According to Manning, “This history of blacks in the modern world recognizes but does not defend the concept of “race” (Manning 12). For Manning, the history of black people is the history of the black community. He proposes that another way to look at racial difference is color. A third way is religious belief and a fourth is purity of blood. These four elements contribute to our sense of "us" or "them." This sense of us or them fuels the concept of racism and is not limited to any one element. Although one may have color, someone else may consider religion Examples of Manning's four elements exist in history For example, people who view Jews as different usually focus on their religious beliefs, while people. view black people as different because of their skin color or hair. Race was certainly a factor when it came to enslaving Africans. RACIAL HIERARCHY In addition to categorization. four elements described, groups are often classified using one or all of these elements Manning thoughtfully explains that historian Frank Snowden, after studying black people in Greek and Roman society, determined that they were not clearly identified. . As a result, there is no evidence that black people faced discrimination in their societies. Manning also points out that 19th-century white plantation owners and anthropologists clearly classified people by race, putting themselves first (Manning 13-14). Manning argues that the Portuguese Fifteenth had no problem enslaving black Africans because it was a natural extension of the medieval belief that blood was pure. A more recent example is the Nazis' belief in blood purity, excluding Jews and anyone else who was not considered middle of the paper in the new society. They brought new foods, music and traditions, mixing them with the new lands and cultures. Those who returned to Africa brought with them new ideas and experiences which they blended into their existing lifestyles. They adapted and innovated according to their circumstances, creating new identities while retaining as much of their old culture as possible. Africans changed or rebuilt their societies as a result of their travels and interactions with other cultures. Enslaved black people built a tradition of opposition to slavery that manifested itself in a significant weakening of slave systems. They developed new traditions and a new sense of identity that incorporated an appreciation of their ancestral lives as well as the new realities of slavery. Migration, whether forced or freely undertaken, contributed to a new identity (Manning 38).