Enslavement of Blacks. . .the worse? Options

[hotsoup]

The issue of why African Americans/Blacks seem to think that the enslavement of their ancestors was so much more horrible than the enslavement of other people has come up many a time in discussions centered on race and ethnicity. So, I figured I'd just go ahead and start a discussion on the subject. Hopefully, one doesn't already exist.

So, my opinion.

I actually wrote a paper on this very subject last year for a history class I was taking at college. While I argued from an economical stand point in my paper, I think I'll go with the skin color issue here.

Every time I gain some new knowledge, my opinion seems to change, but I believe that the main reason the enslavement of Blacks is considered to be such a heinous crime and held above similar crimes is because it was based almost solely on skin color and the complete domination of an entire race thought to be some how deviant or against God in nature. I'll try to elaborate more on my stance once a discussion picks up.

[Ington]

Serfdom and slavery are close but still different. Slaves are in a class right below serfs.

Serfs were put to work for many different reasons. Some had no money and no skills, and worked for shelter and food or for a certain amount of time to pay off debt (such as in Russia prior to and around WWI). Some were born into the class, and had no way of bettering themselves, such as in manors during the dark ages. However, serfs were not bought or sold to other people like slaves were, they had one lord, and worked for that person for their entire lives, or for the amount of time needed to pay off their debts.

I do admit, however, that in select times in history, slaves were called serfs. However, this was just to make light of their situations.