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It is essential for Americans to understand what events led to abolishing slavery. However, it is nonetheless important to analyze how society had to adjust in order to accept this fact. During the pre-war period, slavery was being abolished in the Northern states, while in the Southern states, slavery persisted until the end of the Civil War (Franklin & Higginbotham, 2011). Many blacks were purchased and freed by their relatives who have already obtained their freedom (Franklin & Higginbotham, 2011). This essay discusses the life of free blacks during the Antebellum period.
In 19th century America, many institutions were separated by race in addition to class. Free blacks tried to educate and openly express themselves, which led to the creation of many facilities across the country. Many free people of color were actively advocating against slavery, publishing papers, promoting equality, and establishing missing elements of society, specifically for black communities (Franklin & Higginbotham, 2011). The pressing issue with forced separation at the regular public places such as churches, stores, and schools led to the creation of black-only establishments.
Primarily led by urban blacks from higher classes, they promoted ideas of temperance and moderation to fix the public image of the race. At the same time, these institutions promoted black culture with some integration of American traditions, especially religious views. Freedoms Journal and The Colored American were one of the first newspapers oriented on black communities and played a crucial role in highlighting the injustice of the system (Franklin & Higginbotham, 2011). Several social movements were organized by both blacks and white abolitionists to call for the end of slavery, some of them were led by women.
The treatment of free blacks was significantly different in the North and the South. Southern laws against free black people were strict and unjust to the point where they were meant to drive blacks back into slavery at any given opportunity (Franklin & Higginbotham, 2011). Moreover, southerners were losing much of their population to immigration, which has created a job vacuum that blacks had to take, leading to much antagonizing between races. Northern blacks were given freedom earlier than Southern, however, they became scapegoats for many of the problems within the American society of that time and were largely despised (Franklin & Higginbotham, 2011). According to Franklin and Higginbotham (2011), the primary accusation was the fact that the economic autonomy of white artisans declined, and many became wage laborers, while the real reason behind this change was industrialization (p. 165). During the first half of the 19th century, many northerners were against the radical abolishment, which was evident in both press and religious organizations.
Free blacks in the South were much more vulnerable to being brought back into slavery. Franklin and Higginbotham (2011) write that one slip, or any ignorance of the law, could send them back into slavery (p. 167). Moreover, they were required to carry and display their badges to verify their freedom status and were actively pushed back into slavery by re-enslavement statutes (Franklin & Higginbotham, 2011). With the lack of regular privileges of an American citizen, states tried to manipulate people of color into submission.
In conclusion, the life of free blacks in 19th century America was riddled with hindrances that were meant to keep them at the bottom of society. Their participation in politics and the ability to express themselves were severely limited by multiple laws and attitudes of the majority of the white population of America. Slavery was ultimately seen as an obstacle on the way to achieving true liberty for Americans, as this topic was highly divisional (Franklin & Higginbotham, 2011).
Reference
Franklin, J. H., & Higginbotham, E. B. (2011). From slavery to freedom: A history of African Americans (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
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