In 1996, the African Minister of Culture solemnly made a request to France: " Please return the Hottentot Venus to us! "
This sentence sounds confusing at first: Africans and What does Venus, the goddess who symbolizes European civilization, have to do with it? Why does say "yet"?
It turns out that what is called "Venus" is not a work of art, but an African girl with a particularly large body.
A girl given the name Venus, the goddess of beauty, should logically have a glorious life. However, this 'Venus' has seen all the evils of human nature and suffered from racial discrimination in her life.
Picture丨African Venus
The beginning of the tragedy of the beautiful scam
The opening of new routes has made the world increasingly connected as a whole. The opening of has ushered in opportunities for the European continent that is actively seeking development, but has brought opportunities to the people of the African continent. Brought heavy suffering .
From the 18th to the 19th centuries, Africa was shrouded in the shadow of colonial rule, and the majority of the people were enslaved. Generations of slave life almost wiped out the African people's hope of pursuing an equal life.
Batman, a girl born in a small tribe called Khoisan, has been abused since she was a child. While young girls in the European continent are enjoying their wonderful youth, she is working in the fields of the Dutchman Peter Cezar.
It was normal for her not to have enough to eat or wear warm clothes. At that time, she only hoped to be less whipped by the slave master and feel better.
Picture丨Khoisan women
The slave owners at that time, the Peter brothers were no longer satisfied with the "small business" with no way to make money in the African colonies. They were crazy about getting rich. When they saw the girl Baman's unusually high buttocks, a different plan to make money took root in their hearts and quickly grew into a towering tree.
Brother Peter appeared in front of Bamante, who was working with her head down, and said to her, " As long as you go to Europe with us, you can get rid of your current life and be free. "
Bamante has been overwhelmed by the hard and heavy slavery. At first, she dreamed of getting rid of the current life , So the young Bamante had no doubts at all, almost shedding tears of excitement, and followed them on the ship leaving their homeland.
Little did he know that leaving his hometown this time was a farewell, and it would be hundreds of years before he set foot on his homeland again.
Picture 丨 Europe from the 18th to the 19th century
Bamante was immersed in the joy of being free along the way. For her, the boring sea voyage was the broad road to happiness. What she did not notice was that in Brother Peter behind her has torn away his hypocritical mask and gradually revealed his insidious and cunning true face .
The ship docked at the first stop, London. When Bamante stepped ashore, all the beautiful lies turned into nothing and went away with the ship..
The black girl was reduced to a piece of meat for the slaughter. Regardless of her resistance, they ruthlessly and cruelly stripped her of her clothes, placed her in a cold iron cage, and turned her into a plaything for others to watch.
British "gentlemen" and "ladies" who thought they lived a "high-end" life had never seen such a scene. They turned their attention to the girl's buttocks that were different from their own and began to ridicule them with malicious intent.
Picture丨Batman was humiliated
Batman covered his body tightly out of shame and shouted with tears: "Let me out!"
What he got in exchange was ruthless whipping and full-face scolding, "Screaming What do you mean, you lowly bitch still wants to live a good life? Letting you here is already flattering you, bah! You black people are born to be miserable!"
Brother Peter yelled and cursed while waving the whip on his hand , the girl's skin was torn and tears were streaming down her face, but what she got in return was bursts of applause and cheers. The bowl placed in front of the cage was already filled with coins, and the streets of London were bustling with activity.
The girl struggled in the iron cage, but Brother Peter beat her harder.
Picture丨The enslaved black man
The scene before his eyes shows without a doubt that Bamante, who has left the African continent, is their biggest cash cow at present. Gradually, the girl stopped struggling, her tears had long since dried up, and only boundless despair remained in her originally smart eyes.
"Is there a race in the world that is more despicable than black people? "
"Look at her raised buttocks, she should have come out to make money from it long ago. "
"Cry louder! Who are you pretending to show? What?" Even though he didn't understand the language, these insulting words often appeared in the mouths of African slave owners, and Bamante's heart gradually grew cold as he listened.
