The Issues of Racial Discrimination Regarding the Civil War, Reconstruction and Post Reconstruction Rhetoric (1861- 1915)

by Bianca Loyd

During the period of Civil War, Reconstruction and Post Reconstruction Rhetoric (1861-
1915), African Americans were beginning to get a little more specific about the issues of their
suppression in an all-white society. They began to feel how their status of being inferior was
tending to affect them psychologically with serious, yet deep emotions. Blacks were starting to
feel inhuman. They felt as if the white society were not only denying them their rights as
citizens, but also their rights as human beings. The themes of inequality and injustice seem to be present in this period as they were in the Revolutionary and Antebellum Rhetoric period (1768-1861). However, the theme of inhumanity instead of religion seems to present in this period. African Americans seemed to still include religion throughout their speeches, but there was obviously a more visible, yet luminous light that shined upon the theme of inhumanity in this period. The themes that were a part of this period in African American rhetoric were inhumanity,inequality, and injustice.

First of all, the theme of inhumanity was expressed by the entire African American society
through a more emotional and personal perspective. Black people felt as if white people did not
acknowledge them as human beings under any circumstances. African American rhetoric
recognizes the fact that black people were treated as people lacking integrity and intelligence.
They were not given nor were they allowed to better themselves as people. One African
American speaker who emphasized the theme of inhumanity was Alexander Crummell in his
speech, “The Democratic Idea is Humanity” (1888). He speaks about the amalgamation between
the black race and the white race. Crummell seems to be baffled as to why whites who are
related to blacks through the intermingling of blood lines could have the audacity to place the
white race on a pedestal and place the black race into the ground. Crummell labels this type of
situation as inhumanity. However, he wants both races to abide in humanity. Crummell feels as if
the amalgamation factor has been ignored by the white society for years. He speaks about how at
some point the white race decided that there race would be the ultimate superior race and that the black race would always be considered as inferior. He indicates in his speech that white people were classified as superior and black people as inferior due to their capabilities. For instance, black people were always being degraded and insulted by the white race because of the fact that they lacked the intelligence of being capable to read, write, and learn. They were also constantly being blasphemed by the white race for lacking the integrity of being capable to better themselves. This however, classified them as inferior. Crummell believed that blacks were just as capable in fulfilling the same dreams, goals, and opportunities as the white race due to the fact that they obtained the exact same natural abilities by blood. In addition, he feels that this stereotype of the black race is due to the fact that the intelligence and integrity of blacks was devalued during slavery. Crummell wants the race problem to be eliminated. He believes that in order for humanity to be achieved that both the black and white race must come together through brotherhood and sisterhood as one nation. Crummell believed that humanity was something that both races should strongly consider. However, Crummell implies to ask the question, “how can humanity be achieved if the white race continues to take so much pride in being superior and the black race continues to take on low self-esteem by being inferior?” He answers this question by basically stating that democracy must be fulfilled first in order for humanity to be achieved. “The democratic spirit I am speaking of is that which upholds the doctrine of human rights; which demands honor to all men; which recognizes manhood in all conditions; which uses the State as the means and agency for the unlimited progress of humanity” (Crummell 156). He knew that it was going to take a while before democracy was fulfilled and humanity achieved without all of the hatred between both races and the constant denial of human rights for blacks. Crummell believed that if both races did not come together and achieve humanity as a nation that America itself and all that is stands for will dwindle, diminish, and die. Therefore, the people would have failed as a nation.

Second of all, inequality was still a theme that was present throughout African American
rhetoric. Black people were still faced with the discrimination of racial inequality. Blacks wanted to permanently demolish racial inequality. One person who further explained the problem of racial inequality was Booker T. Washington. In his speech, “Booker T. Washington and the
Politics of Accommodation”, he speaks about the certain issues regarding racial segregation. One
of his famous quotes that he used in racial segregation was “Cast down your bucket where
you are”─cast it down in making friends, in every manly way, of the people of all races by
whom we are surrounded (Washington 175). He wanted to break down the racial barriers
between the black and white races. He argues that inequality is an unnecessary matter that needs
to be settled by both races on both ends. For example, he argues that whites refuse to be affiliated with the black society under any conditions and that blacks are not good enough to attend the same schools and colleges as whites, work in the same buildings as whites, or even live in the same neighborhoods as whites because they are considered to be inferior. However, Booker T. Washington tends to correspond to this argument by stating the fact that during slavery blacks were good enough to be affiliated with whites by being their maids, cooks, and servants in which
they catered to and nurtured the white community. Washington tends to see absolutely no
difference in the manner. On the other hand, he also argues that white people are good enough to
invade the Negro community, but blacks are not good enough to be allowed in their
communities. For example, he states that white people are allowed to bring their white
businesses into the black community in order to make a profit off black people. Washington
seems to imply the fact that black people may have been classified as not being good enough by
whites, but however, their money was good enough to support white businesses. Another example that Booker T. Washington mentions about the segregation issue was regarding black
people living in white neighborhoods. He believed that there could be a positive side to
desegregation. He believed that by black people living in white neighborhoods that they could
adapt culturalistic ways from the white society, such as manners and behavior to better
themselves as people. For example, they would learn how to be able to take care of their
families, learn how to be decent, and act in such a way that they portray intelligence and not
ignorance. Whites would feel less intimidated by them and would change their racial
perspectives about black people. Washington felt as if this could be one way that racial
inequality and racial segregation could be overlooked. Consequently, Washington believes that
by continuing to place black people in segregated neighborhoods that they will never learn how
to be a more cultured set of people. However, they will be influenced by others around them to
become rebels and will continue to have the same dire hatred and animosity toward whites that
will keep growing. They would always live up to the rebellistic and unintelligent stereotype that the white society has placed upon them for years. Equality would not be established and peace would not be gained. Washington knows that racial segregation will do nothing, but cause more turmoil and will continue to support racial inequality. Booker T. Washington feels that at this rate blacks will never be able to get along with whites and vice versa. He believes that if both races came to witness the unnecessary racial disparities between each other with their own eyes instead of going by hearsay that they will learn to change their attitudes toward one another. He feels that racial inequality is an issue at hand that can easily be resolved. Washington wants both races to come to the realization that they are not accomplishing anything through racial inequality and that both races must come together in agreement to work together and learn to get along with each other for their means of life in order to grow and prosper as a nation.

