Advantages Of African American Freedom
Freedom is the power to determine action without restraint, and it is the foundation of our lives today.
Every race has the freedom to vote, go to whichever school they choose, take place in office, sit in any
sector of the bus, etc. Around the 1860 s, Northern African Americans had freedom, but unlike today,
their freedom was restricted. In 1850, before the beginning of the civil war, the population census
concluded that fourteen percent of the population was African American. By 1860, 476,000 of them
were free from slavery, but only 221,000 lived in the North. After winning the Revolutionary war the
Northern states gradually began to end slavery and it was officially abolished in 1842. With all factors
in mind, the question of just how free blacks were in the North still lingers in the air. Blacks in the
North were only somewhat free in the years just before the civil war because they endured restrictions
in social, political, and educational areas of society.
To begin with, northern blacks were only somewhat free because they still had to encounter
segregation, discrimination, and prejudice in their social freedom. Although they were free to live,
they had to use restrooms, public areas, schools, etc. that were specifically assigned to their race. An
English Visitor, Charles Mackay, defined his travels by stating, he shall not be free to dine and drink at
our board...to attend us at the bed of sickness and pain to mingle with us in the concert room, the
lecture room, the theatre, or the church, (document B). African Americans were not given the
opportunity to associate with anyone of the white race, nor were they allowed to be in the same
location as them. Since the white race was considered the superior race , and were heavily
discriminant towards the black race, their segregated public facilities were a lot nicer than those of
african americans. Also, prejudice made it harder for black people to attain jobs. In a graduation
speech made by an african american, he proclaimed white boys won t work with me. Shall I be a
merchant? No one will have me in his office (document C). Because of their race, african americans
struggled to get employed. In society, northern blacks had to suffer through
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