Picture丨The enslaved blacks
thought it was relief but found themselves in a deeper hell
After the first "human flesh exhibition", it can be said that Brother Peter made a lot of money. The sudden huge profits magnified the greed in his heart countless times. , The wealthy people spent a lot of money on the next exhibition with a curious mentality, just to see the unique appearance of this exotic woman in the cage..
The streets of London are full of exhibition posters about Bamante, and all kinds of publicity about Bamante's unique figure are pouring out overwhelmingly. After watching the exhibition, writers even mockingly called her the "African Venus."
Bamante is completely "popular" in London. Brothers Peter saw a golden light and saw greater business opportunities.
As a result, the London exhibition later developed into a tour throughout Europe. Gradually, Barman became a walking zombie, no longer responding to external stimuli.
Picture丨Black woman
People in Europe began to find it boring, and Brother Peter also believed that the Barman Express was worthless and would become a burden to them.
When Bamante was exhibited in France, a zoo took a fancy to her unique appearance. After the exhibition, the zoo offered to buy Bamante.. Brother Peter was almost ecstatic when he heard this request. He hesitantly sold Bamante to them and for fear that the other party would regret it, he left France by boat overnight.
Bamante, who was lying in the cage with scars all over his body, looked at the retreating figures of Brother Peter, with little ripples in his eyes as silent as a deep pool. "No matter how bad it is, it can't be better than now." Bamante thought.
She thought she had finally left the clutches of Brother Peter. The nerves that had been tense for several months finally relaxed. gradually fainted, but she did not expect that when she opened her eyes again, an even more cruel hell would be waiting for her.
Picture丨Bamante being watched
"Refund the money! Why are you still motionless? You are fooling us like hell! Refund the money! Refund the money!"
"It's really boring, ugly and strange, let's break up, everyone—— "
Visitors to the zoo looked at the motionless Bamante in the park, curious about her distinctive dark complexion, curious about her unusually high buttocks, and curious about her bruised and miserable appearance.
"Hey, hey! Are you still lying down? Don't pretend to be dead!" "Did I buy you to lie still? I bought you to make money, so get up!" The animal manager said rudely to Baman Te scolded her and swung the whip mercilessly at her thin body.
"It hurts! My brain is about to explode." Bamante slowly opened his eyes. What I heard was the administrator's unbearable foul language. In front of me was still the iron cage that restricted freedom. There was a bustling crowd in front of the iron cage.
Picture丨Cracking Bamante’s leather whip
As soon as they saw her waking up, the crowd became excited. The administrator's eyes also lit up, and he began to shout: "Take a look, take a look - The zoo bought a new species of gorilla in Africa at a huge price - If you can't buy it, you will suffer a loss, you can't be fooled - —"
In Brother Peter's place, Bamante was treated as a human being, but at the zoo, Bamante was just an animal that was tamed and watched.
When he first arrived at the zoo, Bamante tried to resist, but the torture at the zoo was a hundred times tougher than the methods of the Peter brothers. They had special taming methods. When people are not treated as human beings, such methods are more appropriate. but.
Bamante's arrival brought extra profits to the zoo. The boss was extremely grateful for his decision and decided to give her a set of "special training." The animal trainer took her to train with other animals. If she didn't do well, she would be beaten or even attacked by the animals.
Picture丨Black man in the zoo
Bamante finally gave in, she was completely numb,Bamante: If this makes you feel more comfortable, I will just do it.
Every day, Bamante has to make many shameful actions under the command of the trainer in exchange for people's cheers and applause.
She never resisted and seemed to believe that she was no different from the animals around her. The children shouted at her: "Chimpanzee!". Driving through fire hoops, roping ropes, and picking up leather hoops are all skills that she possesses. Even she seems to have lost herself in such an environment.
On an ordinary evening, after finishing her work for the day, Bamante was taken to the basement as usual. She only felt that she was extra tired today but a little happy. Everything seemed to be finally over..
