Segment 1

During the early modern period in England, the arrival of black individuals through trade and exploration had a significant impact on society. Cities like London and Bristol saw the formation of black communities, which shaped the social structure. However, this also led to a range of attitudes towards black people, from curiosity and fascination to prejudice and discrimination. Stereotypes portrayed black individuals as exotic or inferior, perpetuating the dehumanization of black people. The English avoided the moral dilemma of the African slave trade by depicting blacks as inhuman creatures who could be enslaved. Although Tudor England did not have specific laws targeting black individuals, prejudice still existed. Legal discrimination against black Amores was not widespread during this time. Welcome back everyone at home. In the first segment we will delve into the historical context of black lives in early modern England. The influx of black individuals due to trade and exploration was a significant event during this period. Cities like London and Bristol saw a growth in black communities shaping the social structure of the time. This influx brought about a complex interplay of attitudes ranging from seemingly harmless curiosity and even fascination to more negative attitudes including prejudice and discrimination. Now when we look at this further we can see how stereotypes portray black individuals as exotic or even inferior. An anonymous source titled A Lamentable Ballad of the Tragical End of a Gallant Lord and a Virtuous Lady is a primary source that reflects and reinforces these prevailing stereotypes. It tells a tragic tale where a nobleman, his wife, and their children fall victim to the treachery of their black servant. This narrative perpetuates the dehumanization of black people portraying them as violent and morally inferior which we all know not to be true. In the journal article Red White and Black Shakespeare's The Tempest, Chapman sheds light on how the English avoided moral and ethical dilemmas of the African slave trade by portraying blacks as inhuman creatures that can be enslaved. And it's very interesting to see how laws governing slavery and freedom such as the Barbary slave trade and the Somerset v. Stuart case shaped the experiences of black individuals in early modern England. Nubia's England's Other Countrymen Black Tudor Society points out that unlike later periods in American history, Tudor England did not have specific laws, codes, or formalized the legal practices that explicitly targeted or discriminated against black individuals or groups. While this did not negate the existence of prejudice, it most certainly indicates a lack of legal discrimination against black Amores in Tudor England.