Blog four: cluster reflection

I would have to say that the most common theme I have been privy to throughout the courses in the cluster is that of law and human rights.  The coursework for the cluster has required me to implement my knowledge of rights being affirmed and/or denied in instances such as when I have to use critical thinking to break down and decipher text or a passage, specifically in my essays.  The different disciplines approach the same or similar subjects and materials in different ways.  I feel as though political science has informed me of the civil rights and liberties I am allotted as a human being, linguistics has showed me exactly how I am able to communicate these rights, and English/American studies has taught me how to include them in my critical thinking strategies.  The social elements of the cluster have made it a much more interesting environment to learn in.  The diversity of the thoughts, views, and opinions of my classmates has made my interpretation of things much more open and allowed me not to be secluded to only one way of thinking; to really be able to take a neutral standpoint at times.  The integrated activity in LIB 110 has made it easier and more direct to see the connection between all of the courses.  I would like to be able to use all that I learn as a result of this cluster in future courses, which I have no doubts I will be able to do.  I believe that each skill I have learned and continue to exercise has the potential to assist me in many areas of learning and self expression down the line.

Main idea Tweets

In the book, A Red Record, by Ida B. Wells, she discusses many ideas of lynching in the South. She discusses race riots, constitutional equality, and anarchy. One of the thought justifications for lynching were said to be repressing African Americans to stamp out the possibility of race riots. Constitutional equality was questioned on both sides of the racial war. This document was designed to ensure no one is discriminated against, in this case, based on race. Though, lynchings were still being performed and the reasoning was said to be because of other things not regarding race. This absence of government, lawlessness, and disorganization in society can best be described as an anarchy; more importantly, a society that contradicts such an esteemed document.

Blog three: lynch law in all its phases

racial precedence - the condition of being considered more important than someone or something else solely based on ones race.

being trumped, favored, or having an unfair advantage.
ex. a white woman claiming rape compared to a black man claiming innocence.

In this blog, I will be discussing how racial precedence remained a prominent theme in post-Civil War times even after slaves were declared free and equal.  In the text Southern Horrors and Other Writings: The Anti-Lynching Campaign of Ida B. Wells, 1892-1900..."A white woman's word was taken as absolutely in this case as when the cry of rape is made, and he was freed" (Royster 56).  In this instance, a white woman's racial precedence had a positive outcome.  Even without an outcry from the woman herself, this man was jailed and would've been lynched.  However, when she spoke up, this man was released.  As many of the white woman had racial precedence in society when it came to things of this nature, many were too apprehensive to speak up.  The white male had power and control over the white woman who could've easily been considered as a pawn.  This apprehension of the white woman, who clearly had a voice, could've been a direct result of fear of the white male.  When observed from not only the African American community's fear of the white male, but the white woman's fear, as well, this example of feeling oppressed could be directly related to the perception of a white male dominated society.  This may also lead us into the speculation that this may have ultimately played a part in driving the white woman into the arms of the black man when referring to the topic of interracial relations.

Freewrite

Human Rights are the understanding, as humans, of what our natural born rights actually are.  Language assists in the defining of human rights.  The language of human rights relay laws that were specifically established to insure rights to us as human beings. Though, sometimes these laws contradict each other (e.g. the right to privacy and the right to protection; in specific situations, ones privacy is invaded to protect them). Language is a necessary tool in communicating what ones rights as an individual actually are.

Blog assignment two: explaining contradiction

The text, When I Was a Slave: Memoirs from the Slave Narrative Collection, edited by Norman R. Yetman, exposes the reader to the various confrontations and hardships a slave may have had to endure through a first person narrative.  Throughout each interview, many different perspectives are conveyed to show how, though frequently similar, no two enslaved persons experiences were the same.  This text discusses multiple instances when slaves were pronounced free, took advantage of their freedom, and left the plantations.  It also discusses the slaves who decided to continue working/residing on the plantations even after realizing their freedom.  The inconsistency of these actions are more commonly referred to as a contradiction.  

When interviewed, Boston Blackwell, a former slave, speaks of the year that Abraham Lincoln declared all slaves free.  He reveals the thought process behind his decision to escape later that year, as his master had accused him of stealing, and as punishment, threatened to whip him to death.  With this knowledge, Blackwell decided to runaway to the Yankee camp to insure his survival.  When speaking of his arrival, Blackwell says, “When we gets to the Yankee camp all our troubles was over...They was hundreds of runaways there” (Yetman 12).  This quote blatantly demonstrates how relieved many were to leave the plantations and begin their new lives.  However, many who receded from an enslaved existence were not adequately equipped to be exposed to the outskirts of the world of which they had come to know.  A majority of slaves had little to no reading or writing skills, and were not educated to the extent that society considered acceptable.  Though, this knowledge could possibly be categorized as semantics when compared to the freedom that these individuals were now able to enjoy.  Many were just joyous to be free of the restraints they had lived under for so many years.  

Frank Bell also served as a slave during the time of the Civil War.  He is one of those who stayed with his master after recognizing his freedom.  In his interview, Bell discusses his masters wishes for Bell to stay and to work for him as he is “of value in his trade.”  Quoting his master, Bell says, “He say, “Nigger, you’s supposed to be free but I’ll pay you a dollar a week and if you runs off I’ll kill you”” (Yetman 10).  This is an example of an extreme measure taken by a master to remain custodial of a slave, but nevertheless, it was often a common reaction.  Many slaves were threatened in one way or another concerning their newly found freedom.  Regardless of the cause, an overwhelming majority of slaves were not free when they were pronounced “free.” 

As shown primarily by comparing Blackwell’s and Bell’s experiences, each slave faced different encounters when presented with “freedom.”  However, the commonality that both examples share is that both men were still limited to the things that they were able to do.  Blackwell was restricted by his lack of knowledge, all the while Bell was still confined to a life not much different than that prior to the conclusion of the Civil War.  When the Declaration of Independence stated, “all men are created equal,” it failed to address the absence of recognition that this truth had gotten up until this point, meaning much of the damage had already been done.  Though, all men were supposedly considered equal at this point, since they were not treated in such a way until this document surfaced, most were ill equipped with many of the characteristics that all “men” should posses.  This is a contradiction within itself.