One could immediately say that this is because of her position at the time. Behn, being a woman, faced many prejudices from male writers and critics, although she was praised by some. Yet the anthology introduction states that she openly signed her name and talked back to critics. If this is true why would she be afraid to take a more open stance towards the question of slavery. Why does the antislavery perspective have to come from a slave, someone who is obviously going to be antislavery and not that of someone with a higher rank in society whose feelings toward the issue would be more considered.
The debate surrounding the essay is in judging Twain’s depiction of the “negro” Jim and its relation to past and present racial discourse. Smith is writing at a time where most respectable circles condemn the practice of slavery, yet many still blindly accuse Twain of being a racist out of a lack of understanding of the novel. These “respectable” circles and the schoolteachers, literary professors, modern critics, and libraries they influence are the target of Smith’s words. They are the educated, the part of society that is most likely to come across Huckleberry Finn, and Smith argues that their blind outrage
It’s not just that she was a women that impressed me but her outward denial to conform to a world that oppressed her and women all across Europe based on sex. Not many people have the courage to stand up for their beliefs but she did so, knowing that support for her cause was scarce to none. She defended a women’s place in society, as well as flourishing in the literary realm and exercising her ability to converse, challenge, and reason in the art of rhetoric. Through these reasons and preservations, Christine De Pizan merits more than a three quarter page in a history of rhetoric
Lee wrote was a letter to his wife about slavery in 1856. In this letter Lee talks about how “The blacks are immeasurable better off here than in Africa, morally, socially and physically.” By saying this Lee shows his willingness to accept the African American society into the southern white society. Lee isn’t necessary an anti-slavery activist but he isn’t a pro-slavery supporter either. Robert E. Lee once stated that he saw slavery as necessary but not proper. Lee concluded that slavery would help both white and black races grow equally.
All are white. The one man of honor in this phantasmagoria is 'Nigger Jim' as Twain called him to emphasize the irony of a society in which the only true gentleman was held beneath contempt.”-Russell Baker of the New York Times, 1982. This quote emphasizes the greatness of this book as an anti-racist and anti-slavery book. Anyone that thinks that Huck Finn or Twain are racist needs only to read this quote and their beliefs will immediately change because they will realize the context in which Twain was writing, and the point he was trying to emphasize; slavery and racism are horrible. They will only be able to do this if they think for themselves and challenge themselves to be open to new ideas.
The Columbian Orator, a collection of political essays, poems, and dialogues, was widely used in American in the first quarter of the nineteenth century to teach reading and speaking. Of all the pieces in The Columbian Orator, Douglass focuses on the master‑slave dialogue and the speech on behalf of Catholic emancipation. “They gave tongue to interesting thoughts of my own soul, which had frequently flashed through my mind, and died away for want of utterance. The moral which I gained from the dialogue was the power of truth over the conscience over a slaveholder” (50). These pieces help Douglass to understand why slavery is wrong, both philosophically and politically.
The cruelty and brutality of slave life is common knowledge of most Americans, even in the 1850’s. However, Fitzhugh didn’t get that memo. His article is almost comedic in how inaccurately it depicts slavery. For example his first line of the article is, “The negro slaves of the South are the happiest, and in some sense, the freest people in the world.” As racist, and inaccurate as it is, the paper provides a creepy insight to the way that the people of the South, justified slavery. Fitzhugh’s view on slavery is quite opposite that of Olmsted.
Women, were so unhappy without having rights and it made them feel less loved and wanted. With this theory being applied to this issue of Women’s Rights, they come out on top of the situation. It took 130 years or so for women to evolve in society. “Utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory that places the locus of right and wrong solely on the outcomes (consequences) of choosing one action/policy over other actions/policies. As such, it moves beyond the scope of one's own interests and takes into account the interests of others.” (Cavalier, 2002) With the Women’s Rights Movement, there were a lot of pros and cons that can about, mostly positives.
For example, in the online article “Eleanor Roosevelt and Civil Rights” it notes that back in the 1930’s racism was a controversial issue. Many were still felt that blacks and white should be separated. Eleanor became a key advocate for assimilation of races. Though, she wasn’t against segregation until she came to the White House. After Eleanor became aware of the inequities for African Americans with regard to their rights, she gave it the much deserved attention it required.
In the series of Slave Narratives described by Bruce Fort and Randall Hall, some slaves support the idea that freedom was the solution to all their problems and that being a slave was the worst experience that life could possibly create. Charity Anderson, for instance, recalls “seeing slaves torn up by dogs and whipped unmercifully”. This demonstrates that for many, the Emancipation Proclamation provided them with opportunities to make up their lives and have a fortunate future. Maria Jackson also described her story for the slave narratives, and said that she was separated from her family by slavery and had the chance to reunite with them again after the Emancipation Proclamation. Emma Crockett also benefited from being free, because she recalls that “after emancipation, she learned to read a bit of printing...” Also, a slave from North Carolina called Tempe Herndon Durham stated that he rented his master’s plantation until his family saved enough money to buy their own farm.