vassals, dukes, barons etc. as disposable, to serve him, die or rot in jail at his pleasure. He was in theory, king at the discretion of the pope, yet he rebelled and got away with it. Until that time the church, like today’s communist party was an international force that preempted local or national control. The original definition of Catholic was united. Loyalty to the church then was paramount. To some today, their party has become the ultimate authority maybe above even God.
In the 18th century, some radicals came up with the idea that all men are created equal. After months of debate, they published the Declaration of Independence. That energized the train of events that diminished the influence of slavery and the hierarchy of subservience. Until 1776 nobody was truly free. The declaration of independence introduced the radical idea that all men (humans) are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This was the start of liberal (free) democracy replacing the age-old hierarchy of vassalage that preserved the order of warriors, assisted by priests to manipulate the masses so that the sovereign and first two estates (classes) could live opulently at the expense of the third.
In many countries slavery is illegal, but that does not mean it not still practiced. Passing a law against something does not make it cease to exist, it just creates work for law enforcement. Slavers bind people more subtly than with chains and whips: debts to the company pile up, drugs, money and other perquisites are offered then withheld, ships never make port, families are threatened, passports are confiscated. We have a way to go.
Ken Obenski is a forensic engineer, now safety and freedom advocate in South Kona. He writes a biweekly column for West Hawaii Today. Send feedback to obenskik@gmail.com