Black, White, and Supremacy

After the emancipation of black people from involuntary servitude, American states concentrated in the South have implemented several laws segregation against black people, taking advantage of a loophole in the Constitution defining "equality". The motive is obvious: to assert white dominance and even revert back to a rigid social hierarchy between the races that was prominent in the South before and during the Civil War. The idea that all white Americans had adopted the same mindset about black people is not appropriate, however, in its diverse society. Obviously, there were white people who sympathized with the blacks. In fact, most racial activists were white people. What is not so obvious, however, is how they reached the conclusion that black people should be somewhat equal to white people. To us, it is common sense. To Americans back then, it was a radical philosophy.

One of the oldest and most prominent factors of racial equality was religion. Nat Turner, for instance, argued that God supports the emancipation of the blacks in his confession to his attorney in 1831. Frederick Douglass, a prominent and extremely influential abolitionist, was inspired by the Second Great Awakening in many of his arguments against slavery. In fact, the Second Great Awakening brought the question of slavery to America's center stage, and, as Angelina Grimke writes, raised awareness about America's flawed definition of human rights. Human rights, being a core principle of democracy, appealed to the American public, especially Northerners. Throughout its history, America has taken its pride from the democracy and the freedom their people enjoy. These traits were what differentiated Americans from the rest of the world. Many believed that America was the land of the free, of opportunities, and that its prosperity was derived from its democratic principles. To question human rights is to question the democracy which granted America its wealth, power, and freedom. Therefore, many believed that the question of slavery should be properly addressed in order to uphold America's democracy.