History is Written by The Victors
I found this to be a difficult assignment for a variety of reasons. First, it was difficult to determine how much depth and detail I should include concerning my beliefs about colonialism and slavery. Second, it was perhaps more difficult to articulate where those beliefs emerged from. Third, neither author, but particularly Black, had a writing style that was easy to read and the dense content did not lend itself to an easy inspectional read. Finally, as I engaged in the reading and explored how others have received these books, it became apparent that Biggar’s book has been part of (whether intentionally or not) the ‘left vs. right’ debate in the UK and how each side reads and interprets history. It made me think of that statement most commonly attributed to Churchill, ‘History is written by the victors.’ The phrase suggests that there is more than one interpretation to historical events and like many different areas of current life, those on the left and the right are having a hard time agreeing to a well-rounded or holistic view on many issues, including historical events (and then agreeing on what the appropriate action in the present is in light of the past). This reality makes me cautious and slightly skeptical from the start; more, it makes me tired as it represents another area where we seem to struggle to find a common ground and shared meaning.
So, for better or for worse (likely worse) here is my offering for this week…
My most deeply held convictions about colonialism and slavery and why I hold them
When asked to articulate my most deeply held convictions about anything, I will inevitably draw from my theological convictions first. My primary assumption about colonialism and slavery is that it is an offence to God and people made in His image. It is sin. It is the misuse of power for selfish purposes. It is embedded in human arrogance and the de-personalizing of ‘the other’. It is exploitation and it is wrong. This immoral impulse can be found in every human heart and, indeed, the exploitation of others has been around as long as human history has been recorded (and likely before that). Colonialism may have had a prettier veneer than modern slavery—possibly even had some noble, if still naïve or patronizing, motivations—but the power dynamics and the disproportionate outcomes that benefitted the more powerful nation still lands much of colonialism in the ‘abuse of power’ category. Colonialism, as we might classically envision it, might not exist in most parts of the world, but there are still other forms of enslavement through national tariffs and international loans via institutions like the world bank that keep developing nations ‘enslaved’ and disempowered in the world. Not only that, slavery—often only conceptualized in the transatlantic trade to Europe and America—is still very common in the present day. Forced labour, remnants of the caste system in India, child brides and forced marriage, sweatshops that produce nice sneakers, unjust bonded labour, sexual exploitation…it is all alive and well in our world. In fact, I believe statistics tell us that there are currently more people enslaved today than the previous centuries combined. Unfortunately, the church has been active on both sides of this historical issue—at worst, justifying the sin, often complicit in its silence, and at best, fighting for justice and challenging the laws of oppression and caring for those entrapped and exploited.
Where did I get these convictions and beliefs? A smorgasbord of places—some of them more reliable than others. First, the Bible, and some theological work to understand what, exactly, the Bible has to say about slavery/servants and how to understand that today. Second, some books specifically related to the matter and engagement with organizations like International Justice Mission that has highlighted the modern-day problem of slavery. Third, some international trips where sexual exploitation is common (Thailand), where bonded labour is rampant (India), and where worker pay is unfair and not always guaranteed (Uganda). Finally, some documentaries, and fictional movies would have informed my perception on colonialism and slavery in the modern centuries.
How my beliefs were affirmed and challenged by these books
Affirmed: One of my most basic assumptions/beliefs was that the misuse of power to exploit others is a thread that can be seen throughout our human story (and not just one particular time period). This was affirmed in Jeremy Black’s book, Slavery: A New Global History (1) before I even read the first word. His table of contents begins with chapter 1: Pre-1500. In that chapter he writes, “An important part of human history, slavery has no starting point, but it seems to have played a major role from early times.” (2) Six chapters later—”Chapter 7: A Troubled Present, 1930-2011″—Black notes ‘genocidal slavery’, ‘Chattel slavery’, and ‘sex trafficking and child slavery’ as current and widespread problems. (3) Blacks book (unfortunately) affirmed by belief that this has always been—and continues to be—a horrific part of the human story. Clearly, there is still much work to do for God’s people who are called to stand up for the exploited and declare, like Moses, “Let my people go!”
Challenged: One of the ways my thinking and beliefs were challenged was found in Biggar’s book, Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning. (4) In my pre-reading summary, I stated that, ‘Colonialism may have had a prettier veneer than modern slavery—possibly even had some noble, if still naïve or patronizing, motivations—but the power dynamics and the disproportionate outcomes that benefitted the more powerful nation still lands much of colonialism in the ‘abuse of power’ category’. Biggar’s book challenges my assumptions about colonialism, arguing that there were well-intentioned men engaged in British expansion and that British expansion brought positives elements like modernization, economic growth, healthcare and political stability. (5) While I can agree with Biggar that we need a balanced examination of both the negative and positive outcomes of colonialism, and I can even agree with his assessment of some degree of eventual benefit to the colonized country, I still struggled to whole-heartedly adopt his argument. Perhaps, in part, because the book was written with the intent to push back against current ‘left thinking’ in the UK and in doing so, Biggar doth protesteth too much. Not surprisingly, other historians have pushed back against Biggar’s methodology and conclusions (6). Knowing that this book (and to some degree Black’s book as well) is embedded in the UK’s ‘left vs right’ squabble, it makes it harder for me to trust the objectivity of the content. As a result, after my inspection reading I might feel slightly more aware of some of the potential good outcomes of colonization (at least for some members—usually the elite), I would need much more time to dig into this lively debate before truly adopting a different point of view.
