Thanks to my A.P. World History class, I know quite a bit about the Trans-Atlantic African Slave Trade and the Holocaust.
Taking place in the Atlantic ocean between the 16th and 19th century the Trans-Atlantic African Slave Trade was the process by which wealthy South and North American countries sailed to Africa abducted local African-Americans and sailed them across the Atlantic, as if they were goods or spices, to be slaves. Due to the economic dependency of "cash crops" (crops like coffee or cotton that will only be sold and traded in other parts of the world) in North and South American countries,
local government leaders thought it would be cheaper and economically beneficial to have slaves grow and maintain all the cash crops, and it was.
At the beginning of the 17th century, countries like the United States and Brazil had a slave dependent economy. In terms of economic success for the countries in North and South America that were involved in the Trans-Atlantic African Slave Trade, having slaves was nothing but a good thing. If it wasn't for the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade the United States wouldn't be nearly as developed as a country as it is today.
Once the Trans-Atlantic African Slave Trade was coming to an end in the early 19th century, the world faced yet another national tragedy. In 1933 once Adolf Hitler controlled one of the most radical socialist governments in the world, in Germany he committed the world's worst genocide. Influenced by the Soviet Union, Hitler used his systematic, government funded army of Nazi's to commit mass murders of social and religious groups he didn't like. Hitler primarily attacked the 9,000 jewish population in Germany. This continued until May 7th, 1945 when Nazi troops surrendered to the United States Army.
Knowing all that factual evidence about the Trans-Atlantic African Slave Trade and the Holocaust is great and all, but what now? In my opinion, students in history class all over the United States are learning and remembering the Trans-Atlantic African Slave Trade and the Holocaust as a number, a date, or a number of deaths. But to me, there is more to learn from the Trans-Atlantic African Slave Trade and the Holocaust.
In my opinion, these two tragedies should serve as a reminder. A reminder that everything you own, everything you learned, and everyone you love can be taken away from you in a heartbeat. That is why you need to take advantage of every incredible opportunity you have. Whether it be studying a little longer for a test, or talking to a stranger. You never know what horrible thing can happen in life, that's why you have to make the most of it . . . now.
