Although I Am, History is Not so Black and White
‘Yes, I got my wife’s approval for the title.
This week we are supposed to write about our views and assumptions about colonialism and slavery before we read A History of Slavery by Jeremy Black[i] and Colonialism by Nigel Biggar.[ii]
Pre-Reading Thoughts
First, I realize our tendency with just about anything and everything is to oversimplify issues in our world, both in the present and in the past. Slavery has been around for thousands of years and has taken different forms across the globe. In certain places and times in history, it was so woven into the culture and so systemic that if someone were abruptly liberated, they would have struggled to survive. Where would they work? How could they buy food? Where would they live? How could they gain property?
Expansion and colonization are part of world history. It’s not a European or white thing. It’s a global element that plenty of tribes, countries, and nations with power have participated in. Israel, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Rome, Egypt, Mongolia, West Africa, Germany, Russia, Spain, etc., all have their histories of gaining more land, acquiring more resources, and subjugating others for the sake of their kingdom, people, and ego.
Concerning slavery in America and colonization, this is yet another chapter of one group seeking to expand at the expense of other groups. Race, class, theology, heritage, and power dynamics all influenced who was subjected to who. I would imagine that some systems of slavery and owners were more benevolent than others. As stated earlier, I believe this was so systemic and foundational in America to the economy, government, and survival that changing this structure was unrealistic and absurd. For many Christian slave owners, it was sanctioned by Scripture. This not only gave ample permission to continue this practice but prevented it from bothering their conscience at all in the first place.
I think people approach slavery and colonialism in a few ways in the West today. Some dismiss it or refuse to own its darker history to soften some of Christianity’s or Western Civilization’s contribution to present issues. Others oversimplify these events to attack Christianity and Western Civilization for certain agendas.
Now, time to do an inspectional reading of these books and report back.
Tick Tock. Tick Tock….
Post-Reading Thoughts
Alright, I’m back
Slavery
As I was reading through my earlier post to see what’s changed from pre- to post-reading, it’s clear that I had a specific type of slavery in mind while talking about it. Jeremy Black gives various systems that could fall under the umbrella of slavery (working off debts, chattel slavery, human trafficking, etc.). Initially, my thoughts of slavery primarily consisted of people being bought, sold, and owned by others for labor. However, Black expands slavery to include other expressions, especially as time passes. This did not run contrary to my belief, but it did expand it and cause me to think differently about how I define it. I was not surprised at how rampant slavery has been all over the world since I read history quite a bit, and it shows up everywhere.
This global system and humanity’s cavalier approach to it for centuries are among the things that got my ethical and spiritual wheels turning. Reading parts of this book turns my stomach, and I’m glad it does. But why did so many throughout history not think a thing about it? Probably because it was out in the open, legal, communally accepted, and religiously sanctioned. Now, it feels wrong deep in my gut, but for centuries, both religious and non-religious people could eat dinner at their table while other humans were all around them as property. Some were likely treated more humanely, but some were certainly degraded and abused. This further confirms my belief that something other than pure biblical interpretation alone is guiding human ethics since so many Christians could casually be involved in what many in the West now view as horrific.
Colonialism
If I had to sum up Nigel Biggar’s book on colonialism, it would be ethically complex. The complexity of colonial expansion, like slavery, is a global and universal tendency. Various cultures have expanded their empires and territories. The ethical muddiness with most expansions is the benefits that come along with the atrocities. Some of what we enjoy today in the world or marvel at from the past was built on the backs of slaves, imperialism, human exploitation, death, and suffering. However, Biggar shows that colonialism also introduced positives into new territories that we still benefit from today. This also messes with our conscience a bit, as it should. This, once again, expands and challenges (some of it I was aware of) my thinking on the subject. One of the reasons I appreciate historians, which Nigel claims was his approach, is the ability to share the good, the bad, and the ugly in history. History is not black and white. This is also why I appreciate Tom Holland’s, Dominion.[iii] He shows both sides of the Judeo-Christian faith, which, as we know, is undoubtedly tied to religious and cultural expansion.
[i] Biggar, Nigel. Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning. London: William Collins, 2023.
[ii] Black, Jeremy. A Brief History of Slavery. Brief History Of. Philadelphia : London: Running Press Book Publishers ; Robinson, 2011.
[iii] Holland, Tom. Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind. Paperback edition. London: ABACUS, 2020.
About the Author
Adam Harris
I am currently the Associate Pastor at a church called Godwhy in Hendersonville, TN near Nashville. We love questions and love people even more. Our faith community embraces God and education wholeheartedly. I graduated from Oral Roberts University for undergrad and Vanderbilt for my masters. I teach historical critical Biblical studies at my church to help our community through their questions and ultimately deepen their faith. I love research, writing, learning, and teaching. I oversee our staff and leadership development. Before being at Godwhy I worked as a regional sales coach and director for Anytime Fitness. I've been married for over 13 years to my best friend and we have two amazing boys that keep us busy.9 responses to “Although I Am, History is Not so Black and White”
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Hi, Adam,
I truly enjoyed reading your expanding thoughts on these two subjects.. It added even more insight for me. As I was reading both books and also thinking about how these atrocities could have been excused by Christians, I wondered what a few generations down the road would say about us. What would be some ways we, as pastors, could safeguard, not only ourselves, but those we lead, from what is accepted as normal and yet unjust? Just thinking out loud.
