Racism in Bacon's Rebellion

In colonial Virginia, an uprising occurred. This uprising, Bacon's Rebellion, relied heavily upon racism. Though, encompassing few races, to which Europeans believed themselves superior, this revolt began upon Native American activity in the region. Eventually, such resulted in the Africans participation in the rebellion, and the degradation of the servant labor system as it became the racial hierarchy of the slave labor system. Moreover, these racially discriminant views of the 1670s continued in American culture to this day. United hate and discrimination thrive throughout humanity.

During the actual occurrence of Bacon’s Rebellion in 1676, few races inhabited the Chesapeake region. Native Americans, Africans, and Europeans made up this population. Susquehannock, Deog, and Pamunkey Native tribes were those whom played great significance in the revolt. The Iroquaian Susquehannocks were a tribe settled in the northern Chesapeake region, boundaries of their territory stretching both far north and west. 1 Deog Natives settled upstream of the Potomac River 1, which emptied into the Chesapeake Bay, and were rather foreign to the lands about the colony. 1 And as the largest remnant of the Pawhatan chiefdom, the Pamunkeys resided near the colony itself .2 Along with these aborigines were approximately twenty Africans presumed to be, by many historians, slaves. 2, 3 These slaves were prevalent because the colonists were in need for more workers to harvest the labor-intensive crops of tobacco, much as the indentured servants were. 2 European colonists in the region, at this time, were English. With a main export of tobacco, trade flourished betwixt Chesapeake Europeans and their motherland, England. Moreover, the colonists were divided only by the class statuses of indentured servants (those repaying debts through labor), freemen (those with their own land and free of debts), and the elite (wealthy planters whom controlled the government). Despite the presence of these three races, there was little diversity amongst them.

Chesapeake colonists believed themselves superior to the other inhabitants of the Chesapeake region. Upon the English's first encounter with the natives, though, they believed their red-tinted skin to be the "sun's livery." 2 Also, certain traits of the tribes were admired by colonists, such as their "calm dignity and poise... tender love... for family... and their simple, independent was of life..." 2. Despite these qualities, and though their skin pigmentation gave way to praise, it was the Native American's culture that gave way to European's belief of superiority. As one Englishman described as "having little humanite but shape" by being "wild and unmanly," "ignorant of Civilitie, of Arts, of Religion; more brutish than the beasts they hunt." 2 Due to the drastically "un-English" manners, it was only right in the name of the colonists to describe them as "savages." 2 Such a discrimination of a foreign culture was borne by England's own belief system. Throughout the histories of Europe, one culture being more sophisticated or dominate over another had been prevalent, such as Christians above Jews. Racism towards Native Americans was not brought one by their appearance, rather their customs and cultures. Africans were also a subject of discrimination by the English. It was not so their "[un-English] ways... [that] struck colonists most forcefully, but their un-English skin color." 2 Dubbed then "black," in accordance the dark tint of their skin, the Africans were thought of inferior to all those of fairer skins. Some contemporary English definitions of black were "deeply stained with dirt; soiled, dirty, foul" and for all intents and purposes, evil. 2 Moreover, when compared to the "purity" and "beauty" the Europeans attributed to their own peach-tinted skin, those defined as black were focal points for hatred and blame. 2 Misguided religious beliefs caused such discrimination. Good and evil, such well-worn paths, cannot so simply be phrased as "black" and "white." Aphorisms which humankind tends to enact result only in misconceptions. As thus, English settlers thought themselves as grander, more civilized, and all-around exceptional in comparison to the Chesapeake natives and slaves from Africa.

There was incentive to revolt amongst the colonists, but certain activities of Native Americans were the final driving forces to push Bacon's Rebellion into existence. On the Virginia frontier in 1670s, Susquehannock and Deog raiding parties appeared. Frightened at the their arrival and angered by the government's minimalistic efforts of protection (which included constructing forts at the heads of nearby rivers) Bacon rallied fellow frontiersman against the raiding parties, claiming the "unauthorized campaign against the encroaching Indians... [would provide] release for the colonist's frustrations." 1 Governor William Berkley was against the freemen's actions, fearing the peaceful tribe of Pamunkeys would take offense to the party as they had recently signed treaties with the tribe so that they could keep the lands which English had not settled upon. 1, 2 Eventually, under pressure of the freeman, the Virginian government commanded the Pamunkeys to aid them in the defense of the colony. 2 Twenty years prior, one must know, on another campaign for the colony's defense, the Queen of the Pamunkeys lost both her husband, Tottopottomoy, and over a third of her tribesmen. 2 At negotiations pertaining to the natives contribution to the defense campaign, she was obstinate but after much debate, the queen allowed one dozen of her men to be under to English's command. 2 Chesapeake region settlers cared little for the Native Americans, and the discrimination of aborigine's culture was so great it resulted in the faith that not even the death of kindred, families, and husbands whom had helped to defend them all was pointless. Contrarily, much as the Europeans admired, the natives allowed kindness and offered more than should have, considering the circumstances placed upon them. Moreover, though, their leaders knew better than to lead their own people to death. Bacon, though, saw the efforts of the government still as worthless and began accusing the elite's of giving alliance to the natives instead of the English, turning soon onto the peaceful Pamunkeys 2. Despite the facts of the natives "never at any time btraye'd or injuryed the English," nor even raising their weapons in defense as they were killed and pillaged, the tribe became a target for the colonists' hate 2. In the mind of the Englishmen, all those of a similar, lesser breed were sort of a gestalt, a being that came together in uniform to plot against them, turning the whites against one another in their perverse ways. Yet, such a misconception resulted in the jealous guarding of borders, bleeding hate, and weapons poised against peaceful throats. Once more, the aphorisms Europeans placed upon the Native Americans resulted in their quickened destruction in wars of prejudice. Even though the trends of revolt were brewing beneath the surface of the Chesapeake colony, it was only when the Native raiding parties came there was basis behind their complaint.

