The "Giddy Multitude"

Chapter 3 of Takaki focuses on the “giddy multitude” or a discontented class of indentured servants, slaves, and landless freemen, both white and black. Once the presence of Africans in America became a reality they began experiencing troubles because of their difference in skin color. Blacks were easier to enslave compared to Indians and a fear and dislike of them paved the way for the establishment of their slavery throughout the new America. Thus began the identification of being black or being white.

“What struck the English most about Africans was their color” (51). The black skin color was almost seen as a disease, and being directly associated with negative images such as dirt, foul, dark, deadly, and wicked. “The color white, on the other hand, signified purity, innocence, and goodness” (52). African traits were seen as “brutish” and they were devils because of their color of skin. As Africans came to America, their chief purpose was to be the slaves of the European white men. They became a much easier group to make slaves and keep as slaves than the Indians were. At first, whites were also forced to come to America to be slaves. “White and black, …they were all unfree laborers. White and black, laborers experienced the day-to-day exhaustion and harshness of work” (55). Since experiences were similar for white servants and black slaves and they worked together, they then ran away together. This unification of whites and blacks for a “common cause” became a serious matter and legislatures complained that white servants ran away WITH black slaves, but not vice-versa. To ensure the future of slavery European landowners began to degrade black slaves “into a condition of servitude for life and even the status of property” (57). Slaves and their children began to be inheritable and laws were created making blacks property for life. Blacks were viewed as not Christian, and as heathens, but the distinction soon went farther to being black as opposed to being white. Blacks were termed savages and whites were civilized. Feelings and fear toward blacks kept their numbers small in America, but a dramatic increase occurred because of the possible advantage of obtaining laborers for life, compared to indentured white servants who served a limited time. To the white upper class it was soon “obvious which was the cheapest, most available, most exploitable labor supply” (60). Some hidden origins of the institution of black slavery were “rooted in class.” Low class whites, mostly indentured servants, were together with black slaves and they shared an “otherness” rooted in class. This became a discontented group that had the possibility to rebel, being named the “giddy multitude.” A rebellion took place called Bacon’s Rebellion which showed class tensions and elite landowners “were no longer confident they could control the ‘giddy multitude’” (65). Great measures were then taken to identify blacks as slaves and they were controlled because they could be denied rights based on their skin color. Thomas Jefferson owned slaves but he felt guilty about it. He felt class conflicts could be avoided with more opportunities to farm for whites. He depended on his slave labor to pay off his debts. Jefferson also thought slavery had to be abolished but in order to do that blacks would have to leave America. “Blacks and whites could never coexist in America because of “the real distinctions” which “nature” had made between the two races” (71). Whites did not think about what they were doing to blacks or society and generations to come. “They had created an enslaved ‘giddy multitude’ that constantly threatened social order” (76).

Could people of white and black skin color ever coexist in a peaceful and not negative society in America? In thought of course, but in reality most likely not. Skin color is a difference, and differences separate people into groups. People instinctively more often associate with those “more like them.” However, this is all based on appearance. People appear to be similar to each other, but a white man may be more similar to a black man than any other white man disregarding the external feature of skin color. I do agree with those that say we have made some progress though. Of course, slavery has been abolished and people of black skin color can vote, as well as other changes.

I could not believe that Jefferson had about 300 slaves at one time. That is like my whole graduating class in high school. It is amazing how just the fear of the possibility of something can lead to dramatic steps in a wrong direction. Labeling blacks as property and slaves for life just to maintain their own privilege and special interests shows an unfit amount of greed, which I feel is a root of evil. Personal interests led to the consequences and harsh realities that we realize today.