Slavery Meaning
Slavery Definition & Usage
The system or practice of owning and exploiting human beings as property, forcing them to work without compensation or rights.
Examples
- "The abolition of slavery was a monumental achievement in human history."
- "Slavery was legally abolished in the United States in 1865 with the ratification of the 13th Amendment."
- "Many nations still grapple with the legacy of slavery and its effects on their societies."
- "The history of slavery in the Caribbean is a painful reminder of colonial exploitation."
- "Slavery is considered a grave violation of human rights and is illegal worldwide today."
A state of being under extreme control or domination, where freedom is severely restricted, often used in metaphorical contexts to describe forms of psychological or social oppression.
Examples
- "She felt like she was in a mental slavery, unable to break free from her constant anxieties."
- "His obsession with perfection became a form of slavery to his own ideals."
- "Many workers in exploitative jobs experience a kind of modern slavery through low wages and poor working conditions."
- "The oppressive regime kept the citizens in a state of slavery, where fear ruled their daily lives."
- "Addiction can feel like a form of slavery, where the individual’s freedom is entirely dictated by their need for the substance."
Cultural Context
Slavery, as a social and economic institution, has existed for millennia, with recorded instances in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome. However, the transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries, stands as one of the most infamous periods of slavery in history. The abolition of slavery in the 19th century was a major milestone in the global fight for human rights, yet the legacy of slavery continues to impact societies today, particularly in the form of systemic racism, inequality, and social injustice.
The Chains That Bind
Story
The Chains That Bind
In the small town of Port Royal, the sun had just begun to set, casting an orange glow over the vast sugar plantations. Samuel stood by the edge of the field, watching the workers toil under the brutal heat. They were his ancestors, stolen from their homeland and forced into slavery under the watch of a cruel plantation owner. Though the law had abolished slavery many years ago, the echoes of that brutal institution still haunted the people. Samuel’s grandfather had been born into the chains of slavery, and his father had inherited the scars—both physical and emotional—of the years spent toiling in the fields. 'No one is ever truly free until we acknowledge the legacy of slavery,' Samuel’s father used to say. 'We must break the chains in our minds, even when the chains are no longer visible.' For Samuel, these words were more than just a call to remember the past—they were a reminder of the metaphorical slavery that still enslaved their community. At the local school, children learned about the horrors of slavery in their history books, but the real story was told through the generations of people who had lived through it. Samuel, now a young man, had become an advocate for social change, working to ensure that the descendants of the enslaved were never forgotten. As he walked through the streets of Port Royal, he couldn't help but feel the weight of history pressing down on him. In the faces of the elderly, he saw the remnants of a past that refused to die. In the eyes of the youth, he saw the potential for freedom and change. But Samuel knew that true freedom would not come through the mere abolishment of laws—it would require breaking the mental and emotional chains that still bound so many to the legacy of slavery. It was a fight that would take time, but Samuel was determined. For him, the battle was not only about overcoming the horrors of the past but also about liberating the minds and hearts of those still trapped in the metaphorical slavery of inequality, oppression, and fear.
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