The master explained this behavior as the result of
the slave's race or of his primitive African culture.
While assuming that many slaves did approximate the character of
"Sambo," Elkins absolutely rejects any racial or cultural
explanation. Modern African studies have not led to any evidence
of a "Sambo" type in Africa. Similarly, the literature of South
America does not contain any figure comparable to him.
Apparently, "Sambo" was not merely the result of slavery, but he
was the result of the unique form of slavery which developed in
North America. Unrestricted in his powers by institutions such as
the crown and the Church, the American slave master had gained
total control of his slave property. In a desire to maximize the
profits of his investment, he strove to develop the perfect
slave. Although the slave might endeavor to conform externally
while maintaining his inner integrity, eventually his performance
as an ideal slave must have affected the shape of his
personality. Modern existentialism has argued that how we behave
determines what we are, and it is in this sense that the
controlled behavior in the concentration camp and its impact on
personality formation provide an illuminating parallel to the
study of American slavery.
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