Were the ‘Free Blacks’ of the South Really Free During the Period of 1790’s-1850? Essay Example

The terminology free blacks was applied as early as the 17^th century and continued through into the 18^th, 19^th centuries when slavery was eventually abolished. Free blacks status was acquired to children whose parents were free colored persons; mulatto children whose parents were free colored; mulatto children whose parents were white servants or free black women; children whose parental combination consist of free Negro and Indian. Slaves who escaped were considered free and those who were manumitted (Horton, 2001).

However, the contention relates to whether free blacks’ of the south were really free during the period 1790’s-1850? Clearly, the answer is no. According to Ira Berlin (1981) free blacks in the South even when emancipation became law were not free for a long time after it became law. Conditions, which support this theory, are vividly represented in the Morgan’s family case Priggs v Pennsylvania whereby their master tried to supersede the law by reclaiming them (Horton, 2001).

Besides, free blacks in the south did not have opportunities for advancing themselves socially. Education and job opportunities were remote. Historians claim that free blacks were a degraded portion within the society. Obviously it was a white supremacy society supported by laws ensuring that blacks remain enslaved while classified free. Free blacks could neither vote nor function in politics as free whites. Importantly, they could not seek treatment at hospitals other than those set aside for blacks. Also, they were debarred from entering occupations such as law and medicine as free whites (Berlin, 1981).

References

Berlin, I. (1981). Slaves without Masters: The Free Negro in the Antebellum South. New York: Sage

Horton, J. (2001). Hard Road to Freedom: The Story of African-America. New York: Sage