State V Mann

 

State V Mann

The concept of race has evolved over time. The terms “white” and “slave” were all used by Europeans in the 1500s and these terms were brought to the U.S. During this time, race was seen as a categorical term rather than one separating different classes of people. This way of thinking evolved over the late 17^th century and into the late 18^th 

century into a principle much more sinister. The belief amongst many philosophers at the time was that there were natural laws that governed the world and one of these natural laws (unfortunate for blacks) was that those with a lighter pigment of skin were superior to those with a darker pigmentation. This way of thinking made its way to Europe and became the justification for slavery in Europe. Now, the argument that slavery has been around since the don of time can be, and probably will be made by the defense. This claim couldn’t be further from the truth. While slavery existed in ancient societies such as Greece, Rome, and Egypt; it was based on geography or religion NOT on race. In some of these cultures the so called “slaves could even earn a days wage. Around this time, this idea that certain races of HUMAIN BEINGS were lesser than other HUMAIN BEINGS started to take a chokehold of the newly established North American colonies. This “elite” race of humans established that other racial groups were to be considered subhuman and some even savages. 

    What we see now across our beautiful country are debates of whether or not slavery should be legal in the U.S. These debates aren’t because the people voting in favor of abolition actually care about the human beings that just so happen to be slaves. These debates are because the legislators, that we as the people appoint, see all of us, most importantly, the slaves as pawns in a larger more sinister game of chess. And in this game we’re all the same whether certain groups of us want to accept that fact or not IT IS TRUE. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we’re not asking that this man be put to death we just want him to be held accountable. This woman that this, excuse my language, scum of a human decided to shoot is somebody’s daughter. This woman is someone’s mother. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury please put your bias’s aside and realize that this woman, no matter what, race, creed, or religion this woman may be a part of, is at the end of the day a fellow human being who was shot by another human being. This woman was almost killed. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury all I’m standing here asking you today is how much is your life worth? All we’re asking for today is FIVE DOLLARS…