Make sure you know the rules of engagement before reading on…

Anecdote from the Colonized:

“The height, sometimes, between decks, was only eighteen inches; so that the unfortunate human beings could not turn around, or even on their sides, the elevation being less that the breadth of their shoulders; and here they are usually chained to the decks by the neck and legs. In such a place the sense of misery and suffocation is so great, that the Negroes…are driven to frenzy.”

— Elizabeth Donnan, ed. Documents Illustrative of the History of the Slave Trade to America via A People’s History.

Etymology of “chattel:”

This word “chattel,” which is used most often in reference to slaves or natives, means “a personal possession” and comes from the Old French chatel. That word chatel shares a variant in Anglo-Norman French catel and gave us our word “cattle.” It also comes from the medieval Latin capitale where we get our word “capital” which is the head (caput) of a business or investing venture. Thus chattel are those possessions, like cattle, which give you the momentum needed to start a new venture.

Three famous people who were victimized by Colonization:

1. Cherokee Indians
2. Jews in 1945
3. Ghandi’s people

List of terms: Who? Where? When? Why? How?

• Who victimized: Those who live near untapped resources or who can be turned into an untapped resource.
• Where victimized: Uncharted or underdeveloped lands such as islands, new continents, new worlds, rural communities, caves, deserts, forests.
• When victimized: Any time a Colonist wants something the victim has or lives near, regardless of whether or not the victim knows they have it or live near it. In fact, most victims remain ignorant of why they are victimized.
• Why victimized: They have or can provide goods or services that the Colonist believes he may steal for free.
• How victimized: Torture, slavery, manipulation, terrorism, propaganda, usurey, exodus, transfer of foreign diseases, exploitation, exterminated via genocide.

Three positive tendencies of Colonial Victimization:

1. Some victims can learn the value of trade
2. Victims can gain the attention of the Just
3. Victims over the long haul learn to survive

Three negative tendencies of Colonial Victimization

1. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
2. Loss of individuality and purpose
3. Survivor-only mentality keeps victims from thriving

Fantastic example:

Victims of zombie apocalypse.

Further Reading:

A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn (here on Amazon)