Bamante slowly closed her eyes. She did not wait for the feeding that day. Her eyes never opened again. She was only twenty-six years old this year..
Picture丨Drilling in the Fire Ring Performance
Bamante never lived a normal life during her lifetime. Every day she spent was mixed with blood and mud, enduring the whippings of greed and discrimination.
Even after her death, her soul could not rest in peace. Even if greedy people knew that she was dead, they would still miss the slightest bit of her use value. If they could, they would even want to skin her and squeeze out every drop of her blood. However, she is a black person, and her despicability has long been engraved in her bones and blood, and she is not worthy of dirtying their noble hands.
As early as when Bamante was on tour because her unique figure attracted attention, the scientific community had already noticed her .
Like ordinary people, scientists also noticed her unique appearance. When they were planning to bury Bamante somewhere at the zoo, she appeared in front of the zoo staff. bought Bamante at a high price. mante's remains .
Picture丨Scientist
Bamante's body was brought to the research institute. A anatomy family named George saw the value of research from Bamante.
George is an extreme racist. The publication of Darwin's theory of evolution caused an uproar in Europe, almost overturning the racial theory that George had always regarded as his belief. He was frantically eager to find evidence to overturn Darwin and prove that he was right.
Scientific researchers headed by George conducted a study called "Are Africans Human?"
They dissected Bamante's body to study her genetic makeup and internal structure, especially her buttocks.
Picture丨
They tried to explain that the African people represented by Bamante are uncivilized ethnic groups, unworthy of sharing the land with "noble Europeans", and Bamante's unusual buttocks are the best proof.
At that time, such remarks won the support of a large number of European people as soon as they were published. They denied the suffering they had brought to the African people and attributed it all to natural rule from above.
With the publication of relevant academic papers, Bamante's body was also placed in a glass cabinet as a biological specimen for viewing.
The body did not enjoy a moment of freedom during life, and the soul did not gain liberation after death.
Picture丨Biological specimens
The long road home The remains returned home after a hundred years
With the modern national liberation movement in full swing, the African people began to strongly demand the liberation of human rights.
"Give us your people back! " Such righteous shouts rang out one after another on the streets, and tens of thousands of people protested in front of the French museum. African compatriots strongly demand that the French museum remove Bamante's body specimens and restore Bamante's soul to rest in peace.
At first the museum ignored these demands, but the African people were determined to liberate themselves and they continued to fight bravely for liberation.
Picture丨Museum
In 1947, under the pressure of public opinion, French officials issued a circular, requiring the museum to remove the body, and Bamante was finally relieved.
"Please return the 'Hottentot Venus' to us !" At the illegal diplomatic conference in 1996, the African people shouted out what was in their hearts. Thanks to the active efforts of our African compatriots, Bamante returned to his homeland after a century.
In August 2002, the African people ushered in an exciting historical moment. "Venus", who had been wandering for hundreds of years, finally returned to her homeland and was able to rest in peace under the comfort of her compatriots in her hometown.
Picture | African people
Summary
For the African people, Bamante’s tragic experience is imprinted with a dark and heavy mark of the times . In that era when “Africans were not human beings”, there were thousands of “Bamante” "Suffered inhuman treatment.
The struggle and efforts made by Bamante to return to the country are a vivid reflection of the Africans' desire for freedom and equal rights to exist, and express their beautiful vision of calling for peace and hoping that there will no longer be oppression of slaves in the world.
Bamante’s short life was tragic and miserable, which made people sigh. Behind its tragic fate reflects the bloody history of colonial conquest in Europe, because European colonists have always had racial prejudices and a lack of respect for life, which led to such a tragedy.
Picture | African people
Greed and discrimination are the evils of human nature. Respect and reverence for life make people good.
In today's world trend of freedom and equality, each of us should have a bright mind and be kind to others. I believe that one day the light of justice and kindness will illuminate every dark corner of the world.
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