I´m sure you are aware of this story...

Somalia Piracy Began in Response to Illegal Fishing and Toxic Dumping by Western Ships off Somali

That does give another dimension to the issue....

Sigh.....me too....what a shock it was to find out the beautiful story was not true! +++

Actually this is an accurate observation......in general....the slave trade was a collaborative venture between Africans and Europeans.  In some Africal tribes, a twin would be done away with....being sold into slavery was a profitable way of dealing with it.   Some were prisoners of war......or... there were many ways to become a slave. 

I think the way these black African slaves were treated was unique.  As a more easily identified group, they were easier to target.  Any group that was easy to identify as "another" was treated in a similar manner....but the difference is the brutality of the treatment of those enslaved.  It was unique in it´s cruelty.  Those black humans were dehumanized, treated like animals or worse.  It´s hard to determine how many in the International community profited from their labor...even today....labor that was unpaid and done with  great suffering.

Read the story of  Solomon Northrup......

I think it all boils down to the fact that humans are in essense a social animal...aka...a pack, flock or herd animal.  It boils down to "us and them"......who is a member.."in good standing"....of the pack? Large flocks get winnowed down...to many smaller...more manageable ones.

..........no....some of them were invaded....IOW they were already here....like Amerindians.  FWIW...most Mexicans are at least part Amerindian............and at least a third of the current US was part of Mexico.

It is what it is.....around here people are Latino, Chicano, Salvadoreno...or whatever they are - American. If they are Asian...they are Chinese-American, Japanese-American, Korean-American...or what ever they are....and it they are mixed they are that. Have you heard the term Bi-Racial, or Tri-Racial...or Multi-Racial?

Welcome to TC barba mama......if you did not notice her question was answered numerous times already.  As threads usually digress after a few pages, this one has also.  You will just be banging your head  against the wall in getting upset about it....I know...it used to drive me crazy....now I just follow the thread...or try to guide it by posting something relevant in the thread.

Of course......you............as always.............are so well informed .............and knowledgable....at least your people have figured out how to have a decent health care system

Unlike some places

....Health Care in the USA

Hmmm...what an amusing thread....

Actually....Malcolm X talked about Afro Americans a lot earlier than Jessie...

"During the next three weeks, we’re going to have a series that will be designed to give us a better understanding of the past, I should say a better knowledge of the past, in order that we may understand the present and be better prepared for the future. I don’t think any of you will deny the fact that it is impossible to understand the present or prepare for the future unless we have some knowledge of the past. And the thing that has kept most of us, that is, the Afro-Americans, almost crippled in this society has been our complete lack of knowledge concerning the past. The number one thing that makes us differ from other people is our lack of knowledge concerning the past. Proof of which – almost anyone else can come into this country and get around barriers and obstacles that we cannot get around; and the only difference between them and us, they know something about the past, and in knowing something about the past, they know something about themselves, they have an identity. But wherein you and I differ from them is primarily revolved around our lack of knowledge concerning the past. And tonight, this is what we would like to go into. Next Sunday night, it’s our intention to go into the present, some of the tricks that are used to keep us at the level that we are on by making us think that we’re going forward when we are actually standing still. And then the third Sunday night, the 31st, it’s the intention of the Organization of Afro-American Unity at that time to spell out what we think are the best steps to take, and at that time also offer a program that we feel Harlem, people in Harlem, can participate in toward getting that objective or solution into becoming a reality."

Actually the PC term now is Person of Color....not colored persons, or colored people.....IE woman of color, man of color....and so forth.  At last we realize we are mostly mixed people.  Some are pure European....they are European Americans...Ted Kennedy was one of our more famous  Irish Americans.

The term Black American, or just Black is still in use.

Pushing my buttons.....? it seems you are the one who is going off all the time.  Not only with me, but many others.  I have not stooped to personal attacks.  Anything I have said is based on an analysis of situations.  I am not commenting on my like, dislike, approval of others personal attributes.

"whack job"....look who is talking.....perhaps this should be in the menopause thread,  due to the fact you certainly are exhibiting symptoms of hormonal imbalance....irritability and mood swings.  It is called perimenopause....and you are definitly in it.

There is no shame to be in menopause.  It is a natural part of a woman´s life.  I don´t know why so many get upset about the natural progression of life´s stages.

AE said...."Strange - these are the same people who voted Bush back into power with a majority at the previous election to this "

Well there have been a lot of talk about that...."Was the 2004 Election Stolen?"

AE said...."Actually OUR opinion does matter - it is what democracy is all about or should I say SUPPOSED TO BE about."

..........it seems many have forgotten that..........but we also need to be engaged...which means educating ourselves about issues.......Really, it´s sad many do not have the resources to educate themselves...then too many are just too lazy.  Like, It´s not an accident things are so complicated....like mortgage contracts...the fine print...