Townhall Recap

What I learned about pro-slavery through Andrew Jackson’s perspective and the townhall.

Andrew Jackson's goals for the country were to help benefit white men. He believed that slavery was crucial to the economy. Free labor, extorting, and torturing enslaved people led to economic growth for the country. Andrew Jackson himself owned a hundred slaves. 

Andrew Jackson believed that people who were abolitionists went against the union. Slavery in the eyes of Andrew Jackson was strictly for financial purposes. The common thread between pro slavery individuals was that slavery was the foundation of the South. This allowed them to make money while using other’s physical abilities. The foundation of the South’s birth from slavery is shown when we look at the history of Southern states. Slavery and the southern states were synonymous, the slave trade created opportunities for states and industries to thrive. 

The town hall was an interesting perspective, it showed how many pro-slavery individuals were in agreeance with slavery due to the financial gains. The most common theme between pro-slavery were those who ignore the damage that slavery caused due to the financial gains. Slave owners like Andrew Jackson and other pro-slavery town hall members always argued the slaves were well cared for. Although slaves were not equal, many argued that they were treated well.  Proslavery individuals argue that the United States is so rich because it benefitted from slave labor. This is true and allowed slave owners a way to build immense wealth. If slavery does not happen then America never generates the economic resources to be become the world’s superpower.

Gone With The Wind Reflection

Gone with the Wind is a movie that portrays negative stereotypes of black female characters. The portrayal of Mammy by Hattie McDaniel and Prissy by Butterfly McQueen was one of new heights for both of these actresses. However their roles in this film can be seen as demeaning. The movie depicts both the roles of Prissy and Mammy to be seen as lesser than the other characters. The character Mammy was seen as a woman who was strong, however it still made me feel demoralized. The lack of effort put into the black female’s character in this time period is not unexpected; this reflects the psyche of the country towards black people. However, it feels disrespectful when these women were portrayed as less than equal when compared to the other characters in the film. The white characters were depicted as possessing high stature and intelligence. 

The lack of the depth in the characters is seen as a downfall, because it showed black women as lesser than equal to those around them. For example, the character of Prissy was a quiet woman who did not have much intelligence, yet her character was important in contrast to Mammy who was strong and assertive. Prissy was depicted in the manner of low intellect. Her lack of intelligence added to the paradigm in the days of slavery;  slaves were unintelligent and were only around to aide in helping white people. However, the movie led to awards for Hattie McDaniel's, the portrayal of these characters re-enforced racist stereotypes in the 40’s for black people. In the words of Butterfly McQueen from a Gone With The Wind Vogue Article, she said “I didn’t mind playing a maid the first time, because I thought that was how you got into the business. Upon playing several similar characters to Prissy I resented it. This was when it became evident that she was contributing to the stereotype. McQueen said, “I don’t mind being funny but I didn’t like being stupid.” This quote re-enforces the stereotype that Prissy’s character was used as a vehicle to portray black women as unintelligent and lower level citizens. 

Sources

Saluting Butterfly McQueen, Who Paved the Way | Vogue

The Long Battle Over ‘Gone With the Wind’ - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Gone with the Wind (1939) (imdb.com)

Bible Team Challenge

Bible Team Challenge

By Kyra Clark and Faith Williams

 The age old question that has affected religion for years, still rings to this day. How did religions feel on the topic of slavery? Some religions argued for slavery, saying the Bible contained little evidence of being against slavery. Others, however, made claims to be against  it. The research conducted was based on how all religions felt about the labor system of slavery, as a whole and how those views have changed over time.  

For slavery by Kyra-The traditional religion of Christianity has felt and viewed slavery as acceptable. The first example of slavery being accepted is found in a novel by J Edgar Godspeed. In his writing he says that from the words of Paul “You who are masters must treat your slaves justly, and fairly, and remember that you have a master, too, in heaven.” The quote from Paul does not explicitly denounce slavery. However it is viewed as acceptable, because he just says to treat enslaved people with respect. 

The religious people of Christianity who are Caucasian were set in their ways making the argument that people who are against slavery known as abolitionists were going against God’s rule. According to the old distraction slur article “abolitionists as opponents of American salvation. It is sobering to realize that the greatest threat to abolition was not the 19th century version of alt-right White supremacists. It was the conversionists, the moderate White Christians.” However in the context stated above about White people being threats to abolition, it’s the opposite of how Black people in the 19th century thought. Black people of the 19th century have used the bible in anti-slavery arguments which stands as stated according to the old distraction slur article "and yet, Black thinkers, among others, have been challenging systemic racism from scripture for centuries.’’ There are several layers of irony, does God condone rape, and brutal treatment of others, does God condone lynching's and hangings, does God condone homicide? Questions that seem to be conveniently ignored when applying the bible to Christianity as a religion.

Against Slavery by Faith- In terms of the traditional religion of Christianity, there is evidence from the Bible itself that shows us that there was also condemnation of slavery occurring during this time. As a matter of fact, as shown in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. The Christian faith, in some ways, did not believe in people being less or being equals, but rather that we all be one under our Lord Jesus Christ. Slavery goes against God’s intent for creation, in some ways, for his people, hence many harsh views against it. 

In Genesis 9:6, we hear “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image”.  While it is argued that this verse establishes the use and idea of capital punishment, this clearly displays the idea of treating others equally and fairly. Slavery was not something viewed as insignificant, but rather in the bible it was a big deal and a major topic of discussion. This becomes even more abundantly clear in Exodus 21:16. “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death”. This, therefore, would condemn the ideas of slavery. 

At the beginning of the slave trade, beliefs were different all over the world. Generally speaking, when you take a look at the bible and its scripture, you can clearly see this for yourself. In Christianity slave holders could not call themselves Christian unless they wanted to be considered as those who sin. It was wrong, immoral and unjust. Over time, the different views on slavery led to an uproar in our nation over the emancipation of slaves. As time went on, people just became more educated, more informed and more passionate about the concept. While between religions, the definition of slavery did vary, it all led to and meant the same thing. It wasn’t until decades later that people found ways to make their own judgments and form opinions on slavery, which eventually led to the argument against slavery and the eventual emancipation of slaves.  

  In closing, the above arguments have showed that the first hypothesis of all religions condoning slavery at one point has checked out, and was true for the religion of Christianity at the time. The religion of Christianity was accepting of slavery, as they believed it was the rule of the Lord. Christianity was not, however, completely accepting and condoning slavery, rather they also found ways to condemn it. Finally, in closing research has shown that the religion of Christianity accepted slavery but also had arguments and views against it. 

Sources

The old "distraction" slur: The logic of slaveholding religion lives on. - Document - Gale Power Search

Paul and Slavery on JSTOR

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/01/a-harvard-exhibit-on-slavery-and-christianity/

https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/slavery/experience/religion/history.html

Angelina Grimke Abolitionist Post

 Hi everyone, I am Angelina Grimke and I am here on behalf of all abolitionists, to speak out on the issue of slavery. I was born to a judge and a slaveholder on February 20, 1805 in Charleston, SC. My family was well established and we had significant influence. I was one of fourteen children. My dad John Faucheraud was a judge for thirty plus years. While my mother Mary Smith was a slaveholder, my passion to end slavery came from my parents who were slave owners. I witnessed many people being treated unjustly and inhumanely. I had a difficult time understanding how people could treat others with such a high level of hatred. My sister’s actions to educate enslaved people on my parent’s plantation gave me the passion to fight against slavery. I strived to end the injustice that I saw suffered by those around me. I was determined to make a change for the better. The moment that I knew I was going to make a change was when I went with my sister to give an address at the American Anti-Slavery Society. The address was given to bring light on thoughts and anger towards slaveholders and to speak out against the injustice. The speech I gave was known as the Appeal to Christian Women of the South. The purpose of this speech was to let women of the South know we can make a difference, while also recognizing the immoral actions of slavery and fighting against it. During my time as an abolitionist I wrote many books that spoke out against slavery. The utmost important book I wrote was the Anti-Slavery Appeal to Christian Women of the South in 1836. This book became one of the most important writings for Southern white women. In 1838 I married another abolitionist named Theodore Dwight Weld. Together we collaborated on a book to fight against slavery. I assisted my husband at the school he founded in Belleville, NJ from 1848-1862. Where I then moved to Massachusetts in 1863 to fight for women's rights after the Civil War. I illegally voted in 1870 as part of a protest. The protest I voted in was held in Hyde Park. The action taken in Hyde Park would lead to the founding of the Massachusetts Women's Suffrage Association. The group of my fellow activists went to vote, however our votes were not counted, but even so it got us one small step closer to fighting for women's rights. The fight for women's rights continued for many years until the 19th amendment was passed in 1919. Sadly, I was never around to see the 19th amendment ratified, but the work I had done years prior was a stepping stone for the years to come. The time spent fighting against injustices with my sister came to an end, after she passed away in 1873. My health began to take a turn for the worst, I had numerous strokes, which left me paralyzed. I was laid to rest in 1875. 

Sources

Angelina Grimké Weld - NATIONAL ABOLITION HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

Angelina Grimké Weld | National Women's History Museum (womenshistory.org)

Grimké sisters | American abolitionists | Britannica

Biography of Angelina Grimké, American Abolitionist (thoughtco.com)

1870 Women’s March and Vote (hydeparkhistoricalsociety.org)