Tag Archives: Historical Figure

Blog-Ira Berlin

Geidy Espinal 

Professor Poe

BLST 10100 – Fall 2020

12/05/20

 

Multimodal Project – Historical Figure (Ira Berlín) 

Ira Berlin was born on May 27, 1941, and died on June 5, 2018. He was an American history professor at the University of Maryland. Extending over five decades, Berlin’s helped in the understandings of African American history and made struggles over slavery and freedom central to North American history. In his essay, Time, Space, and the Evolution of Afro-American Society on British Mainland in North America, Ira Berlin highlights the relevance of time and space in understanding how enslaved Africans not only communicated and developed relationships with one another and their masters but also how they resisted against their conditions and maintained their heritage within the different regional slave societies.

Throughout Time, Space, and the Evolution of Afro-American Society on British Mainland North America Ira Berlin trace the generations of slaves, their masters, and the unique historical circumstances each group lived under. Berlin takes the number of Africans and African-Americans in slavery and puts each one of them into five generations—the Charter Generation, the Plantation Generation, the Revolutionary Generation, the Migration Generation, and the Freedom Generation. Berlin demonstrates how each generation experienced different conditions and built their lives different from their ancestors. Berlin showed us how slaves spreading throughout America affected their lifestyle just because they took separate ways and experience different things. As slaves started spreading over America we got to see how Northern slaves gained more knowledge and had more opportunities than what southern slaves did. The text states that “A visitor to Connecticut noted in disgust that slaveowners were “too Indulgent (especially the farmers) to their Slaves, suffering too great a familiarity from them, permitting them to sit at the table and eat with them (as they say to save time) and into the dish goes the black hoof as freely as the white hand.” Slaves used knowledge gained at their masters’ tables to press for additional privileges: the right to visit friends, live with their families, or hire their own time”(Page 51). This illustrates that Northern black people were improving their relationship with the Northern white people leading to them making changes and gaining more rights. The way Northern slaves lived and the part they lived in, influenced a lot in their view on slavery because they did not rely on slave labor as much as Southern Slaves did. Northern slaves changed so many things throughout time in a more Afro-American way. The Diverse development of Afro-American culture demonstrates to us the importance of time and space in the study of American slavery. Black people in America shared many important things. However, these commonalities took different shapes and meanings within the miscellaneous circumstances of the North American mainland. 

 

Thanks to Berlin and his essay Time, Space, and the Evolution of Afro-American Society on British Mainland North America and all his work we get to see how he addresses the history of slavery and emancipation as a labor historian. He insisting that slavery must be included as a central part of American labor history and in this essay, we get to see how he expanded to explore the history of culture, kinship, and social relations. We get to understand more about African American history due to Berlin’s primary documents. 

 

The image below shows how African American people struggle and made sacrifices in their lives to have a better one. Moving from classes to places to settle and embrace everything. African American people’s lives had been transformed and as time went by they have started gaining more rights but not enough as they, as we deserve. Looking hundreds of years back we get to see how African American people transformation and we get to see the development of an Afro-American culture that demonstrates to us the importance of time and space in the study of American slavery. 

Art by Ira Berlin

Work-Cited Page 

Berlin, Ira. The Changing Definition of African-American. 1 Feb. 2010, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-changing-definition-of-african-american-4905887/. 

Greene, Julie. “Ira Berlin (1941–2018): Perspectives on History: AHA.” Ira Berlin (1941–2018) | Perspectives on History | AHA, 1 Oct. 2018, www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/october-2018/ira-berlin-%281941%E2%80%932018%29. 

Berlin, Ira. “Time, Space, and the Evolution of Afro-American Society on British Mainland North America.” The American Historical Review, vol. 85, no. 1, 1980, pp. 44–78. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1853424. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.

Fredrick Douglass and the change in American society

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. 

Slave state versus Free state

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.” 

1367968

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

 

Multimodal Project (Historical Figure) -W.E.B Du Bois

For this project, I decided to talk about a significant historical figure who dedicated his life to his Black community. I will focus on W.E.B Du Bois and how he used his knowledge to get justice for his Balck community. 

Who is William Edward Burghardt Du Bois?  

  There are many Black activists who used their knowledge to fight for equality and their rights in America. William Edward Burghardt Du Bois is a major Civil Rights Activist who was born on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts and died on August 27, 1963, in Accra, Ghana. He is an African American sociologist, writer, teacher, and leader who helped to change the way society viewed Blacks and their role. During the 19th century, many African Americans were not able to go to college and finish their education due to poverty, racism, and segregation. Unlike other African Americans, Du Bois grew up in Great Barrington which was a  white town and there he went to school. He attended the same school as white kids. He did not face racism like other Blacks in different areas in the USA. Du Bois got enrolled at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. Fisk University is a private college for African Americans that was established after the American Civil War to help African Americans finish their education. A church in his birth town (Barrington) raised money for him to pay for college tuition. There, Du Bois experienced his first southern segregation which motivated him to stand up for his Black community. He received his bachelor’s degree from Fisk University and later he was accepted to Harvard University. It was not an easy process for him to get accepted to Harvard University during the period of segregation. College tuition did not stop him from getting a higher degree in History and Sociology that would help him get justice for his Black community. He paid his three-year tuition with scholarships, loans from friends, and summer job money. In 1890, he earned his second bachelor’s degree and Master of Art in history from Harvard University. He traveled to Germany planning to get his Ph.D. He met significant social scientists who were thrilled to meet a man like him. Du Bois wanted to bring what he learned in Europe to the United States hoping to make a change. Unfortunately, he returned to the United States without his Ph.D. due to unknown reasons or requirements. However, two years later,  he got his Ph.D. from Harvard University, while he was a professor at Wilberforce University. He was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. This success does not only represent Du Bois but African Americans all over the United States. Despite all the obstacles that were established to prevent African Americans from succeeding, African Americans are proving their presence and importance in the USA. Du Bois’ educational journey explains how Blacks strove to overcome obstacles of racism and racial segregation. 

