Milgram Experiment

This experiment occurred at Yale University by a scientist by the name of Stanley Milgram. This experiment was conducted to try and discover if the Germans were simply following orders in the Genocide. He took random volunteers and had them be the teacher in the experiment. The teacher was to ask questions and the learner (who was a scientist that knew the experiment) had to answer them. If the learner got them wrong he would be shocked. Every time he was wrong the shock voltage was increased. 65% of the teachers continued shocking the learner up to 450 (max) volts for no apparent reason. They were everyday Americans that were being told to keep going. All of the teachers that participated continued to at least 300 volts. These were ordinary people who were following orders of someone of authority (a man in a white coat) this proves that people of the Genocide might have simply just been following orders. Not all of them were necessarily guilty. Obedience is embedded into our lives. We are always told to obey people and never have a mind for ourselves. Our lives are structured by a series of rules and regulations. This experiment can also be related to the Book of Negroes as thousands of people stood by and watched or even participated in slavery. It is hard to be the odd one out and to stand up for what is right. Especially when people of "authority" also believe in slavery. This experiment proves that everyday people were influenced to be apart of slavery even if they didn't believe in it completely. This can be demonstrated in the book from the characters of Chekura and Lindo. As they both had a role with slavery. Although Chekura's role was much smaller than Lindo's he still helped bring the people of Bayo to the slave vessel.