Historians make history
There is a common perception that history is not truth. Even though it forms the base of our knowledge about the world, History is nonetheless only a version of events. It is shaped by the perspectives and interpretations of the individuals who recorded it. Prominent examples exist that give credence to this fact. For example, in Ed Baptist’s Book “The Half Has Never Been Told”, He argues that the increase in America’s economic output in the 19th century was mainly due to black worker’s innovations in the cotton fields. However, critics have strongly disagreed claiming that economic output was due to masters treating servants well. President Obama made history when he became the first black president of America. In the early days of black independence, such an occurrence was unimaginable. He showed the world that anything is possible if we are determined. A famous quote of his was “yes we can.”
Same as in the history of blacks, there are authors who tried to re-write events to suit their own interests. Some tried to exaggerate the plight of blacks. They did this to gain sympathy. Others, on the other hand, distorted or hid some facts to hide the atrocities inflicted on blacks by their white masters. In this case, they were trying to protect the reputation of the whites. They believed that if they exposed all the ills of slavery, racial hatred would further increase.
Goals of the free blacks
Upon attaining their independence from slavery, Blacks desired to improve their lives and move past their troubles. With nothing in hand, they form strong cohesive bonds as a community. They started working together in order to achieve their goals. However, they found themselves still dependent on the federal government just as they did with their colonial masters. For this reason, they had to work extra hard to achieve their goals.
The freed blacks had a number of goals. These goals were as follows:
Reuniting families- During the war against the Confederacy, many African-American men joined the troops. They left their families for the war, and some died in the process. Also, during this period families lost contact and dispersed. They formed communal networks to aid in searching for lost family members.
The assistance of distressed families- Some families did not have enough food and adequate shelter. Blacks formed organizations and pooled resources to help build shelter and provide food for the homeless.
Citizenship- Blacks together with the Freedmen’s Bureau worked together to fight for African- American rights to register as citizens. Previously they were the property of their masters. The masters would use them as they feel.
Literacy- Literacy was a very important goal for the blacks. They made big efforts to ensure that their community gets access to education. They worked hand in hand with the Freedmen’s Bureau to build schools for blacks. In 1867, they established a landmark historical school. This institution was the Howard University in Washington, D.C. It started as an all-black school named after Oliver Howard, one of the founders.
Ownership of property- Land was a very important resource during that time. Blacks formed organizations to lobby for land redistribution and for blacks to granted rights of land ownership. During the slavery days, they could not own property. They were deemed as the property of their masters.
Fair payment- A major aim for blacks was to ensure that the federal governments establish favorable labor laws. This legislation would ensure that all workers get fair pay.
Voting rights- They pushed for the ability to choose their own leaders. They did this through lobbying and a bit of demonstration.
Voting rights- Ever since blacks were brought to America as slaves, they had never had the right to vote. Blacks made efforts to enable everyone to have the right to vote regardless of race or skin color. They mainly did this through activism.
The dismantling of the reconstruction
After the warm the union required to effectively integrate the South back into the country. They wanted it to be on equal footing, rebuild their shattered landscape and revive the economy. However, there were divisions in the federal government. This rift caused failure to achieve these goals. President Lincoln had proposed a plan that offered a lenient way for states to the south to rejoin the union. After his assassination, the new president initiated his own plan. The plan worked initially, but former Confederates, in the end, found their way into the government. The government dominated by Congress declined to seat the southerners (Du Bois, 2013).
Divisions in the black community
There were a number of divisions in the black community. First of all class differentiation arose. Some blacks were owners of farms; some went into business and others were casual laborers. These groups of people did not earn the same income. The casual laborers were the least paid lot. Other blacks became ministers while others joined politics. There was a level of tension between the social classes.
When blacks, joined politics, different individuals adhered to different ideologies. The end result was the formation of different political factions. Sometimes these factions clashed with one another’s. Generally, most blacks favored the Democratic Party. Therefore, those in the Republican Party became enemies.
The Great Migration
The great migration marked the movement of over 6 million blacks from the rural southern states to the urbanized Northeast, West and Midwest. The following factors led to migration from the North. The fall in price and eventual decline of the industry led them to seek new pastures. Furthermore, blacks faced harsh economic situations. There was inequality in education and Violence on blacks. The unfair legal system also caused more blacks to migrate
The Pull Factors to the North
An explosion of industries created the demand for cheap labor. Better wages in the north meant a better standard of living. There was much better urban housing in the north. The blacks could receive a better education, and the justice system was fairer.
Challenges at the North
The north was still rife with racism. Blacks were segregated into ghettos, and the urban lifestyle created new obstacles. They had to pay bills and many other taxes. They also faced social challenges as they arrived with different mannerisms from those of the northerners (Harrison, 2012).
References
Baptist, E. (2014). The half has never been told: Slavery and the making of American capitalism. Basic books.
Du Bois, W. E. B. (2013). Black Reconstruction in America: Toward a History of the Part Which Black Folk Played in the Attempt to Reconstruct Democracy in America, 1860-1880. Transaction Publishers.
Harrison, A. (Ed.). (2012). Black Exodus: The Great Migration of from the American South. Univ. Press of Mississippi.
