If the Blind Man Does Not Know His Own Race, Will He, Too, Be Plagued By It?

Slavery population in 1790.

Slavery population in 1860.

In the early 19^th century, Americans were surviving off of their seemingly unstoppable cotton production during the Industrial Revolution. The process of cotton production consisted of the initial picking of the cotton in the south by slaves and selling it to the northerners where it was then made into textiles and sold for a profit. The issue that we focused on in class arose at the very start of the process. Northerners, most of which didn’t come in contact with slaves because their main source of wealth came out of the factories rather than the fields, found the concept of slavery to be unethical and degrading. Nevertheless, they used the cotton that was picked by the slaves. As inventions were made to the textile production which led to cotton becoming more profitable, slaves were put in higher demand. In just 70 years, the slave population grew from 690,000 in 1790 to 3,204,000 in 1860. Despite the North’s disapproval regarding the use of slaves, abolishing it wasn’t a realistic option. So long as the demand for cotton was growing and the country’s economy was becoming more and more dependent on the demand for textiles and cotton, the slaves who picked the cotton remained an essential part of maintaining the country’s economy at the time.

The system of slavery in America was a system based solely on race. We’ve all heard the expression “don’t judge a book by its cover”. We know that if we judge people by what they look like on the outside, we’ll never get to know them for who they are on the inside. Not only were slaves judged by their appearance, they were targeted for it. Anyone of African descent could be taken into slavery. In class we watched a documentary on Abdul Rahman, a prince from Futa Jallon, who was taken into slavery after his army was defeated. Despite Rahman being an air to a throne, he was still sentenced to a life of inferiority to the whites. Whites saw all African people as below them because of their race, when in reality they shouldn’t have been considered differently than the whites were considering themselves. Slaves held an extremely close relationship with their slave owners that drastically limited their freedom. But what, other than race, separated the slave owner from the slave? Every person, no matter what race, skin tone, or ethnic background, shares the same values and yearns for the same respect to be given to them by other people. Everyone wants to be viewed as capable of everything their neighbor is, and everyone deserves the chance to prove this capability. When invited to speak as a newly freed slave at a USA conference for the 4^th of July, Fredrick Douglas said, describing the slaves response to the whites’ celebration of their freedom, “To him, your celebration is a sham… your shout of liberty and equality, hollow mockery.” He saw these white men living with a freedom they did nothing to earn, meanwhile they suppress their slaves, a people who have done nothing but fight for their freedom to no avail. To suppress someone for their race and appearance means they were never given a choice. They were born into that race. They were born with that skin tone. Slavery told an entire race of people that they’re nothing to be celebrated; merely a machine that can get jobs done. No human deserves to be treated that way. 

Maps: http://mappinghistory.uoregon.edu/english/US/US18-00.html 

Quote: Frederick Douglass, “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro,” a speech delivered in Rochester, New York, July 5, 1852.

Estrogen and Testosterone Don't Decide Your Fate

Sphere of Women.
This illustration represents the many responsibilities
of women such as caring for pets, children, education,
all of which goes unacknowledged behind the curtain. 

In the 19^th century, women were treated as belongings more often than people. They were expected to keep a tidy household, which includes responsibilities such as repairing broken things and keeping up their children’s tidy appearance. They were also in charge of educating the children, taking care of household pets, and were to expect no signs of gratitude or any acknowledgement whatsoever in return. They were not allowed to vote or own property. Women who spoke in public were deemed improper. When women saw that slaves, who had previously played the role of society’s suppressed, were fighting to get the rights and respect they deserved, they realized it was time for them to do the same. Women’s Reformers held a convention at Seneca Falls and wrote a document called The Declaration of Rights and Sentiments that specifically stated their resolutions to obtain the rights that had been previously withheld from them. 

Needless to say, the idea of women being independent and treated as such evoked mixed reviews in the public. Some were supportive. A newspaper called The North Star, an abolitionists’ paper, wrote, “Standing as we do upon the watch-tower of human freedom, we cannot be deterred from an expression of our approbation of any movement, however humble, to improve and elevate the character and condition of any members of the human family.” This is saying if people are keeping others from enjoying the rights they deserve, then they themselves shouldn’t be privileged with said rights. No person should view themselves as more important than another person. Women have the right to rise above society’s oppression and no part of society should try to stop them. Other papers weren’t nearly as supportive. A newspaper called Oneida Whig made the point, “If our ladies will insist on voting and legislature, where, gentlemen, will be our dinners and our elbows?” This is saying that if women are recognized in society and given the chance to participate in politics, they won’t have enough time to take care of the household. And because that has been their only responsibility up until this point, why should they be allowed to slack off just so they can go run alongside the men of society? Some, like The North Star, were supportive in the women’s determination to gain rights, and others, like Oneida Whig, were stupid.

In the 21^st century, we recognize that The North Star has a more appropriate response to the women’s demands than the second, but have we completely resolved the issues these women were looking to take care of? Sure, we can vote now. My prayers are with the man who tells his wife it’s improper to open her mouth in public. But women and men still have certain connotations that correspond with society’s ideal image of their existence. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘manly’? It reminds me of strength, independence, and someone who refuses to give someone else the satisfaction of being in control. Is it wrong for a woman to work towards these characteristics too? What do you think of when you hear the word ‘feminine’? It reminds me of sensitivity, surrounding yourself with what makes you feel good, and opening yourself up to those around you. Is it wrong for a man to describe himself with these characteristics? Before we can level the playing field for men and women, we need to accept that the gender of someone doesn't limit them in terms of what kind of a person they are and what they’re capable of.

For another look at the differing perceptions of men vs women in society, check out this Pantene commercial from 2013: