6. Intergenerational Impact: Slavery vs. Indenture
A defining feature of chattel slavery was its intergenerational nature—children born to enslaved Africans automatically inherited their parents’ enslaved status. This created a cycle of oppression that lasted for centuries, devastating entire lineages. In contrast, Irish indentured servitude was never passed down to children; once a contract ended, it ended for good. As explained by AP News, conflating these experiences erases the unique and lasting trauma of African American slavery.