- Jeremy Black, A Brief History of Slavery (Philadelphia, London: Running Press Book Pub.; Robinson, 2011).
- Jeremy Black, A Brief History of Slavery (Philadelphia, London: Running Press Book Pub.; Robinson, 2011) 12.
- Jeremy Black, A Brief History of Slavery (Philadelphia, London: Running Press Book Pub.; Robinson, 2011) 230-245.
- Nigel Biggar, Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning (London: WilliamsCollinsBooks, 2023).
- Nigel Biggar, Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning (London: WilliamsCollinsBooks, 2023) 284.
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03086534.2023.2209947#d1e336
About the Author
Scott Dickie
7 responses to “History is Written by The Victors”
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Hi Scott,
Your post was truly introspective and I traveled the road with you.
You wrote, “It is sin. It is the misuse of power for selfish purposes. It is embedded in human arrogance and the de-personalizing of ‘the other’. It is exploitation and it is wrong.
In my blog I wrote, “The majority ALWAYS victimizes the minority in EVERY country. The sin of Pride in the majority looking down on the minority who look, act, and speak differently began at the Tower of Babel. People groups formed by language and prejudice emerged along linguistic lines. Cultures emerged from this divisional time.
As a fun side note, Hawaii, the “Aloha State,” was colonized by the U.S.! My birth certificate says “Territory of Hawaii” at the top.
In 1993, the U.S. Congress passed the Apology Resolution (Public Law 103-150), acknowledging that the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii was illegal and that the Native Hawaiian people never relinquished their claims to sovereignty. While it didn’t change Hawaii’s status, this resolution formally acknowledged the wrongful actions taken.
Sigh.
I have mixed feelings about the excerpt about Hawaiian history I listed above. If President McKinley had not annexed Hawaii in 1897, my identity would be quite different. Rather than a U.S. Army Officer, missionary, and now doctoral candidate, I would be the subject of the Kingdom of Queen Liliuokalani. (No thanks, by the way.)
Things like colonialism cannot be undone. It happened, and we, the “colonized,” have to push through assimilation/prejudice and victimization.
I, for one, am content to pursue the “American Dream.” My daughter is in the US Air Force Academy, and my son is in the US Army.
As a former colonist, I am content.
Shalom
Thanks for your thoughts Russell. I wonder how many ‘colonized’ would likewise appreciate the historical events…or if appreciation of the historical events decrease or increase after each successive generation?
When you speak about being content to pursue the ‘American dream’….what do you mean by phrase? Are there parts that you think are congruent or in alignment with the Gospel and the Kingdom of God…and are there parts that need to be rejected?
Classically, the American dream is described as. ” The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success and upward mobility through hard work, determination, and initiative. It’s an ideal that emphasizes opportunity and freedom, suggesting that everyone has a fair chance to pursue happiness and build a fulfilling life. Rooted in principles of equality, democracy, and freedom, the American Dream has evolved over time, but it traditionally encompasses aspirations like homeownership, education, stable employment, and personal success.”
It is tacked to the idea that “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that amongst these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
These thoughts are a light to many, but they are echoes of God’s gospel. They respond to the here an now and not the eternal.
Still good words.
Shalom
When I looked up interviews / reviews with Biggar, it became clear that his book and his views have been deemed controversial, as you noticed as well. Interestingly, he did a podcast interview on that same podcast (“Triggernometry”) we listened to back in the spring when we read K. Malik’s book, Not so Black and White.
I’m curious about your statement regarding how this assignment was difficult for you. I felt a similar reaction when I read the assignment at the beginning of the semester. Since you and I are both Enneagram 5’s, I wonder if that’s an Enneagram 5 thing…to feel anxious about writing about a controversial topic, for fear of others thinking — “He must be clueless with his opinions.” I had a fear of appearing uninformed or incompetent (another big enneagram 5 fear) in trying to unpack the “why” behind my beliefs on the subject.
Hi Travis,
Yes…I could name the enneagram 5 fear of ‘not being an expert’ on a topic and not having sufficient time to do the necessary research to form a somewhat confident, though humble, position on the matter being one aspect that made the assignment hard. Knowing ‘just enough to be dangerous’ is always a 5 fear!
But more, it was the all-too-familiar feeling of reading a seemingly well-documented book only to hear other experts on the matter dismiss or contradict it. Whose right and how much time and energy would it take for me to figure it out? The challenge to know reality is increasingly difficult as ‘reality’ is often over-stated by a person’s political leanings or in response to the other side…and I find that part the most tiring and difficult part.
You mention “Forced labour, remnants of the caste system in India, child brides and forced marriage, sweatshops that produce nice sneakers, unjust bonded labour, sexual exploitation…it is all alive and well in our world.” I was particularly struck by this important point, namely that the discussion around slavery extends far beyond our narrow view of the transatlantic slave trade. How widely discussed is this in your stream of the Canadian church? Are there movements against these types of injustices?
Scott,
How would you compare racism in Canada to racism in the US? I’ve often wondered as I have heard a few Black Americans say that they are moving to Canada, and I’ve wondered…would it be better there?