1. With your group you are going to talk about our large topic (Cultural Encounters and Frontiers) and how it can be tied to the two most recent readings we have done. What MESSAGE ABOUT cultural encounters and frontiers do these two selections communicate? Not just that they show cultures encountering, but detail out a specific message about the encounters that they show. Please use textual evidence in your argument.
Post your group's answer as a reply to this post and make sure all of your names are listed in the text of the reply.
Once your group has discussed the topic "Frontiers and Cultural Encounters" and tied these two authors to it (and written it and textual evidence as a reply to this post), work on your own to answer this question as a second reply to this post:
2. Do you think
either of these (de las Casas’ and
Equiano’s) accounts changed the audience? How? Why yes or no? If no, what could
they have done to more affect their audience?
Aim for around a paragraph, making sure to answer all of the questions and connecting them to each author
Cody, Drew. Jackson, Olivia
ReplyDeleteThe connection between Equiano’s “Interesting Narrative” and Casas “Relation” about Frontiers and Cultural Encounters are very similar. They believe that the White Men are cruel towards the minority and invaded on their homelands. This can be seen in Casas “Relation” when he says that “for every Christian slane, they would slay a hundred Indians.” It can also be seen in Equiano’s Narrative when he says “one white man in particular I saw, when we were permitted to be on deck, flogged so unmercifully with a large rope near the foremast…” These quotes show the similarities of two diverse cultures interacting with each other. In both stories the white man felt superior to the other culture.
Amber, Delia, Brett, Josh
ReplyDeleteThe Interesting Narrative and The Relation communicate a message about cultural encounters and frontiers by showing the actual encountering of the two cultures. Going more into depth, in The Relation, the author writes, “The tyranny exercised by the Spaniards against the Indians... is one of the most cruel that can be imagined.” This sentence portrays the clashing of the two cultures and that the more “dominant” culture toys with the more “inferior” culture. In The Interesting Narrative, Equiano writes about the slaves sales and how he sees them being separated from their other slave friends that they have been surrounded by and going through so much with. He says how he sees the slaves being sold and they cry out, “O, nominal Christians!” The slaves are begging the European people to stop separating them, and it shows the destruction that they Christians have on the slaves.
The message that comes from these two pieces of text is that cultural encounters are not peaceful when they first happen. This is because cultures think that they are superior to other people and they tend to dehumanize the new or different culture. In ‘The Very Brief Relation of the Devastation of the Indies’, it says, “Then, like sheep, they are sorted out into flocks of ten or twenty persons…” Also, in ‘The Interesting Narrative…’ story, it says, ““One white man in particular I saw, when permitted to be on deck, flogged so unmercifully with a large rope near the foremast, that he died in consequence of it; and they tossed him over the side as they would have done with a brute.” These texts show how the new culture is being dehumanized, contributing to the overall message that there are not peaceful cultural encounters. The injustices that are inflicted on the different cultures adds to the idea that new cultures are inferior.- Jessee, Anna, Majel, Jaeger
ReplyDeleteI think that there is the possibility that the audience would be changed from this. I don’t think that it would be seen in a large scale like the slave trade completely ending, but I do think that it would have posed some resistance to the idea. There most likely were some people that read it and converted to believing that it was a horrible thing, but others would look at it and continue to justify their actions. Because of this, I’m not sure if there is anything that could be done to get a better effect on the audience; I believe it depends on the person and the state of mind they are in. -JESSEE
DeleteEvery two cultures which meet each other usually ends up with violence. This is because it is a new cultural encounter between two groups of people. In the story of Olaudah Equiano he just met the white men and didn’t know anything about them. They took him without consent, without even knowing him, beating him and his fellow countrymen, in certain situations.
ReplyDeleteIn the story of Bartolome De Las Casas the Spanish Christians began subjection of the women and children, taking them away from the Indians to use them for labor without their consent.
Spencer, Chase, and Megan
ReplyDeleteThese selections show that when cultures encounter each other, they should treat each other as people. Instead of animals and items to be missused. Bartolome de las Casas used to be apart of the massacre of the Indies people. He later realized how terrible his actions were, and gave up all his slaves. He encouraged others to treat the Indies people better. Olaudah Equiano, wrote about the inhumane treatment. He described in detail the lives of the slaves in the Middle Passage. These both show that treating other people unequally is inhumane and not how cultural encounter should be.