How did W.E.B  Du Bois view racism? 

  Racism is one of the first issues that challenged Blacks throughout United States history. Before the American Civil War, Blacks were treated as property due to their skin color. Because of and only of their skin color, they were not treated as human beings. The issue of racism is the issue that challenges Blacks regardless of the period of time.  In “Of Du Bois and Diaspora: The Challenges of African American Studies”, Gomez analyzed Du Bois’ theory of double consciousness and how Blacks were deprived of their simplest wishes because of their identity. They were forced by society to view themselves through White’s perspective and Black perspective. Du Bois described this as Double Consciousness which is when a person has to view himself/ herself through two different perspectives. It was a must for them to view themselves through the white perspective because this is how society viewed them. Society viewed them with racism and as they are not part of this country. Du Bois believed Blacks would never give up on their identity to satisfy society. Their identity is part of their dream which is to be Black American in America. Du Bois Stated, “He would not bleach his Negro soul in a flood of White Americanism. . . He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, with-out the doors of Opportunity closed roughly” (Gomez 176). This illustrates Du Bois’ point of view on how racism affected Blacks in America. Du Bois described how Black natural identity deprived them of their simplest dream which is to be African American. However, Du Bois viewed racism as an obstacle that challenged Blacks and their dreams in America. 

What is racial segregation (Jim Crow Laws)? What was Du Bois’ response?  

  Racial Segregation is one of the main issues African Americans have faced during the 19th-20th century. Blacks were segregated in schools, restaurants, trains, etc. Jim Crow law was to prevent African Americans from their constitutional rights which are equality. The photo illustrated below is one of the significant images in United States history that was taken during the Jim Crow Laws.  If you take a closer look at the images, you will see how Blacks were treated by Segregation. The image is very clear in telling the story of segregation. Blacks had to drink from an old water fountain, while whites had to drink from a luxury water fountain, which emphasizes the racial inequality caused by Jim Crow laws. Therefore, this image invalidates the racial segregation statement of “separate but equal” because Blacks are being treated poorly compared to Whites. 

By Elliot Erwitt in 1950 in North Carolina, USA. 

However, Du Bois believed racial segregation would prevent Blacks from practicing their constitutional rights and them from progressing. He attacked Booker T Washington who is a Balck leader for accepting racial segregation. Du Bois and other activists gathered in 1905 at Niagara Falls to demand equality for Blacks and end racial segregation. The Niagra Movement is an organization of Blacks leaders and activists whose main mission is to end racial discrimination in all its aspects. They listed all their demands and their duties toward these demands. One of their demands that caught my attention in the Textbook “ Let Nobody Turn us Around”  is “Soldiers: We regret that this nation has never seen fit adequately to reward the black soldiers who, in its five wars, have defended their country with their blood, and yet have been systematically denied the promotions which their abilities deserve. And we regard as unjust, the exclusion of black boys from the military and naval training schools’ ‘ (“The Niagara Movement Declaration of Principles”, p-211). This illustrates how blacks are giving up their lives for their country. They are loyal to the country that does not love them, to the country that does not treat them as human beings, and to the country that wounds them every day. Nevertheless, through the Nigro movement, Du Bois and other Blacks activists influenced the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). This association was formed by White and Black leaders which became the largest organization for civil rights. Through NAACP, Du Bois and other Black leaders were able to end racial segregation.

In conclusion, Du Bois is a significant Civil rights activist who fought racism and racial segregation with his knowledge. Du Bois wrote the “The Song of the Smoke”, which talks about how the Black community suffered racism, slavery, and racial segregation due to their natural identity. In this poetry, Du Bois stated, “Shedding the blood of bloodless crimes”, which emphasize African Americans’ pain of racism and racial segregation. However, Du Bois played a major role in America’s history. He stood up for the voiceless Black community and gave them a voice. He spent his life looking for a better life for the Black community. He overcame all the obstacles that were preventing him and his black community from practicing their constitutional right such as Jim Crow Laws. The Supreme Court ruled school segregation is unconstitutional which illustrates the progress Du Bois was made for the Black community. He was the leader of the NAACP that demanded equality for Blacks. Without Du Bois, blacks would not be where they are today. 

 

Work Cited 

History.com Editors. (2009, October 27). W.E.B. Du Bois. Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/w-e-b-du-bois  

History.com Editors. (2018, February 28). Jim Crow Laws. Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/jim-crow-laws 

Trikha. (2012, November 06). Photographs that tell a story- Elliot Erwitt’s ‘Segregated Water Fountains’. Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://sophiedaveyphoto.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/photographs-that-tell-a-story-elliot-erwitts-segregated-water-fountains/ 

W.E.B. Du Bois. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://www.crf-usa.org/black-history-month/w-e-b-du-bois 

Gomez, Michael A. “Of Du Bois and Diaspora: The Challenge of African American Studies.” Journal of Black Studies, vol. 35, no. 2, 2004, pp. 175–194. JSTOR,  www.jstor.org/stable/4129300. Accessed 16 Dec. 2020.  

The Song of the Smoke. (2014, December 18). Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://youtu.be/lzdXw8qbWpI 

Marable, M., & Mullings, L. (2009). Let nobody turn us around: Voices of resistance, reform, and renewal: An African American anthology. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.