Slavery-2 Essay, Research Paper
Slavery
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For purposes of this discussion, it is the intent of this author to assess the plight of
African Americans at a time when they were merely slaves, captives taken forcibly by
rich white American merchants to a new and strange land called America. Right from
the very beginning, slavery was a controversial issue. It was fraught with the constant
reminder of man’s inhumanity to man. This was evidenced in the literature as well as
movements such as the abolitionists, and one most notably John Brown, who has been
portrayed as a kind of maniacal character, who would stop at nothing to see this God
given mandate carried out. Similarly, books such as “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet
Beecher Stowe did much to fuel the controversy that was slavery in the United States.
Of course we now know that slavery as it was understood in the 19th century lasted
up until the officiation of the Emancipation Proclamation, or slaves, or now newly
pronounced African Americans were given their freedom, and their struggle assumes a
new direction in attempting to gain equality for themselves. This is a struggle which
continues today, and is not much less controversial. Nevertheless, for historical
purposes, I should like to further attempt to dissect events as they existed at that
time. Slavery was a practice which was much favored by the South. In the North,
Americans were more industrial oriented, and had little use for slaves. They could afford
to be more moralistic about the issue. However, when it came to the plight of land
owners and Americans who lived in the Southern part of a very young country, that
was America, they were highly preoccupied with their agrarian lifestyle. It is a fact that
even George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson had slaves as did many of the
forefathers of the new country. It is also true that many of these individuals had
children with their Black slaves, and although it is similarly a matter of historical record
that they did free their slaves, if not while they were alive, in their Last Will and
Testament. What this means is that slavery was an issue of economics to the South,
and a moral dilemma for those Americans who lived in the North. By the mid-1850’s the
spirit of accommodation had all but vanished. Northern interest in Emancipation pushed
by abolitionists, eroded relations between families North and South. William Lloyd
Garrison’s liberator was the extremist voice of abolitionism, calling for immediate
emancipation of the slaves by extralegal means if necessary. Although are not
representative of majority abolitionists opinion, this voice roused the deep seated fear
of slave insurrection among Southerners, who pointed to the actions of Denmark Vesey,
Mat Turner, and finally John Brown, as examples of what could become a horror as
great as Haigi’s blood bath. As the Northern anti-slave movement changed its tactics
from direct political action – for example, a tax on slavery in the state legislature – to
general moral condemnation of all Southerners, Southern attitudes began to set. In the
early 1830’s the South had claimed the largest number of anti-slavery societies; by the
mid-1850’s all such societies were north of Mason Dixon Line. From an uneasey mood
over slavery, Southerners evolved a “positive good” philosophy and argued that slave
owners provided shelter, food, care, and regulation for a race unable to compete in the
modern world without proper training. (Boatner, p. 92) As previously indicated H.B.
Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” was a novel which incited and struck a cord with the
moral fabric of Americans certainly throughout the North, and indeed many throughout
the South as well. To a large extent, this is what the Civil War which culminated was all
about.
What was Abraham Lincoln’s role in this? Mr. Lincoln is sometimes claimed as an
example of a ready made ruler. But no case would be less in point, for, besides that he
was a man of such fair mindedness as is always the raw material of wisdom, he had in
his possession a training precisely the opposite of that to which a partisan is subjected.
His experience as a lawyer compelled him not only to see that there is a principle
underlying every phenomenon in human affairs, but that there are always two side to
every question, both of which must be fully understood in order to understand either
and that is of greater advantage to an advocate to appreciate the strength than the
weakness of his antagonist’s position. Lincoln is more remarkable than the unerring tact
with which, in his debate with Mr. Douglas, he went to the straight to the reason of
the question; nor have we had a more striking lesson in political tactics that the fact,
that, opposed to a man exceptionally adroit when using political prejudice and bigotry
to his purpose. No doubt slavery was the most delicate and embarrassing with which
Mr. Lincoln was called upon to deal, and it was one which no man in is position,
whatever his belief, could evade; for, though he may withstand the clamor of partisans,
he must sooner or later yield to the persistent importunacy of circumstances, which
thrust the problem upon him at every turn and in every shape. It has been brought
against us an accusation aboard and repeated here by people who measure their
country rather by what is thought of it than by what it is, that our war has not been
distinctly and avowedly for the extension of slavery, but a war rather for the
preservation of our national power and greatness, and with the emancipation of the
Negro has been forced upon us by circumstances and accepted as a necessity. (Lowell,
p. 19) After the conclusion of the Civil War and the emancipation of the Negroes,
Blacks were essentially on their own. In fact, many chose to stay on the plantation,
while others braved racism, prejudice and all the other disadvantages that go with
being a Black man who has just received his freedom. Many found greater prospects in
the North, and industrial areas. In fact, many Blacks in the 1800’s actually amounted to
great social prominence, both in the South and in the North, but in my view, it was
really the African American religious experience which was quintessential in their
salvation. Slaves found a solidarity in religion. It did allow them a chance to feel their
spirits, and “religion was source of solace” for many slaves. One writer said “slaves put
all their emotions into religious services…” (Bennett, p. 88) In was the church that
remained in the spotlight as the struggle for freedom not only a dream for the African
American, but also a very realistic hope during the post Civil War period. The church
served as a political bastion, and such notable African Americans as Booker T.
Washington, and W.E.B. DuBois both wanted to see the Negro enjoy a better position in
America, albeit their beliefs about how this should be accomplished appear to be
different. Washington believed that the Negro should have separate but equal facilities,
and that they had to establish themselves through industrial training to become farm
property owners. DuBois felt: “Education and work are the levers to uplift a people.
Work alone will not do it unless inspired by the right ideals and guided by intelligence.
Education must not simply teach work-it must teach life. The talented leaders of the
Negro race must be made leaders of thought and missionaries of culture among their
people…the Negro race, like all other races, is going be saved by exceptional men.”
(Logan, p. 85) W.E.B. DuBois had strong feelings about the Negro and in fact he was a
man who was far ahead of his time. He himself was particularly ambitious and indeed
quite successful. Following in his steps was one young Martin Luther King, who had
come out of the Black ministry to lead his people to great civil rights successes by the
1960’s.
King was a pacifist, and believed in change through peaceful means. The story of the
African American continues to this day. Certainly many strides have been made, but
indeed racism still prevails. Not only amongst whites vs. Blacks, but also people of other
skin color, races, political affiliations, etc. It is my personal opinion that until we all
realize that we are of one spiritual community, that we will never fully realize a total
coming together.