If it’s true, that’s an argument that the African societies in question were deeply flawed not that euros should be morally absolved for chattel slavery.
I mean it is true that African groups were deeply involved in the slave trade but that doesn’t absolve Europeans at all because without a purchaser then there wouldn’t have been other groups involved in it either.
The Europeans coerced many African states into engaging in the slave trade when they were otherwise reluctant, for example by playing on existing social divisions to turn groups against each other, or by refusing to trade desired European goods for anything other than slaves. Any comrade here who is curious can read “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” by Walter Rodney.
If it’s true, that’s an argument that the African societies in question were deeply flawed not that euros should be morally absolved for chattel slavery.
I mean it is true that African groups were deeply involved in the slave trade but that doesn’t absolve Europeans at all because without a purchaser then there wouldn’t have been other groups involved in it either.
The Europeans coerced many African states into engaging in the slave trade when they were otherwise reluctant, for example by playing on existing social divisions to turn groups against each other, or by refusing to trade desired European goods for anything other than slaves. Any comrade here who is curious can read “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” by Walter Rodney.