Slavery is Alive and Well in the Land of the Free
The new race of the enslaved are the withouts, those without the prestigious last name, without a college degree, or without the connections necessary to land a job capable of providing well for their families.
Slavery was outlawed during the Civil War by Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Yet nearly one hundred and fifty years later, in the supposed Land of the Free, slavery is still being practiced in defiance of the federal government.
Motivated by greed and practiced on the racially inferior, the face of slavery has evolved from Souther cotton plantations to modern factories. These factories are also called “plants.” Sound familiar? The new race of slaves are those without the last name, the college diploma, or the connections necessary to vault them into management positions.
No longer forced into the fields by whips, chains, and shotguns, the Withouts are forced into the line by forced overtime, contracts and legal fine print, and the threat of a pink slip. Attempts to attend college are futile as the company demands any time that would be needed for studying. The Withouts must stay where they are. They must suffer in an unjust system, making a few presidents and CEO’s rich while the very men and women who actually produce the product that is making them fabulously wealthy barely scrape by. The families of the Withouts hope that maybe the line will break this Saturday so the kids can actually see Daddy. Alternatively, when the plant is not forcing their workers in on every weekend, they will shut down with no warning. The Withouts do not earn a paycheck and go into foreclosure. The chaos does not touch the Withs, because they are the privilege race and retain their paycheck even when they are not working. The CEO does not mind burning out his workers, as long as he continues to make his extravagant 350% more than his workers, that is all he cares about.
Surely, the Withs say, a Without can find a new job or buy freedom with a college degree. Life in the factory is the same, regardless of which factory is chosen. A sad fact is that plants from foreign companies often treat their workers better than those owned by Americans. Perhaps a few of the Withouts can scrape together both the time and the loan needed to attend a university. The freedom gained is dearly bought as their family goes neglected and they will pay on that loan for many many years. It is time for America once more to stand up to slave owners. It is time for them to demand equal rights for all. Rights gained on merit of accomplishment, not by race.
Liked it
