Racism and prejudice against African Americans in the United States can be discovered many years before the institution of slavery was legally defined in state or federal law. Historical records reveal that nearly half a century before legal slavery, racism against people of color was apparent. Although some modern historians may argue that racism was the result of clear codes of slavery, according to author Carl N. Degler, "if one examines the beginnings of slavery in the English colonies and the reaction of "It becomes clear that the hypothesis that slavery is responsible for the low social status of blacks is open to question" (29). Slavery did not precede racism. Rather, legal slavery helped perpetuate and flourish discrimination against African Americans from the 17th to the 19th centuries. In fact, racism and fear of the norm are common behaviors throughout history. For example, the Irish in the colonies were called “beyond the Pale” or even “slaves” (30). The famous poet and playwright Shakespeare even called the African prince “Othello” a “thing” (31). Africans were of a different culture and were considered an inferior race because of these differences. They were destined to become slaves due to widespread prejudices, such as being called "savages" in Africa. By 1620, “the records of Virginia and Maryland…rarely refer to ‘slaves,’ but speak mainly of ‘Negroes’” (31). The label “Negros” is in no way a positive term. Discrimination was also prevalent in legal codes around the world before the establishment of slavery. In Bermuda, "the Bermuda Assembly passed a law restricting 'the insolence of blacks'" (32). Notice the word “insolence”,... middle of paper... as well as the hatred of black people. Southern whites, rich and poor, viewed Africans as an inferior race. Both felt the cerebral status of superior beings, especially the poor, who would be the lowest class in the Southern hierarchy if slavery never existed. A backwoods farmer addressed his fellow southerners asking, “How would you like to have a nigger come near your [daughter] dick” (182-183). Recorded comments like this demonstrated the common fear of the black man. Slavery played a key role not only in the economy, but also in society. Racist ideals as well as the psychological effect of being "above" another class led to the defense of slavery by both rich and poor. Works Cited Degler, Carl N. Neither black nor white: slavery and race relations in Brazil and the United States. new York, 1971 .