Cultural Challenges Following Emancipation, Essay Example

In focusing on the objective of considering the voices of the past in a historical context, that is, the historical setting that shaped those voices it is important to have a complete understanding of the social and cultural influences that shaped those voices.  Through the examination of these sources, it becomes apparent that, while people tend to see the struggle for civil rights in the context of the mid to late twentieth century, there were, in fact, many that spoke for these rights from the time period directly following the reformation all the way through the turn of the twentieth century.

The ultimate goal of utilizing these references will be to find the kinds of historical sources that can help to better understand the events surrounding, influencing, and resulting from the work.  Finally, in focusing on the chapters that are particularly key it becomes apparent what the important aspects of these historical examples are.  This essay focuses on chapters VII through X, which encompass a discussion of the sociological issues that were still facing his people at the time, but also the progress that they have made since being emancipated during the previous generation.

Within the text of the book, Du Bois discusses the importance of educating African Americans during the post civil war and reconstruction world.  He argues that by guaranteeing the education of these disenfranchised classes in basic matters, as well as the education of the rest of society concerning the trials and triumphs of the African American people, then the issues that were afflicting society could hope to be alleviated.  By training these individuals, many of the ills of society that led to social stratification between blacks and whites could be overcome.  He explains that by examining the factors that help to contribute to the education of the numerous individuals who had been given freedom through emancipation, and by helping to provide education to these individuals, the basic structures of society can be made stronger.

This question regarding the reconciliation between these conflicting aspects of society. In this way, the spread of Education to more levels of culture, as well as the basic training of individuals in basic aspects of the workforce could help to further enhance the benefits to society. “Such training as will give us poise to encourage the prejudices that bulwark society, and to stamp out those that in sheer barbarity deafen us to the wail of prisoned souls within the Veil, and the mounting fury of shackled men”[1]  While many of the equalities that were sought after would not be achieved for almost a hundred years, it was at this time that the hopes that these individuals had for the repeal of segregation from society.

Due to the quickly growing industries that were popping up in the South, a structure was created that relied on the combination of these segregation laws with basic tenets of capitalism.  These systems essentially served to alienate African Americans at the lowest ranks of this system.  For this reason, these disenfranchised classes worked to gain a measure of independence from the larger social order.  This included both residential and economic districts that were intended to stem the effects of segregation.  Although they banded together in separation from the rest of society, many still pressed for their inclusion into the greater part of the country, and fought for their rights to do so.

The historical viewpoints show the struggles that African Americans in the south would have been confronted with, as well as how this led to the transformation of the Protestant church, and its inception into the fundamental structures of the African American communities. “The Negro church of to–day is the social centre of Negro life in the United States, and the most

characteristic expression of African character.”[2]  While, originally, those who ran many of the churches of white society attempted to convert these people, during the time after the revolutionary war and after, there are examples of how these differences led to many conflicting and violent outcomes.  These conflicts were often due to the inability for the evangelical Church to come to terms with the realities of slavery.  By viewing the observations of African American authors, insight into how the African American aspects of society were able to adapt to how the Christian church was attempting to teach concerning independence, society, and the attainment of freedom by people within the structures of an oppressive political environment.

Following the compromise of 1877, which essentially ended reconstruction and northern troop involvement in the southern states, many African Americans left for the north. This was spurred forward by the fact that the Supreme Court had held in recent cases that the fourteenth amendment did not protect them from discrimination by individuals or companies.  Stanford P. Thomas discusses the tragic history of the African American, as well as the thoughts that must have been in the minds of their ancestors who were brought to the shores of the United States. “The authorized Negro tragedy in the United States of America did indeed come to an end, but the unauthorized tragedy began with the declaration of emancipation.”[3]  Despite all of the achievements that had been made through emancipation and the implementation of various protections through the legislation of the U.S. government, African Americans still had many issues to overcome, including political and economic quality, as well as the ability to obtain a decent education.  While in the north, these trends continued steadily, in southern countries, there were many obstacles to overcome.