The two stories we have read demonstrate slavery among natives/those of a different culture. When white men come from foreign lands looking for profit, it is at the expense of the natives, because they get intertwined with their endeavors. From The Very Brief Relation of the Devastation of the Indians, one quote that stuck out was, “ The Spaniards made a rule among themselves that for every Christian slain by the Indians, they would slay a hundred Indians”. This shows how these cultures clashed, because the Spaniards saw the Indians as inferior/expendable. They wanted to be a force to reckon with, so they acted as a major threat toward the natives. In The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, he speaks of the selling of his race. “...and the eagerness visible in the countenances of the buyers, serve not as a little to increase the apprehension of terrified Africans…”. This shows how they were treated like cattle about to be sold, and even though they appeared this way to white buyers, they in fact had that emotion of fear unlike livestock. This relates to cultural encounters because the white people did not see their population as a threat, so in order to take advantage of them, they used force to shove them to the bottom of the social ladder and make them feel like nothing. This type of method was used for many years, and created problems for both native americans and african americans. -Kevin, Dan, Meg R.
ReplyDeleteBrie, Mason, Gauge
ReplyDeleteThe Europeans tried to be the most powerful race by taking people in so they didn’t have to work. They got all the money and they didn’t work at all. In The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano quotes that they work and receive nothing out of it. “Is it not enough that we are torn from our country and friends, to toil for your luxury and lust of gain?” It shows that they suffer so we can have luxury of not having to work. Also in the Very Brief Relation of the Devastation of the Indies they show that pearl divers just work and never rest and if they do they are beaten. “If the pearl diver shows signs of wanting to rest, he is showered with blows, his hair is pulled, and he is thrown back into the water.” it’s showing us that we didn’t care about people and we didn’t even think of them as people. The only thing we thought them as were creatures that made us money.
No, I do not think it changed the audience because they do not care what a “slave” thinks about the event going on. The “white man” only cares about money in this case and they make more by working the “slaves” harder. The “white man” doesn’t care about the natives feelings because they think they are a lesser race/person. Therefore, there really isn’t anything the natives could do to make it better for themselves and their people. The only way that would work would be to get a president or leader speak against it and make a law or something for the “slavery”.
DeleteI think the audience would have been affected, but only in a small proportion. Although many people may believe that these were falsehoods being portrayed by the authors because "Christians" were incapable of committing such crimes. Others may read the stories and become aware of what was actually taking place in the Americas, and on the ships bringing the slaves to the western countries. It may have started a small promotion of demolishing slavery for a short while, but many people forget after a couple months, continuing in what's the normal. I don't think the authors could have done anything more to change the audience's minds; it was up to them, and what they believed to be their morals.
ReplyDeleteNo, I believe that the audience’s opinions weren’t altered by the works of literature. Mostly because in society white men were the boss, and had unlimited power. They were interested in labor and money. The white men did not care or believe that the slaves opinions mattered in any circumstance. They didn’t even think slaves were capable to have any ideas equal to theirs. In those times, slaves and white men had completely different social ranks. The leading proposition to catch the audience's attention, would be to have an authoritative/ intimidating group or individual back up facts or stories presented in the literature. If the leader of authoritative person was to scare or confront the injustice population on their wrongdoing it may have a positive affect. Confrontation is a key tactic to persuading the reader’s position on any issue.
ReplyDeleteI believe that both stories had an effect of the opinion of slavery to many, but to a minimal extent. They most likely would've persuaded the people that were on the fence toward the issue, pushing them toward favoring abolishing slavery. It wouldn't cause everyone to stop slavery and the slave trade, not anywhere near that. Rather the stories would just start (and be a big part of) the long, on going struggle for racial equality. There is nothing more that they could have done to persuade any more of a sizable amount of oppositions of slavery. The main ingredient for equality is time.
ReplyDeleteThese stories could potentially change the opinion of individuals who didn't know how poorly the slaves were being treated. Although, I believe the slave holders already knew what was going on, and they didn't believe it was wrong because they didn't think of slaves a human beings. One aspect that could be effective, is having slave owners read about the feelings of the slaves. This could allow them to see slaves as human beings. I believe it was as effective as possible. The violence, cruelty, and descriptive language sends a very strong message, but the people who were involved with the slave trade most likely would be too stubborn in their beliefs to change their mind.
ReplyDeleteAlong with that, Bartolome's story could be persuasive for the Christians from his home land. The stories could be very shocking to the people who didn't know how the Native Americans were being treated. His story could be effective for new settlers.
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ReplyDeleteThe two stories could've changed the way that some people think. Possibly the people who didn't know about the Middle Passage, or the Spaniards enslaving the Indians. I believe the Christians wouldn't change. They knew what the Bible said about these doings. They knew it was wrong, but if they considered the Indians and the Africans to be human beings, they wouldn't have done it. They saw these two groups as animals. Nothing more than objects to be used as they pleased. I don't think the writers could've done anything different. Their stories were very indepth and gruesome. They told it like it happened, and if people didn't believe there needed to be a change after that, their was nothing they could do. I'm sure some did believe them, but the Christians in fact did not. Their minds were set and I doubt they would change.
