Slave and Citizen Summary

           In the writing Slave and Citizens, Tannenbaum accounts the experience of the African American during the slave trade. He contrasts the treatment of these people in the Spanish Empire and the United States. It was his belief that slaves were treated somewhat more humane in the Spanish and Portuguese Empires than in the United States. Tannenbaum supports his claim that in colonial Brazil people of color were treated better than in the United States by citing the observation of a witness who lived at the time. The witness stated that he observed an African American, which he referred to as a Mulatto woman, in a horse drawn carriage with slaves following behind and a white husband. From such an observation it’s obvious that in the Brazilian colonies interracial marriage was acceptable whereas in the United States there were strict miscegenation laws, or laws prohibiting intercourse between races.

         The witness also added that the first doctor of the city was a Mulatto and that there was a Mulattos president of Province. Things like this were unheard of in the United States where African Americans were denied even a primary education. Tannenbaum writes that in the United States, “A barrier has been drawn against the Negro. This barrier…has served to deny him the very things that are of greatest value among us--equality of opportunity for growth and development as a man among men.” (pg 42). He emphasized just how much African Americans were denied opportunities to better themselves and rise beyond their slave status.