The African-American slavery history can be traced through different visual and literary artworks made by different artists of the 19th and early 20th century.
As a form of revolt, African-Americans who were victims of prejudice, discrimination, and slavery showcased their talents and created different masterpieces of art that depicted their loud cry for liberty which contributed greatly to the movement towards their freedom. White abolitionists wrote speeches to refute the belief that Black Americans could not learn basic literary and make decisions on their own. African-American abolitionists also started to write and spoke about the freedom and emancipation of slaves. Perhaps, Samuel Cornish was one of the most famous journalists during those times when he started the first Negro newspaper in 1927 and called it “Freedom’s Journal.”
There was also Frederick Douglass, a fugitive slave who made a speech during an anti-slavery convention in Masachusetts which introduced the Abolitionist movement to many during that era. Compared to accounts made by White Abolitionists, it can be said that Frederick Douglass’ oratory is more effective and was able to move a lot of people. When a story is shared by a person who experienced prejudice first-hand, it has the power to influence and touch the heart of millions of people. Sharing an awful experience that one has personally gone through to an audience is seen as brave act. The story teller becomes a source of inspiration and is admired because of his courage to share. Also seeing and hearing accounts experienced by a real victim of prejudice makes people realize that, indeed, such cases of discrimination happened and will continue to happen if they do not put a stop to it. While the speeches made by White Abolitionists can also be moving, nothing will be more effective than a story told by one of the oppressed. After his speech, Frederick Douglass soon became one of the most well-known orators in America.
Also, during this era, cameo, illustrations, and paintings made by artists like William Blake, William Hackwood, and John Singleton Copley also became very important representations of the Abolitionist Movement. Compared to literary representations, their works became more compelling and convinced many about all of the prejudice that Black American slaves were suffering from. Many people are visual in nature. It is far easier to grasp a concept when you see it represented through pictures, drawings, paintings, and other graphic form of art. Literary compositions, however, were also effective, but required finishing volumes of pages. Through visual arts, artists such as Blake were able to expose and easily communicate to the masses what was currently happening in the slave trade.
Eventually, the Movement succeeded. However, until now, we can still see remnants of the past mistakes through certain people who continuously commit acts of racism.
References:
Medina, J., Carrera, J., Quiroz, V. (n.d.) African-American History Through the Arts: Abolitionist Art. Retrieved from: http://cghs.dadeschools.net/african-american/precivil/abolition.htm
(2007). The Fundamental Differences Between the Black Abolitionists and the White Abolitionists Movements. Retrieved from: http://www.studymode.com/essays/Fundamental-Diffferences-Between-Black-Abolitionists-White-124378.html
Wellendorf, C. (2012). Their America: the Slave and the Abolitionist. Retrieved from: http://www.studymode.com/essays/Their-America-The-Slave-And-The-917645.html
