Blog Post #3

In The History of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides describes the Athenian thesis that politics is a world ruled by power and power alone. Justice is an idea perpetuated by ‘weak’ individuals and states with deep moral values. Not all individuals or states share this need to avenge those who have been mistreated by society and will not be forced into action by acknowledging all of their misdeeds. In continuing this argument, Thucydides states that there ultimately is no reward system for those who act morally correct and that following these ideas essentially weakens the strength of the state. 

In doing a deeper analysis of The Truth About Awiti, the Athenian thesis holds a lot of merits when discussing the invasion of Africa and the global slave trade that eventually resulted from it. Local tribes that enslaved their fellow Africans and European sailors who transported them had no moral qualms about displacing millions of people. Those that directly participated in the slave trade or in the systematic institutions of racism that propped up American society for generations onward were never concerned about moral correctness or justice in the first place. Africans were seen as dollars signs or stepping stones on a path to status and prestige, not as human beings which furthers the idea of the Athenian thesis of power being the most significant factor in the world of politics. Specifically, in the case of The Truth About Awiti, the character Massa from Chapter 15 is a perfect example of the Athenian thesis in the book as he exploits his slaves all for his pleasure and needs to exert control over them emotionally and physically. As the chapter is written from the perspective of one of Massa’s victims, the reader is truly able to feel and empathize with the cruelty that Massa imposes on the vulnerable slaves of his plantation. In the chapter, Amos recounts, “It wasn’t even two days after Massa killed me that he went to the slave quarters and took another boy from his mama’s bed” (pg 162). Massa’s power over his slaves allowed him to abuse little boys and dispose of their lives with absolutely zero consequences. Maintaining his power over those vulnerable was paramount to Massa and is in alignment with the Athenian thesis as he cannot deny the irresistible impulse of creating fear and ensuring a skewed balance of power as is common in many political atmospheres. Massa further proves the point of the Athenian thesis by later stating, “Shut your mouth wench. He ain’t yours, or did you forget your place? The boy belongs to me” (pg 163). Despite having taken a life within a mere week of the previous incident, Massa feels no remorse at all and is keen to repeat the violent act to fulfill his disgusting desires. Massa’s desire to remain in control of his slaves and inflict as much pain as possible is central to the argument that he is a proponent of the Athenian thesis in real life. Justice in the real world does not exist without the efforts of concerned individuals and within the period of Awiti, no one is society was effectively concerned with the general well-being of slaves. Seen as inferior, slaves were not given the same consideration of white citizens and their treatment at the hands of these citizens had nothing to do with morality. Power has remained entirely in the hands of those who committed injustices and while many people worked to better the condition of slaves, they were no match for those who kept the balance of power in their favor. In real life there is no Awiti to impose justice upon those who have tortured slaves and their descendants, there is only the power of those who remain in seats of power who act upon their will only. There ultimately is no committee to decide on who will be commended for acting morally, and while I am not saying there is no God to avenge these injustices, the Athenian thesis states that there is no one on Earth to fix these atrocities in favor of reparations and justice.