Slavery continues to impose itself on us

[mrmvp]

Slavery continues to impose itself on us. Our predecessors taught us one thing: a slave who cannot assume his own revolt does not deserve to be pitied.

Does "predecessors" mean ancestors?

Does "assume" mean take control?

“A slave who cannot assume his own revolt does not deserve to be pitied,” says Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso : Peoples Dispatch

Captain Ibrahim Traoré denounced Western neo-colonialism, pledges an end to poverty and deadly mass migration from Africa

peoplesdispatch.org

 

[Skrej]

Does "predecessors" mean ancestors?

Yes, but not necessarily in the sense of direct family lineage. In this case it means something more like 'forefather' definition #2

Does "assume" mean take control?

More like 'take responsibility for'.

 

[tedmc]

Predecessors are the people who come before you, as in the inhabitants of a place, who are not necessarily related to you.

 

[jutfrank]

Does "predecessors" mean ancestors?

I have the impression he's referring broadly to his fellow Africans of the last few hundred years—specifically those who struggled under European colonialism.

 

[mrmvp]

I have the impression he's referring broadly to his fellow Africans of the last few hundred years—specifically those who struggled under European colonialism.

Yes. I read the entire article. He bitterly criticized imperialism and colonization. If he was referring to his forefathers or those who related to him and passed away, he would say ancestors. I guess.