The theoretical reading I chose for this project is the Ira Berlin reading, Time, Space, and the Evolution of Afro-American Society on British Mainland North America. This is about the life of African-Americans settling in the US and what is it like living in the slavery period, especially comparing slaves between the North and South. Then, a section from the textbook, Let Nobody Turn Us Around by Manning Marable and Leith Mullings I chose is from Section 2, Chapter 16 called “A Plea for Emigration, or, Notes of Canada West,” Mary Ann Shadd Cary, 1852. I chose those two because they relate to the topic of changing the society and emigrating to a new land and settling there. Ira Berlin’s reading talk about the beginning of the slavery period and also a perspective of African-Americans who lived through the difficulties of slaves as well as how did the increase of African-Americans change the American society and the population. It also mentions the difference between the Northern part of the US and the Southern part of the US. In the North, there are slaves working in factories since it’s mostly urban while in the South, there are slaves working in plantations, experiencing abuse and mistreatment from masters, watchers. Northern slaves are considered to gain more benefits than those in the plantains because they are free. In addition, the textbook mentions about the life of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, an African-American who was born in Deleware, a free state. She also fled to Canada to teach former slaves and free slaves about slavery. In her story, she mentions Canada, where the population of African-Americans increasing overtime. 

For the selected artifact, I selected historical figure and the person I selected is Frederick Douglass because he relates to the anthology and theoretical readings that I chose. For example, he changed the society of African-Americans by denouncing slavery and racial discrimation. He also escaped slavery and settled in Boston, which is a free state up in the North. He works as an anti-slavery activist in Boston. Then, he went to Ireland and lectured students about slavery and why we need to abolish slavery. This is a connection between him and Mary Ann Shadd Cary. I say that Douglass is the one who changed American society because he educated himself and spoke up for the people for the African-American community, who are also facing the same crisis. He also worked with several anti-racist campagins and leaders who are also reaching their goal of stopping racial discrimation and desire freedom, justice, and equality. In the Berlin article, it states that black culture is changing in America. I say that is true because as the population of African-American people settle in the US increased as well as bringing in diversity into America and having their own culture as well. 

The two genres that I chose are photos and multimedia, but first I will talk about the photos. The photo below is the one I will be talking about. This photo is being described as a slave in the middle with a long chain of chains between him showing that he being the one who is deciding where he wants to go. Looks like that he points up, meaning he wants to go to the North, which is a free state. This is the event of the Underground Railroad in 1854, a secret pathway where slaves secretly escape the South to freedom. Meanwhile, there are two men on the side, one who wears a white outfit and part of the slave state and one who is shaded, wears black, and part of the free state. The man on the right unclacks the shackles and bringing him tot freedom while the man on the left is pretty distant. This shows the difference between two areas. 

www.richlandsource.com

For the multimedia, I decided to use Douglass’s famous quotes because it is interesting plus Douglass has amazing quotes to share with audience. This quote I will share for this project because it relates to the topic that I am writing about. 

“Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down. They know its power. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, founded in injustice and wrong, are sure to tremble, if men are allowed to reason… Equally clear is the right to hear. To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker.” 

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This quote means that power over someone who is struggling is a very violent action and it should never be tolerated. Equality is a term that we all want according to Douglass. I chose this quote because it’s very powerful and inspiring. He expresses anger and rage about the society he seen. He wants to change that. Even though that American society is changing overtime, there are struggles as a person of color and a person who feels low in power. 

These four sources connect to each other as topic of freedom, migration, slavery, justice, equality, and racism. A slave in the free state vs. a slave in the slave state are two different stories and experiences, but unite as one big topic. 

Bibliography

“Frederick Douglass Quote.” A, www.azquotes.com/quote/1367968. 

Richland Source. “North Central Ohio’s Independent Local News.” Richland Source, 14 Dec. 2020, www.richlandsource.com/. 

Marable, Manning, and Leith Mullings.  Let Nobody Turn Us around: Voices of Resistance, Reform, and Renewal: an African American Anthology. Rowman & Littlefield, 2009. 

Time, Space, and the Evolution of Afro-American Society on British Mainland North America

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