Slavery: African-Americans Stereotypes

Name Course Instructor Date Slavery Introduction In the 19th century, there were increased calls for the end of slavery in America, but there was also growing opposition to abolition. There were prominent African-Americans and white Abolitionists who supported the end of slavery, and through literature and public speaking, they drew attention to the suffering of African-Americans living in slavery including using religious teaching to show that oppression was unjustifiable. While there are those who saw slavery as simply backward, most abolitionists supported granting similar rights and privileges to African-Americans. Stereotypes about African- Americans, conditions under slavery, the case for abolishing slavery and arguments to end racial prejudice are explored. African-Americans stereotypes African Americans were seen as inferior and were denied many of the fundamental rights that were granted to whites. Even though, the slaves were at times classified as property, Abolitionists identified strong arguments to support the end of slavery practice. ’’For the crime of having a dark complexion, they suffer the pangs of hunger, the infliction of stripes, the ignominy of brutal servitude” (Garrison). Even when African-American abolitionists wrote literature in support of abolition, there was skepticism on whether they could produce eloquent literature. One of the arguments for continuing the practice of slavery is that whites were the superior race, and it was justifiable to keep slaves who served their masters to support them and offer services in their households and farms.Abolishing slavery In Frederick Douglass's classic speech, he highlighted how African-Americans did not enjoy freedom and independence on fourth July like white as they were still slaves. “The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me”. David Walker’s ideas were more radical as he called for a revolt against the white masters and even highlighted that Negroes were not created as slaves and they needed to be more proactive to end the practice despite being considered inferior. “Has Mr. Jefferson declared to the world, that we are inferior to the whites, both in the endowments of our bodies and of minds? It is indeed surprising, that a man of such great learning, combined with such excellent natural parts, should speak so of a set of men in chains. I do not know”. Conditions under which the slaves worked and lived Amo...