The Concept of Race Developed as a Result of the Atlantic Slave Trade

During the colonial period in the New World, it was widely believed that the labor of one Black person was equal to that of multiple Indigenous people. This mindset was influenced by early contact colonists like the Spanish and Portuguese. In earlier times, the concept of slavery was associated with certain people being born as slaves, which was supported by thinkers like Aristotle. However, in the antebellum South, the focus shifted to race, with people believing that certain ethnicities were inherently destined for slavery. This marked the development of the modern concept of race. Before this era, people recognized differences between groups, but skin color was just one aspect. Ancient Greeks referred to Black Africans as Ethiopians and had issues with various other groups as well. The idea of categorizing individuals solely based on skin tone originated during this time period.