Rewrite/fix reflective piece

Can you please update my reflective piece below to Chicago with footnotes with these references.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Boston: John P. Jewett and Company, 1852).

Gerald Horne, The White Pacific: US Imperialism and Black Slavery in the South Seas After the Civil War (Honolulu: the University of Hawaii Press, 2007), Ch 2.

Question – What was ‘blackbirding’? While known colloquially as a ‘Labour Trade’, did it bear similarities to slavery?

My Work

‘Blackbirding’ refers to kidnapping or deceiving people, primarily from the Pacific Islands, to work as labourers in plantations or mines in Australia, Fiji, and other parts of the world. Although it was often referred to as a ‘Labour Trade’, the conditions of blackbirding were similar to slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, highlights the inhumane treatment of enslaved people in the United States. However, the novel’s themes and messages apply to the global issue of slavery, including blackbirding.
Stowe’s novel depicts the physical and emotional abuse endured by enslaved people, similar to blackbirding’s conditions. For example, enslaved people were often beaten, starved, and forced to work long hours in dangerous situations. Similarly, blackbird labourers were physically abused, including being whipped and chained. They were also forced to work in harsh conditions, with little protection from the elements. In addition, blackbirded labourers were often separated from their families and communities, causing emotional trauma.
The similarities between blackbirding and slavery are further explored in the “The White Pacific: US Imperialism and Black Slavery in the South Seas After the Civil War”. Horne argues that blackbirding continued the slave trade, as it relied on exploiting vulnerable populations for economic gain. The practice was primarily carried out by European and American traders, who saw the Pacific Islands as a source of cheap labour. The labourers were often promised good wages and working conditions, but these promises were rarely fulfilled. Instead, they were forced to work for little to no pay, and their contracts were often extended without their consent.
In conclusion, blackbirding was slavery that exploited vulnerable populations for economic gain. The physical and emotional abuse endured by blackbirded labourers was similar to the treatment of enslaved people in the United States. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, highlights the inhumane treatment of enslaved people, but its themes and messages apply to the global issue of slavery. Gerald Horne’s book, The White Pacific, further explores the similarities between blackbirding and slavery, arguing that the practice continued the slave trade. The legacy of blackbirding highlights the ongoing struggle for human rights and the need for continued efforts to combat modern-day slavery.

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