Thanks so much for your response, Esther, I think about this quite a bit as a pastor. While we were in DC I visited the Holocaust museum. There was a video playing about Germany’s antisemitism that led to deportations, ghetto’s, boycott’s of Jewish businesses, and of course the concentration camps that happened in Germany. However, 96% of the nation was Christian.
Last week Jason mentioned Martin Luther’s book “The Jews and their Lies”. At the end Luther suggests they burn Jewish synagogues and homes, force them to manual labor, deny them safe travel, burn their Sacred writings, and take their assets. This was very surprising for the man who initiated the Protestant Reformation and had beautiful insights. I’m a product of his ministry and work. At the end of the Holocaust Museum there is a wall of the small number of people who helped Jews. Majority of them Christian, some not. It seemed the main thing that separated some Christians from others was universal compassion for the other and “the enemy” as Jesus taught. Thinking out loud as well. Sorry so long, this touches on my NPO a bit and you know how we get with those! Thank you for the great question.
Adam,
I am wondering what some of the good Biggar wrote about Colonialism? I seemed to have missed anything positively, but perhaps I was playing detective to find where he agreed with me, rather than explorer and keep my mind open. So, teach me friend, what are some positives from the authors point of view?
Hey Jana, this is one of the reasons his book has been a bit controversial. A few of the things he discusses and others around colonialism is how it introduced hospitals, certain medicines, infrastructures, educational systems, and more humane pracitices into certain cultures. This complicates things since this expansion also brought inhumane practices as well, like slavery. It also imposed European worldviews onto Native tribes causing them to lose aspects of their own heritage.
Another “good” that came from Christian expansion is told by Tom Holland’s book about Western Christian’s helping stop the practice of widow killing in India. If a husband died, the wife would crawl into the fire with the body and both parents would be gone leaving the children without parents. Much of society hated it although it was part of the cultural tradition, so Christians helped to have it stopped. This gets into how much any society should impose their views or practices on others which complicates things. These are a few of the things I gathered from the book. Maybe that helps muddy the water for you?
Man, I love your title! Creative and brilliant. Your title screams, “Read me to learn about me.” Keep up those catchy titles.
I could comment on every paragraph because your post is so (as it’s said at a Southern cookout) juicy! You begin by stating, “First, I realize our tendency with just about anything and everything is to oversimplify issues in our world, both in the present and in the past.” I thought, “Hhmmm, Todd, how often do you do this? And I bet you are not even aware of it.” Thank you for this because as I ponder this, maybe sometimes oversimplification is based on pride. I over simplify because it’s simply information everyone should know. Any way, pride is somewhere in there. Ouch!
Next, I like how you wrote regarding slavery and Scripture, “gave ample permission to continue this practice but prevented it from bothering their conscience at all in the first place.” Slave owners were committed to Scripture and if the bible says it, it must be obeyed. Once again, thank you for bringing that out for me.
Your two thoughts: In regard to slavery, “humanity’s cavalier approach” and Biggar’s book being “ethically complex” were deep man. C’Mon bro! I love how your heart and brilliant mind work together to give such understanding to a subject. These 2 phrases actually softens my stance for those who lived in those times. Even though, if women were allowed to be leaders in churches and government, I believe life would have turned out differently for millions of people who suffered through some tough centuries!
Finally, I forgot to mention, I really love your title! 😊
Thanks Todd, I’m honored the post spoke to you. This subject really is complex, like most things, and makes you go, “Hmm, I guess that is true,” or “I’m not sure how I feel about that”, or even “What do I do with this?”. I do think about what the world, and the West, would be like if women had had more of a prominent role in society. I think compassion levels would have been higher.
Glad you caught the title! lol Wasn’t sure if people would get it.
Yeah, man, if women had a more prominent role in society, compassion levels would have been higher. Back in the 1930’s when counseling was still kinda new, it was believed that it was helpful for little girls to be abused by their fathers. Of course all the policy makers were men. I wonder where we would be if some of our founders were mothers. But that’s only wishful thinking because our society was dominated by men. That was the culture and thankful things are continuing to change, grow, and progress.
Adam,
Thank you for this thoughtful post. I agree with your analysis on the two primary views of slavery, you wrote, “I think people approach slavery and colonialism in a few ways in the West today. Some dismiss it or refuse to own its darker history to soften some of Christianity’s or Western Civilization’s contribution to present issues. Others oversimplify these events to attack Christianity and Western Civilization for certain agendas.” I know that you have school aged kids, what are your thoughts of how this should be addressed/taught in the classroom?
Thanks, Jonita; the way we approach this issue is by sharing and owning our history. Every bit of it. First, the truth, as complete and honest as we can be, then reconciliation through acknowledgement, forgiveness, learning, and doing better. I also think it is incredibly important to identify what kind of mentality and thinking throughout history has led to things like slavery. To me, it’s a lack of universal compassion. We naturally love our tribe, but without extending that compassion to “the other,” apathy and even hostility are not too far behind. I think schools, alongside teaching information should also diagnose the underlying issues to identify how it might look today, even if it is in a different form. Complex topic today huh? How do you talk about this with your kids?