Morally and ethically, it is difficult to find reason to kill another person. However, the slaves in America were faced with extreme conditions of harsh punishment and cruel treatment. Thus, many slaves found reason to kill in the fight for their freedom. Killing in the fight against slavery was not something new to America or history. Revolts in Haiti, Cuba, and many areas of Latin America had all risen against slavery, where angry slaves sought blood for freedom. But is freedom a justified cause for bloodshed? The importance of freedom is invaluable, and to acquire freedom is to acquire life and humanity.
What seems to be overlooked is that during the 18th century, the colonists themselves fought in a war to secure their liberty and rights for a new nation. The American Revolution and the idea of slaves killing for freedom are extremely different, but the basic underlying principles are the same. In a sense, these patriots were fighting for their rights to obtain certain freedoms, yet it is seen as a war to create a new nation rather than killing for freedom. “All men are created equal…with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” says the Declaration of Independence. These words from the Declaration were used by colonists as the driving force of freedom to justify killing British soldiers. They also go against the principles of slavery right from the start, as slaves do not possess any of the three rights. If slaves do not possess any of these “unalienable” rights, then why is it that they should be strictly bound to Declaration or Constitution’s laws? Colonial patriots gave themselves the entitlement to kill for equal rights and form the Constitution and Declaration. Therefore, slaves should also have this entitlement to do whatever it takes to achieve equal rights and liberties. Much like the patriots, slaves are simply going against the societal norms in order to achieve “liberty” and “happiness.” To kill in the processes is merely to eliminate those that oppose these ideals and stand in the way.
The absurd and unjust treatment of slaves provides another reason to secure freedom with blood. At the point where a slave is no longer treated as a human being, there is reason to take a stand. Bacchas, in Demark Vesey’s Rebellion, claimed that he was treated similarly to a horse or a dog. Moreover, many slaves were whipped and beaten into submission, separated from families, and lived and ate in terrible conditions. These occurrences were what drove slaves to thirst for freedom. If slaves-owners had the ability to kill a slave for no reason and with no repercussions, then it seems obvious that slaves have the ability and right to kill a slave-owner for the cause of freedom.
On the other hand, because it is morally unlawful to kill another person, killing should be used as a last resort to gain freedom. This is because there are clearly other options to achieve freedom such as running away, tricking one’s master, or using civil disobedience. But if all else fails, slaves are justified in the act of murder because of the unethical treatment that they undergo in everyday life. Slaves that continue to be obedient to their master’s are counterproductive and simply justify that blacks are inferior to whites in almost every aspect. If slaves do not free themselves from the confines of their master, they are trapped as slaves for the rest of their lives. Consequently, slaves that seek freedom are forced to escape, and if their masters stand in the way, freedom takes precedent.
A similar example to the black slaves in America was the Hebrew slaves in Egypt. The slaves in Egypt were also bonded to strict labor and cruel punishment. These slaves may have developed relationships with their masters, good or bad, similarly to slaves in America. According to the Bible and Torah, when it came time for these slaves to secure their freedom, God himself was the one who killed the Egyptians and more specifically the Egyptian children. However, before resorting to slaying other humans, God attempted to use other methods for the Hebrews to attain freedom. He asked politely through Moses and then sent minor plagues in attempt to change the Egyptians mind. Similarly to God’s methods, slaves should also have this right to murder for the cause of freedom, but only after all other methods to gain freedom have been attempted. Despite being the “chosen people,” if God himself condones the right to kill to secure freedom, then it makes a strong case for black slaves to have this right as well.
