King Aaron Essay, Research Paper
To his majesty, Charles IV, King of Spain,
On behalf of my fellow brothers and myself, I address to the crown a serious conflict that needs immediate attention and closure. The continuous enslavement of blacks must end. With all due respect this is not a threat of forthcoming forced slave independence but a promise. I know that I am not the first to bring to your attention this idea. The maroons, a band of runaway slaves in Saint-Domingue pushed for the independence of slaves in 1751. Francois Macandal, most famous leader of the maroons, expressed the same idea as myself. The maroons began a hit-and -run of white-plantation owners in 1751 to avenge themselves against inhabitants. Unfortunately they did not succeed. Macandal’s plan to abolish slavery lacked organization and leadership. As a result, the rebellion only lasted six years. He may have been executed but his intentions still stand strong thirty years following his death. Because several feel the same as I and will without a doubt, support me through any means necessary i.e. the survivors of the maroon community, Kongo warriors, and The Amis de Noirs will form large committees to fight for independence if it shall not be granted.
I kindly urge you to grant independence to all slaves because the cruel punishment they have endured for years will only encourage them to retaliate in the near future. As a former slave I can relate to slave treatment. I have experienced much hardship yet; I praise the crown that I am free today because it has allowed me to transform. Currently my class status is that no longer of a slave but of a free colored slaveholder. For this I owe to the Spanish crown – likely in return, if the crown takes into consideration my long days of slavery, then freedom of all slaves shall be granted on my behalf.
In fact, If slaves retaliate, the Spanish crown’s economy will be in great danger, lands will be destroy and plantation owners will not have the appropriate resources to maintain their plantation. The majority population is composed of slaves. If slaves decide to pursue an independence movement the Spanish will have little success in stopping them.
Independence should be granted to slaves because aside from small rebellion attacks, slaves have respected and continue to respect the Spanish crown. Several plantations owners are abusing the law that slaves are now allowed to buy their own freedom. Being a Creole and a slaveholder, I am not against slavery but I do object to the cruel and unusual punishment of slavery by the majority of plantation owners, thus for this reason I take my stand. As stated briefly, plantation owners are abusing the law. Instead of allowing slaves to buy their freedom, plantation owners will overwork and physically abuse slaves while requiring them to pay towards their own freedom. As a result, many slaves never see freedom; their life span in combination with being overworked cuts their life short. When this happens, plantation owners benefit from the work of the slave and also the money the slave paid toward its freedom. This type of coercive labor is not beneficial to the Spanish crown. Perhaps if slaves were granted their freedom and allowed to work for plantation owner for small a small salary then the Spanish crown could benefit from their work, the crown would not have to worry about any rebellions, and their will not be conflicts with the social class structure.
Do not misunderstand my plead, I am not supporting an independence movement rather I am showing you of my capabilities and what events may take place if you shall ignore my plead. This plead is for the purpose of the stability of the Spanish crown’s wealth and status.
My fellow brothers shall also transform for slaves and be recognized as men. Single black general, Toussaint Louverture I am and I ask that you grant freedom to all slaves. Freed at the age of thirty I happen to be a former slave. Since freedom was granted and I currently own slaves why then am I persuading the crown to end slavery? The answer is quite simply. Slavery is pure turmoil that neither race shall endure. Examining the past, I use to belong to a slave elite and served as a coachman.
dear the Spanish crown, I am writing you because I have a personal problem. Upon examining my life I feel that I have work for nothing
Extra taxes, work hard, and didn’t have the chance of being a high official. Although this is so I am most grateful because the spainish crown has transformed my family and I from being near the bottom of the social class and providing us with a respectable status. This same respectability I have acquire I wish to continue to thank the crown.
Your name is Abu. You and a small group of former
Slaves live in the mountains in a “maroon” community.
Some of the slaves have been set free by their masters
Because they have earned their freedom; others have
Run away from their masters; others were allowed to
wander off the plantations because the persons in
charge did not keep good security. You feel that the
laws which affect the slaves are basically pretty
good, but very few masters live by them. The masters
violate the law by severely whipping slaves for almost
any excuse. Some days slaves are allowed to do very
little work; other days they are whipped and beaten if
they slack off for a few moments to rest. And there is
really no “place” in Spanish society for the former
slave-no one wants him around. There are very few ways
a former slave can “make good” in this place. And the
government better face factsin some places the blacks
outnumber the whites by more than eighttoone! And
blacks outnumber the whites by more than eighttoone!
And they are getting fed up! Something’s got to be
done about these masters who do not respect the laws,
and ignore the human rights of their slaves … or
there is going to be real trouble!