DeleteI do think that they have changed the readers in some way. I think that it has made the reader more sympathetic towards either the slaves or the natives depending on the story. In the stories it tells the story of the hardship that they went through. I believe that it would have had to move the audience, whether it’s persuading the English to abolish slavery or just to despise it more. – Jordan Knutson
ReplyDeleteI think that they both had an impact on the people, just not the full effect that they were looking for. The reason I say that it didn't have much of an effect, is that the people who participated in slavery weren't likely to give it up. I'm not sure what they could have done to make it more effective, as the people don't want to listen. In order to actually make a difference they would have had to get the slave owners to see the slaves as human beings. It just isn't likely that they could succeed. One possible route they could have taken was forcing people to live like the slaves for a week, to open their eyes to what they are strong arming people into doing.
ReplyDeleteI think that these stories probably influenced the White christians a little bit. It most likely opened up their eyes to the cruelty of slavery. These two stories depicted the Native Americans and the African slaves as people, not just property. The two accounts probably influenced the slave owners the least. They already knew what they were doing, they didn’t need a book to tell them that. Also they were profiting off of the slave trade, making it harder for them to oppose slavery. Although, I’m sure it got them thinking.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the stories influenced peoples beliefs on slavery. Without these first hand account I imagine the civilians of the homeland created an illusion of slavery that depicted the slavers as good nice people. When their eyes were opened up to the terrible things that the slavers did i believe their thoughts on slavery were changed. If someone could read these stories and not feel sorrow for the native people then they are not human. These stories carry emotion and when reading them it is impossible to not dislike the slavers and settlers, and feel that the native people deserved better
ReplyDeleteIn the story Bartolome de las Casas wrote, he successfully showed the cruel treatment of Native Americans by the Spaniards. The audience for his story was the colonists themselves, but I don’t believe that at the time of him writing this story he accomplished changing the views of the Spaniards who treated the Indians so horribly. If those people were to look back now and read his stories, they would hopefully feel remorse and regret about what they did. At the time though, I believe they didn’t care how they treated the Native people.
ReplyDeleteEquiano’s story about the horrible treatment of slaves who traveled on the Middle Passage was also successful in showing said treatment. I have the saw belief though, that at the time, slave masters and owners didn’t care how they treated the black people. They didn’t even view them as people. Reading about how the African Americans felt and what they experienced wouldn’t interest slave masters at all. That being said, if they were to look back today and read about how they treated those people, they better feel terribly about it. It would hopefully change their views significantly.
I don’t think the writings affected the audience. Because the society considered slavery as a norm for a long period of time. And it was hard to affect the society with just a writing. Because the idea of slavery existed for so long, that white people were absolutely sure in their superiority under the slaves and black people at all. I guess, the society can be changed with the help of more radical actions, not just writings. But I’m sure that some people felt remorse and pity when they read about slavery life and the way they were treated.. Maybe writing is not enough to change the whole society.
ReplyDeleteBoth of these stories could have an influence towards specific people. Christians and slave traders involved directly with these encounters obviously have a strong opinion towards what they were doing, but people from their homelands can never understand these issues fully. If these people, who possibly have weaker opinions, could be influenced by the influential writing of Indian and Slave narratives. These narratives use descriptive language describing harsh and cruel violence towards them.
ReplyDeleteI believe that some people may have been changed by both of the stories. More so by the devastation of the Indies than by Olaudah Equianos story. This is because the devastation of Indies was written in greater detail with more horrific images. Also de la casas completely gave up slavery while Olaudah in the end owned slaves himself. Olaudah could have made more people change their view if he would have actually been an advocate to end slavery instead of participating in it and just saying he was a better owner. He also could have gone into more detail on what actually happened on the ship.
ReplyDeleteI feel as if these pieces literature were read but not many actually tried to make a difference. It was mostly just read because it was interesting, to read how a culture encountered with each other and the outcome of it. It's purpose, to persuade people against slavery, was most likely successful, people were probably more against slavery after this because of the horrors that were shared.
ReplyDeleteI believe that these stories changed peoples lives due to the horrific events that actually happened. Many certain historical events that happened that were horrific to the people who experienced it.
ReplyDeleteI believe this may have changed the perspective of the audience, if the audience is an uneducated group of people that has not thought much about the motives of either side. Those who understand this topic may have either perspective, and can justify their reasoning, but this may have changed the view points on Christians for those that are uncertain.
ReplyDeleteThese stories have effected the audience but i do not believe that they have changed the audience. I only think this because even though many people read these two stories nothing was done about the problems that were written about in the story. Well nothing was done for a long time until after the Civil War was slavery abolished completely in the U.S.. To change their audience more they could get involved themselves to gather more people to get them involved, even though in the first story he kind of already did that. But they could have gotten a group of people together to start a riot.
ReplyDelete