In today’s world of revisionist historical narratives, one often finds conveniently omitted truths about the slave trade that would challenge the carefully constructed narratives peddled by mainstream academia and media. Everyone knows about the transatlantic slave trade’s dark shadow over history, yet the details of where these slaves ended up and who was responsible for capturing and selling them remain shrouded in silence. It’s time we set the record straight.
The truth, quite bluntly, is that just a sliver of those enslaved in the transatlantic trade ever found themselves in the United States. Approximately 10% of the total slaves brutalized by this trade ended up in the future U.S. colonies, while Brazil and the Caribbean islands were the primary destinations for the overwhelming majority. Our education system often glamorizes the drama and horror of the American experience, omitting the vast and grimmer scope of this human tragedy.
Take, for instance, the Kingdom of Dahomey—a monstrous engine of the slave trade hardly whispered among history classes dominated by Western guilt. This African kingdom thrived on the commercialization of slavery, waging relentless warfare upon neighboring peoples to capture human cargo. Yet, this brutal history seldom sees the light of day in our narrative-driven society. Instead, sugar-coated versions sidestep the realities of African complicity in slavery.
If you’ve ever heard tales of female empowerment in historical contexts, the Dahomey Amazons might sound like a pedestal-worthy subject. But their reality was far from the tranquil image of strong female warriors. These women were the dreaded slave catchers, notorious for their lethal raids that resulted in the capture or massacre of countless innocents. Yet, ironically, they are remembered in what can only be described as misplaced reverence in some modern media narratives.
Moreover, the discomforting details about the brutal practices and cultural rituals in Dahomey, like human sacrifices and shocking executions, further point to a more complex narrative behind the African side of the slave trade. As abhorrent as slavery in America was, those captured by Dahomey faced unimaginable horrors if they weren’t destined for European traders—a fate tantamount to suffering as offerings in inhumane rituals.
The politically correct story often omits the conclusion of Dahomey’s merciless reign, which ended with a surprising twist of history. The French, having abolished slavery within their own dominions by 1848, intervened and finally put an end to Dahomey’s reign of terror. They might not teach this part of the tale because it doesn’t fit the oppressor-oppressed narrative so praised by modern liberal historians.
In revisiting these truths, we restore the integrity of history. It doesn’t serve political agendas but educates us about the complexity of human nature and the errors repeated across different cultures. Recognizing the whole narrative might just save generations from the weight of a guilt they’ve been taught to inherit unjustly. It’s time for the truth to emerge from the shadows, not to be buried under ideological dogma.
