Literary Adaptation: The Space Traders
Summary: In the short story “The Space Traders,” by Derrick Bell, an alien race from an unknown galaxy arrives to the United States and offers to fix America’s growing problems of extreme pollution, lack of clean and reusable energy, and a huge, almost unpayable debt, for one thing in return: all persons classified as white or Caucasian are to be handed over to the “space traders,” where their fate is unknown. Having been given 16 days (until July 4), the government hosts various conventions to discuss such matters. Of course, since a majority of the population of the U.S. is white, the government publicly announces that they will not accept the aliens’ offer. This inevitably stirs debate among all citizens of all races; some Caucasians are willing to step up for their country; others argue that if it were another race there would be no debate and the dominantly-white government would force the group to be abducted; still others of different ethnicities become furious, claiming them to be “selfish cowards.” The day before “judgment day,” however, a final convention is held in which delegates of all racially identifiable groups cooperate to make a final decision. The Caucasian president of the United Sates proposes to have his “brothers” accept their fate in order to save America, but on the contrary, the “minorities” refuse to let such a brave volunteering that would send millions of humans to an unknown fate be executed, classifying it as a crime against humanity. Come decision day, the minorities uphold their stance and the government instead establishes several agencies to fix their problems.
Added Passage: “Sir,” interrupted the Hispanic delegate, “I am confident I speak on behalf of all representatives present, and even for the entire U.S. population, when I disapprove of your valiant offer to acquiesce to the ‘Space Traders’ proposition, and advocate that no person, no matter their race, gender, occupation or skin color, shall have to be obligated to commit to any operation as horrible and vile as the one we have been contemplating over day after day. The abduction of men and women, little boys and little girls, against their will to be taken to an unknown fate, is a crime against humanity, not only committed by the abductors but also by those who stood by and let the abduction be undertaken. We as human beings are responsible for the safety of each other, for the benefit of mankind, and to promote justness and equality for all, and this is a situation in which we must deploy both our integrity and our courage.”
Everyone in the room looked around at each other. Representative Perez’ speech had inflicted in everyone a sense of duty they felt obligated to fulfill, and as the men and women looked at each other from left to right, their seemingly nodding heads acknowledged a mutual plead to refrain from letting their “white” brothers and sisters be exiled from their beloved planet. Race no longer had definition. They were all humans and nothing else.
Analyses: In the original version of “The Space Traders,” the group chosen for the trade by the aliens are African-Americans and this particular decision by author Derrick Bell was important for his purpose. In the story we witness non-black (primarily white) Americans almost immediately agree to accept the offer and have their country “saved.” When it comes to debate, scarcely any white Americans step up for the designated minority instead of transcending their personal selfishness for the justness of mankind. Though anti-trade movements submerge, they are insufficient against a government that unrightfully changes its laws and censors protests that could potentially upset their ruling.
The reason why the author chose African-Americans is depict the white man’s sense of superiority over the “lower” race. This is supported when in the story, Congressman acknowledge that America was created “for the white man,” as well as when they conclude that no more black people will result in less crime and lower unemployment rates.
For my adaptation I chose to utilize Caucasians instead as the designed race to be abducted in order to portray that when it comes to sacrifice, Americans easily impose involuntary sacrifices on others while being reluctant to their part. In my version, the government immediately publicizes that they will not accept the offer, evident of their selfishness, while acknowledging that some people will label them as cowards. However, portraying Americans as selfish wasn’t my primary intention. Instead I wished to create a version in which it can be observed in the minorities that they possess the integrity that white Americans lacked in the first version. Instead of letting the designated give up their fate for the benefit of the country, the minorities refuse to let such an occurrence take place on behalf that it is a crime against humanity. Valiantly, they give up the possibility of having clean air, reusable energy and a clean slate in debt as they hold their stance that their Caucasian brothers and sisters shall not be abducted. Their problems are instead to be solved accordingly by their integrity, their will and the intelligence of mankind.
