A sad song in the dark night
Throughout human history, it is often the tragic story of black slaves. What is less well known, however, is that over a long period of time, millions of white people were enslaved and subjected to unimaginable pain and humiliation.
This hidden history began in the 14th century in the waters of North Africa. There, a murderous group called the Barbary Pirates sprung up, who frequently raided passing merchant ships and abducted the whites on board to Africa and reduced them to slavery.
As time passed, the pirate group grew stronger and more aggressive. From mere looting, to the audacity of the ship's crew, it eventually developed into a massive white slave trade.
According to incomplete statistics, in just 300 years, 800,000 to 1.25 million whites were taken captive and reduced to slavery by the rich in North Africa. Among them, the worst suffered were young and beautiful white women, who were often forced into sexual slavery by Arabs and Turkey.
However, little is known about the white slave trade, which lasted for three centuries. It was once buried in the torrent of history, and it was only later that it was rediscovered with the research and research of some historians.
What kind of history is this? What kind of ordeal happened to these captive whites? And how did you finally get out of this nightmare? Let's restore this long-hidden truth.
The rise of the Barbary pirates
When people think of white slaves, the first thing that comes to mind is the black slave trade on the west coast of Africa. But in fact, in the waters of North Africa, there was also a white slave trade on an unprecedented scale.
Compared to the previous plunder, these pirates could no longer satisfy their greed. They began to take away the crew of passing merchant ships on a large scale to extort ransom or sell them as slaves.
And almost all of these captive crew members were Europeans, that is, whites, who went to sea during the Age of Discovery. Thus began an unprecedented white slave trade.
Since then, a staggering statistic has spread across North Africa: in just 300 years, between 800,000 and 1.25 million whites have been enslaved, including some noble-born aristocrats.
This unprecedented white encounter was undoubtedly a great shame at the time. After all, white people have always been regarded as superior "masters", and they could never have imagined that one day they would be taken captive as prey.
This history is still little known to this day. As some historians say, it is like a flower hidden in the dark, blooming silently, but difficult for people to find.
The fate of the white slaves
When the captive white crew fell into the hands of the Barbary pirates, their fate was devastating.
The first thing to experience is that terrible "parade".
When pirate ships docked in ports in North Africa, the whites were driven off board and marched through the city amid curses and insults from the local population.
Without exception, these victims were subjected to the most vicious humiliation. Some locals will even rush up to them and throw all sorts of garbage at them. For these "masters", who were once regarded as superior, this treatment is undoubtedly worse.
After this torture-like "march", the whites were imprisoned in underground cells, each containing 15 to 20 people. The environment here is harsh, with only a small iron fence barely letting in a little air and light.
When it rains, it pours in through the iron fence and sometimes up to the ankles. In such an environment, being able to sleep peacefully is already a luxury.
It is not difficult to imagine how many people died of disease and hunger in such difficult circumstances. And those who barely survive will face an even more miserable fate.
They were to be taken to the slave market to be traded. The clientele here is mostly Arabs, Turkey and wealthy Moors, most favored by young and beautiful white women.
These women were first humiliated and molested by slave owners, and then forcibly converted to Islam. After joining the church, they became sex slaves and reproductive tools for the Arab tycoons.
And those women who refused to convert were subjected to even more terrible treatment. According to one survivor's recollection, a female white slave was tortured to death because of this, and the pain she suffered was unimaginable.
Although in the early 19th century, the United States Navy finally defeated the Barbary pirates, ending the centuries-old white slave trade. However, those who have survived this ordeal will probably not be able to escape that nightmarish experience for the rest of their lives.
Sadly, even today, similar dirty deals are happening from time to time. As long as there are people willing to be buyers, such crimes can never be completely eradicated. This undoubtedly deserves our reflection and vigilance.
Uncover the truth that has been covered up
Although the history of the white slave trade has long been little known, with the research of some historians in recent years, this hidden truth has finally gradually surfaced.
In a way, the white slave raids that took place in North Africa were undoubtedly a severe blow to those who had once been "masters."
After all, it is generally accepted that blacks are the ones who are oppressed and enslaved by whites. It is somewhat surprising to find out that white people themselves have lived through a dark history that has lasted for hundreds of years.
However, this does not mean that we should turn a blind eye to the tragic feelings of black slaves. On the contrary, we should use this to realize that there is a dark side to human nature. Whoever is deprived of their freedom and dignity will be a victim.
The lesson of this white slave trade is that we should cherish freedom and uphold human dignity. Any form of inhumane trade should be thoroughly curbed and punished. Only in this way can we avoid the recurrence of such tragedies to the greatest extent.
At the same time, we must be vigilant that even today, the shadow of those dirty deals has not completely disappeared. As long as there is demand from buyers, it will be difficult to eradicate this kind of trade that goes against human nature. Therefore, we should always remain vigilant and take the initiative to expose and combat these evil acts hidden in the dark corners.
This forgotten history has undoubtedly given us a deeper understanding of the complexity of human nature. Both black and white people have been subjected to inhuman treatment throughout history. We must learn from this and work together to create a fairer and more just world.
Only in this way can those tragic flowers that bloom in the dark night finally come out of the haze and usher in a new dawn.