Paternalism is defined as a relationship between authority figures and their sub ordinates that are dependent on them for their basic needs in the context of their relationship between white employers and their Negro slaves. This relationship signified that the slaves were the responsibility of their owners. The employers were not just responsible to ensure that the basic requirements of their employees were made. Their responsibility includes that the welfare and well being of their sub ordinates were also taken care of and any advice or suggestions that they gave were for the best interest of the slaves .
Before slavery was abolished across the United States, the entire black community was forced to work on plantations in the south. Their social lives were restricted because of the implementations of the jym crow laws. These laws focused on creating a distinct separation between the white class and the Negros in terms of what was allowed and disallowed for the slaves. For instance in southern states, such as Texas and Alabama, the black slaves were not permitted to eat at certain restaurants or visit certain markets to purchase items of their needs .
The principle of paternalism became popular with the plantation owners during the late 1880s. At this time the employers recognized the importance of the labor and skill providers by their slaves. In return for their efforts and loyalty, the slave owners began viewing their relationship as that between a parent and a child. On the surface, this appeared to be a positive development in terms of improving the quality of life for the Negros. However, there were several disadvantages of this paternalistic relationship between the employers and the slaves. While the spirit of the principle is that the needy and oppressed employees receive care, guidance and support from their employers, the manner in which it was implemented in the south completely defeated its purpose . This is because once the employer begins to look at his relationship with his employees as that of a personal and emotional nature; they also expect unquestioning and continued loyalty in all situations and circumstances. The expectation was that the slaves would continue to perform their duties without asking any questions, requesting compensation, or demanding more freedom in their actions.
The paternalistic nature of a relationship between the white employers and their slaves is also an important theme in the well known book The Maid Narratives. The author, Katherine Van Wormer, highlights several incidents in which the slave owner treated their employees very harshly without even realizing that their bias and prejudice had clearly become visible. A case in point was that of Vinella Byrd. She was a black maid with a family in Arkansas . While compensated fairly, her employer did not allow her to wash her hands using the same wash pan as the rest of the family. Another example cited in the book that shows the negative consequences of paternalism was that of Flora Templeton Stewart, who was a white woman, and had spent her life in the southern state of New Orleans . With this story, the author presents the perspective of the white employer in how they maintained their working relationship with their slaves. While Flora, on several separate occasions mentions her closeness and reliance on her black maid, she also shares that she had very little knowledge about the personal life and family of her maid.
This realization, that paternalism when not implemented in its true spirit, became more widespread as more and more employers began realizing the negative repercussions of their actions. The civil liberties and the freedom thought and speech was completely taken away from the slaves, and these actions were justified by claiming that it was for their own betterment. The view of the situation from yet another white woman is also mentioned in the book. Elise Talmage is a white woman who recalled her past in which she was involved in oppressing her slaves as well as being a silent witness to discrimination towards the black slaves . To illustrate the seriousness of the issue, Elise wrote a poem which she titled The Dark Past. What the author wanted to convey by including the stories of white women was that even while they were aware that their actions were causing racial discrimination, they continued acting in behaviors that were expected of them simply to follow the social norms of the time.
Works Cited
Pilgrim, Dr. David. "Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia." 14 September 2000. Ferris State University. 4 August 2016 <http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm.>.
Wormer, Katherine Van. The Maid Narratives: Black Domestics and White Families in the Jim Crow South (Southern Literary Studies). Baton Rogue: Louisiana State University Press, 2012.