Few Africans participated in the rebellion. But, their contribution "demonstrated that poor whites and poor blacks could be united in a cause" 3 The elite planter class feared that, joined together against them, the poor would overthrow the rich and thusly "hastened the transition into racial slavery." 3 This showed that, despite discrimination and racism, with the birth of a common enemy, alliances could be formed and the contempt Africans and Englishmen for one another temporarily veiled in order to rid themselves of such a threat. Though their numbers were small, African slaves did indeed join in the rebellion.

After Bacon's rebellion, the servant labor system gave way to a slave labor system defined by racial hierarchy. Discrimination against Africans grew more common in the English colonies as more of the abducted were imported. 2 Slaves were present in Chesapeake since 1619. 2, 4 Their slavery and forced labor was made easier by the culture shock of the decimation of their African homelands and the abduction of their persons into the slave trade. 4 Such a distinct change in custom, language, and scenery resulted in the Africans truckle manner to the Europeans for they had few, if any, other options. Unlike the indentured servants of the servant labor system, slaves could never be freed and had no political power, not to mention their life-long labor that provided many planters with wealth. 2 Moreover, tensions present before Bacon's rebellion greatly lessened. 2The fear of revolt by the Europeans was strong, though. For slaves were unable to see other slaves of even leave the premises of those who owned them. 2 Essentially, it was a forced imprisonment and denial of human rights. Then again, such a thing is slavery. Europeans, also, wanted to be better than each other. With the arrival of slave labor and Africans, the English could feel overwhelmingly superior to their slaves instead of attempting to outdo each other. African labor, racial discrimination, and the slave labor system replaced the tensions brought on by servant labor system and fellow Europeans turning against each other.

Unfortunately, racism and discrimination survive to bleed strife on all Americans. The political system, for instance, believes that African Americans are the most likely to deal drugs and weapons. Take the "sting" operation that occurred in 2007 at Todd Beamer High School. The undercover police officers focused their attentions on those of colored skin, instead of the majority of the European (white, also known as "Caucasian") school population that sold drugs and guns on and near the campus. These two officers, both fairer skinned themselves, viewed the drug world with bias instead of with cool level headed focus as they should have in order to acquire the multiple drug rings at the school, instead they only stopped one, and most likely only a portion of it. Moreover, George W. Bush, the current president, branded Iraq and its inhabitants as a common enemy to American, even when the terrorists from the traumatic 9-11 bombings came from Sudan. Bush's greed for their long-buried oil, like Bacon and his men's lust for the Native American's land, heightened his discrimination and allowed him to sentence the peoples to genocide by way of his own troops. Moreover, Bush's highly religious beliefs, by which his original statement for Iraq's invasion was "God told me" to do it, led to the close-minded hatred of the Iraqi Muslims' ways, much as the Chesapeake settlers to the Native Americans and Africans. Even on this day, events of social racism occur. From schools, to government, and the streets to entertainment. The censorship that public institutions place on discrimination only entices peoples to indulge in racism because such always brings reaction to one or more of the listeners, most often offense. Thriving in America racism and discrimination continue to afflict her peoples.

Loathing betwixt the kindred of humanity defined by only culture and race live on. Though in 1676 only Native Americans, Englishmen, and Africans inhabited the Chesapeake region, the Europeans held themselves above the other races and looked to them with contempt. Upon the appearance of Deog and Susquehannock raiding parties, Bacon and fellow freeman found incentive to revolt, causing the government to force cooperation of the Pamunkeys; but, resulting in Nathaniel Bacon turning his men, including Africans, against the peaceful tribe. Tensions lessened between the English after the revolt as racial discrimination, along with the slave labor system, began to replace the servant labor system. Even today, discrimination continues, ailing America and her people still. After three hundred years, Americans should have become better than Bacon.


Sources:
1 "Whether they be Friends or Foes: The Roles and Reactions of Tributary Native Groups Caught in Colonial Conflict" by Michael J. Puglisi
2 The American Promise Volume A: To 1800 by James Roark, Micheal Johnson, Patricia Cohen, Sarah Stage, Alan Lawson, and Susan Hartmann
3 "Bacon's Rebellion" posted by PBS.org
4 "Drawing the Color Line" by Howard Zenn

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