Me in history

Durring American Heratige our class watched “The Amistad”. It was edited-- I am at Brigham Young University. Although I spent most of the time in class transfixed to the screen gripping the top of my desk refraining from bursting out in all sorts of emotions I did glance over at my professor. He was wearing his ‘sunglasses’. On the first day of class he came in wearing ‘sunglasses’ and began the lecture by explaining that we all are biased. We see the world through ‘sunglasses’ our own personal set of biased opinions beliefs and views. According to my professor understanding history is not memorizing dates and names, but having the ability to take off your personal ‘sunglasses’ or cultural influences and viewing the story and events through someone else’s eyes. When I saw him leaning up against the wall wearing his ‘sunglasses’ I turned back to the movie with a new outlook. I did not want to just watch the show, but to become apart of the story. Pathetically, but truthfully for the first time in my life I realized that slavery was and is a horrific thing done to MY brothers and sisters.
Prior to this I have felt this awkward social ideal that slavery was a black and white issue. My piece in understanding slavery is to recognize that my white ancestors were in the wrong. I expected nothing more from my self, but to establish my white ancestors were wrong to put black people into bondage. When ever I thought of slaver there were two main thought streams; How could people do that to someone else? And how did they endure that?
As I looked into the eyes of the slaves in the movie (fortunately the were all good actors and actresses) the realization that understanding slavery is realizing that those millions of men, women, and children bound in chains were my heavenly brothers and sisters. I do not have to have black skin to be their sister. I might not be their literal descendent, but that does not mean that I can not feel a fire passion against slavery and what it stood for.
When I understand slavery better I am not saying I need to down size my opinion of my white ancestors. My impression of slavery has became more personal than ever before. For some reason I held this social stigma that because I am not black I can not understand the hardship of slaves. NO ONE can truly understand the hardships of slavery, but I can imagine. My heart and mind should not be restricted by the color of my skin. I was so glad to watch that movie and make this realization.