Traces of the Trade Documentary

When I watched Traces of the Trade, it really intrigued me. The documentary introduced us to a narrative of a white family (the DeWolfes) wanting to acknowledge and learn of their legacy throughout the slave trade. It was interesting to see people who wanted to know about slavery and where their name came from, but who also shied away from difficult conversations and settings at times. Another part that really stood out to me was when they were discussing the role of higher education in their lives. Most of them went to Ivy League Colleges mainly as a result of their family ties. The beginning of the conversation gave off a vibe of entitlement however I agree with the family member who brought up the idea that they were handed the opportunities based on privilege. I think that overall, this documentary showed the importance of whites owning their role in American history and also owning their privilege in present contexts.

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