社評 0821 反黑奴運動對民權之省思

反黑奴運動對民權之省思

週六上午由好友國會議員格林主辦的一塲千人早餐會是為了紀念解放黑奴及爭取民權之群眾大會， 我們是唯一的華亞裔人士參加大會， 更代表我們社區對黑奴及非裔社區在爭取民権運動上長期之犧牲和奉獻。

黑奴制度是美國歷史上最為惡劣及殘酷之一頁， 早在十七世紀， 在美國南部的殖民地地區便定期引進非洲黑人為奴隸， 他們被視為私人財產，沒有任何自由和權利。 黑奴們被用於種植棉花， 開拓農地， 當時許多北方地區人士質疑這些制度是否符合美國之建國精神， 因而導致1861 年到1865 年的南北戰爭 ，當內戰結束後1865 年通過的解放《黑奴宣言》公布之後，黑奴才得到自由。

雖然制度結束， 但是過去多少年來種族不公平仍然嚴重存在， 爭取民権運動仍然繼續奮進之中。

多年來美國之民權運動在非裔領袖之奮鬥下， 取得了許多進展， 但是種族之矛盾還是令人非常擔憂。 

今天華亞裔大批移民潮是近百年來的事， 我們應對非裔在爭取和為民權運動所付出之心血表示由衷之感恩， 如果沒有他們前仆後繼之努力， 今天我們也無法享受憲法給予之權益。

由於整個社會之發展 ，我們必須和其他族裔共同站上同一陣線 ，這也是我們目前已經在籌組的「德州多族裔聯合陣線」共同為我們之権益而努力。

Thoughts On Civil Rights In The Anti-Slavery Revolution 

Last Saturday morning almost one thousand guests attended the breakfast meeting hosted by our friend Congressman Al Green to commemorate the liberation of slaves and the struggles of the civil rights movement. 

We as Asian-Americans participated in the meeting and wanted give respect and a salute to the long-term sacrifices and dedication of the anti-slave movement and the fight for civil rights. 

Black slavery represents one of the worst and cruelest pages of American history. As early as the 17th century, African blacks were regularly introduced as slaves into the colonial areas of the southern United States. They were regarded as private property without any freedoms or rights. Slaves were used to pick cotton and exploit new farmland. After the end of the civil war, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1865 and legally freed the black slaves. 

Although the system of slavery is in the past, racial injustice still exists and the movement of civil rights is still struggling. 

Today most Asian immigrants who come to this land should express our sincere gratitude to those people who continue to fight for the civil rights for all of us. 

We are here to organize the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition to unite all ethnic groups and continue the fight for our future.