The implementation of Plessy V. Fergusson is an example of one of these difficulties. The case of Plessy V. Fergusson (1896) essentially sanctioned the discrimination of individuals in the public sector. “Yes. The states can constitutionally enact legislation requiring persons of different races to use “separate but equal” segregated facilities.”[4]  This ruling implied that all people who were of natural origins within the U.S. were under the authority of those decisions that were made by its citizens.  Furthermore, the State was barred from enacting any decisions into law that took away the rights of any of these individuals.  This law was meant to provide the ability for a social, racial, or religious society to include or exclude any others from their communities and its tenets based on these factors.  The arguments addressed what constituted a citizen as well as how these new individual’s citizenship should be defined by law.  Many saw this ruling as a protection of individuals and local communities against the authority of the states at large.

Du Boise seems to be making the statement within his text that the only way that these problems can be overcome is through the mutual understanding of the two separate cultures into one inclusive society.  This can only be achieved if the two sides are wiling to come to an understanding. “It is hardly necessary for me to add very much in regard to the social contact between the races.”[5] He explains that the social interactions among these races is important in the ability to overcome these issues. Wile there are many social implications of the events following emancipation, he seemed to believe that by opening up to one another, by working together even through the worst times, and by acknowledging each others humanity as well as their common path, the South could find the way to establish a comprise between their opposing positions

Almost half a century after the end of the civil war, Robert Williamson discusses the need to remember the sacrifices that were made in order to give these people this opportunity. “Today the muskets of the soldiers – North and South – are stacked, and we entwine our wreath of flowers about them, and look upon them with much reverence – truly relics of other days – days that must live in our memory only, for this is another age.”[6] He explains that by looking at the sacrifice that was made by these individuals, we can help to continue the revere what they sacrificed themselves for.

Williamson argues that without these soldiers, the present state of the union may have never been achieved. The people of the country would never have achieved their social positions without the war. In this sense, by showing our appreciation of what these soldiers have done, it becomes apparent that the importance of sacrifice and responsibility became enamored in the fundamental aspects of American culture. He contends that this sacrifice was necessary in order to allow the country to reap the eventual benefits of the conflict. By keeping these sacrifices in mind, the will to press forward through these difficulties was hoped to be overcome.

While modern academic texts often seem to imply that, historically, there was not a lot that happened between the years following the civil war up until the mid nineteen fifties. These historical texts indicate that during this period in time there were also various movements and social conflicts that involved civil rights in the united States.  Although many of the southern white people who were angry about emancipation were able to create novel arguments for why they should be able to treat African Americans differently, there were also many black people living in the south who, through their voices and cations, contended against this unfair situation.  The sanctioning of segregated communities as well as the fear that was opposed on black communities included not only the lynching of many individuals, but also the extermination of large groups of people.

Bibliography

DuBois, W. E. B. The souls of black folk. Chicago: A. C. McClurg and Co. (1903).

Plessy V. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537, 16 S. Ct. 1138, 41 L. Ed. 256 (1896).

Stanford, P. Thomas. The Tragedy of the Negro in America: a Condensed History of the Enslavement, Sufferings, Emancipation, Present Condition and Progress of the Negro Race in the United States of America. Boston, Mass.: Charles W. Wasto, 1897.

Williamson, Robert H. From Log Cabin To the Pulpit, or, Fifteen Years in Slavery. James H. Tifft Publishing, Eau Claire, WIS. 1913.

[1] Du Bois, W. E. B. The souls of black folk. Chicago: A. C. McClurg and Co. (1903).

[2] Du Bois

[3] Stanford, P. Thomas. The Tragedy of the Negro in America: a Condensed History of the Enslavement, Sufferings, Emancipation, Present Condition and Progress of the Negro Race in the United States of America. Boston, Mass.: Charles W. Wasto, 1897.

[4] Plessy V. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537, 16 S. Ct. 1138, 41 L. Ed. 256 (1896).

[5] Du Bois

[6] Williamson, Robert H. From Log Cabin To the Pulpit, or, Fifteen Years in Slavery. James H. Tifft Publishing, Eau Claire, WIS. 1913.