Watched the Patriots with my boyfriend last night. Patriots talk about the American Revolutionary War, which was filmed by Americans. There are several scenes in it, and it talks about black slaves and white people fighting together. And it appears many times that blacks and whites have good social relations and friendships.
Among them, there is also a scene where a black man's slave period is up, and the white man says "you are free" to the black slave. Black slaves still choose to stay with whites (their former masters).
Boyfriend said: This is whitewashed! ("Patriot" is really a whitewash for Americans (using slaves)!)
I said, not necessarily.
In fact, in the context of our “liberal” education today, we certainly think that all people are after freedom. However, the scene at that time was different, they did not grow up with this kind of education. So their concept of exploitation, their concept of human rights, is not as strong as we are today.
Secondly, from today’s perspective, we tend to think that slave owners are sinful, cruel, exploitative, and that classes suppress human nature. However, this may not be the case in reality.
Of course, I am not denying that there are slave owners who have exploited behaviors. What I want to express is that the contradiction between slave owners and slaves may be far less intense than we think.
In other words, if these slaves were given the chance to be free, many of them would probably not want to go. Just like the black slaves in the patriots.
In fact, this scene has also appeared many times in "A Dream of Red Mansions". In order to save relatives to Concubine Yuan, Jia's house once bought twelve actresses, that is, girls who sang opera. After Concubine Yuan died, according to regulations, banquet music was not allowed in the Youjue family for one year. Therefore, You and others agreed that they want to send twelve girls, according to You: "These people were originally bought, but even if they don't learn to sing now, they can keep their orders and let their teachers go by themselves. Mrs. Wang also said: "These opera students are not able to be used. They are also the children of good families. Because of their incompetence, they have sold them for a few years and pretended to be ugly. Now that they have this opportunity, it is better to give them a few. Two silver coins, let's go separately." This is not an ordinary punishment, Jia Fu not only returned the freedom of these girls, but also gave them a slap in the face. However, however, "the twelve girls were called to face to face, and most of them were unwilling to go home. Some said that although they had parents, they only wanted to sell us, and they were sold by him. There were also parents. Those who have died or were sold by their uncles and brothers; some say that there is no one to vote for; some say that they are reluctant to part. Those who wish to leave are limited to four or five people. Madam Wang listened and had to stay."
Think about it too, after leaving, what they get is the freedom of identity (this freedom is invisible and intangible), but what they have to face is a more cruel life. For example, when you return to your home, you may be exploited by your family (they are sold by your family), and you may live a life of hunger. In comparison, how many times better is life in Jia's residence?
There is also a scene in "A Dream of Red Mansions" that impressed me deeply. Once, because Qingwen was playing with her temper (dare to lose her temper at the master, you can see how good Jia's house treats girls), Jia Baoyu once said to Qingwen that it would be better to let you go. As a result, Qingwen said, I will not leave if I live or die.
Several pieces of information can be seen in this scene. First, girls can really lose their temper in Jia’s mansion, especially for masters like Jia Baoyu. Although they are slaves, they enjoy the treatment of young ladies (in fact , the eldest girl of each house owner is also a deputy young lady); second, no one wants to really let them return to freedom.
In order to explain the good treatment of Qingwen in Jia's mansion, there is another scene that can be explained, before Qingwen died, Cao Xueqin wrote: "Qingwen wiped away her tears, so she reached out and took scissors, and lined up the two onion-like nails on her left hand. The root is hinged" - how can a girl who has to work keep such long fingernails?
Black slaves back in America. We are all black slaves. Emancipation is a matter of the Civil War. Many people thought that the Civil War was about freeing slaves. But the actual situation may not be the case, but a game between the interests of white people on both sides of the North and South.
I like the saying that existence is reasonable. Anything that exists must have its so-called rationality. If it is really unbearable, why don't these efforts resist? Isn't every revolution we make because we can't bear it? It is still within the range that can be tolerated, it must be the choice of their parties after weighing the pros and cons.
No one is a fool.
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