Chapter 14

The Transatlantic Slave trade added African presence into the mix of European and Native American presence in the Americas. They brought culture, religious ideology, music and cuisine that since then have been woven into many cultures across the world. The topic of the genesis of racism between slavery and European racism has been highly debated. One theory is that Christians picked up a form of racism that derived from Muslims. Others believe racism was formed in European culture. Perceptions of the Irish by Europeans were transferred to Africans enslaved in the West Indies. In exchange for slaves, African sellers sold textiles such as cowrie shells, firearms, tobacco, alcohol, and metal goods.