Third, injustice is still another issue that is present in African American rhetoric. Black people were still being denied their rights as citizens. One right that was strongly denied toward blacks was the right to vote. One speaker who strongly supported the right to vote was Frederick Douglass. In his speech, “What the Black Man Wants” (1865), he believes that blacks being denied the right to vote is definitely a strong stance of injustice. Douglass feels as if denying blacks the right to vote is like depriving them of their rights as citizens according to the U.S Constitution and the Proclamation of 1863. This type of behavior tends to portray both of these extremely important documents of citizenship as unrealistic and based upon lies and deceit. He feels as if blacks deserve to elect to office in government who they feel will better serve them as
people. However, during this time period, blacks primarily considered themselves to be
democrats. For years, white people have voted and usually most of the time republicans won the
candidacy elections. Black people wanted to have a say so in voting by at least being able to
elect a democrat who would hold office in government. Someone who could relate to their racial
issues in society instead of just allowing another republican to win yet another candidacy
election who would place blacks back into slavery and would just continue to give the whites
what they wanted. Blacks wanted the knowledge of their opinions regarding politics to be
acknowledged. Douglass felt as if blacks had obtained the proper knowledge to be able to vote.
He uses one example in his speech by stating that if black people obtained the knowledge to be
able to learn how to fight in a war for American freedom, then they have the knowledge to vote.
“If he knows enough to shoulder a musket and fight for the flag, fight for the government, he
knows enough to vote” (Douglass 126). Douglass argued that black people may have been freed
from slavery, but they still maintained the status of a slave in a white society. Douglass feels that black people should be able to go through life without the assaults of racial discrimination,especially when they are doing absolutely nothing wrong, but abiding and existing in America as any other U.S. citizen. Another person who was against racial injustice was Henry McNeal Turner. In his speech, “Henry McNeal Turner, Black Christian Nationalist”, he spoke about the injustice of manhood. He spoke about how black men were constantly being denied their rights
as freed citizens. He felt as though black men were being robbed of their manhood through their
unclaimed rights as citizens. He believed that black men were classified as cowards and had no
voice because they were inferior to white men due to the color of their skin. Turner argues that
black men are not offered the same opportunities as white men. For example, Turner states black
men were not able to obtain the right education, the right jobs in order to be able to support their wives and children, nor are they able to protect their families because they are not protected themselves as far as being intimidated with fear towards the white man. Turner also argues that black men should not agree to fight and die in senseless wars for a country that deprives them of their citizenship and manhood. Turner feels that the black man is an oppressed person of racial injustice and is a victim of having their dignity stripped from them. However, Turner wants black men to portray maturity and to not allow the white man to cripple their mentality. “Pay your taxes, however, obey all orders from your employers, take good counsel from friends, work faithfully, earn an honest living, and show, by your conduct, that you can be good citizens….”(Turner 131). Henry McNeal Turner feels that black men should continue to prove that they are worthy of their rights of citizenship and justice and can uplift themselves through their labor and conduct.
In conclusion, I feel as if this period was not only reflecting on humanity, but also upon
blacks wanting to unite with whites as one. Blacks were willing to find peace within the white
society if the whites would only acknowledge them as people of U.S. citizenship instead of
inferior people who were once slaves. Black people wanted to find clarity and closure in their
fight to abolish racism. I feel as though blacks realized that the only way for America to be a
prosperous country was that both races and even all races had to work together without the
chaos. African Americans not only wanted to achieve humanity for themselves, but also wanted
it to grow and be significantly relevant throughout society.