What is Free?

Authors Note: This is a research paper for Social Studies. I would like for it to be graded on the writing rubric.

“Why should I strive and acquire all the constituents of a man if the privileging of the land admit me not as such, or but in an inferior degree! Pardon me if I feel insignificant and weak….”  These words are spoken from an African American student who lived in New York City in 1819. His bitter words help us understand that blacks in the North were not as free as they should have been. Blacks in the north were legally free but not treated as equals.

First, they had more freedom then the blacks in South.  One example is they didn’t have to serve the whites. They were not sold in to slavery like the blacks who lived in the South. Although the blacks in the North were not treated like farm animals, they had all the rights of a stray dog. They were not allowed to eat at the same table with the whites; also the whites would not associate with them. Though they were not showered with hatred, they were not bathed with respect.

However, blacks in the North were not able to be a part of a community unless they belonged to a church. There they were able to print a newspaper and have Sunday school. They had clubs and got to be a part of something more important than their race. The question is; if the blacks were free then why were the churches segregated? Shouldn’t the blacks and whites be able to praise God in the same building? Also what happens to the black people who do not go to church or do not have the same religion? Well they are turned away; they have no rights in the community. They just have to sit back and let everyone do everything for them which doesn’t help them want to succeed or strive to be in power of who they are or who they could be.

Even as “free” blacks they did not have the same rights of any other man. They were not allowed to vote or be part of a jury. There was only one state out of the “free states” that allowed black men to vote. That state was Massachusetts. This is more proof that the blacks were not equal. They were not allowed to take the equivalent amount of actions as the white men. They were declined the ability to have any power or say in our country.

Lastly the education of young children was unfair. The schools in the North were segregated. It’s like sorting laundry keeping the whites with the whites and the blacks with the blacks. That does not sound free. When you separate kids at a young age you are not really teaching them any good morals. You are teaching the white kids that they have all the power and they can be as rude as they want to the blacks. This makes the blacks feel worthless.

“Why should I strive…” This question should have never been asked. If the blacks were free, they would never feel this way. They should have been treated the same; equal. Then they would be free.