Reconstruction Period Idea Development Assignment

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1 Rauch Liberty University Bondage & Freedom Idea Development Assignment Hannah Rauch ENGL 637: Studies in African-American Literature Dr. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi 12 Nov. 2023

2 Rauch When discussing the postbellum racial philosophies that affected African Americans during the Reconstruction period, which immediately followed the Civil War, it is crucial to know the antebellum racial philosophies. Antebellum racial philosophies continued racial discrimination by reinforcing stereotypes rooted in slavery. Examples of these are that African Americans were not people but objects that could be treated as poorly as their owners chose, they were not as intelligent as their white counterparts, and they did not feel pain, which many used to justify the brutal beatings given to African Americans. The idea of the postbellum racial philosophies was to reclaim the narrative of American history and make amends for the appalling thoughts and actions that took place during the previous era. The postbellum racial philosophies sought to fight for civil and social rights by using advocacy to push these ideas into the spotlight of American society. Unlike writers like Frederick Douglass, Olaudah Equiano, and Harriet Jacobs, the authors who appeared during this time used their narratives to capture readers' attention. Although these emerging authors were writing such personal stories, there was the common theme of the American Dream; however, in their writing was also the strong sense of community and religious undertones that they tried to keep hold of in postwar America (Gates and Smith 514-15). When studying the writing from the two eras, it is clear that they have the same goal. Not only were they trying to share their varying stories, whether they be fictional or not, but they are trying to bridge a gap in society. Many hoped this gap would be less when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, but that was not the case for many years. During all of this, it is vital to note that African Americans were going through their own Renaissance, like that of 17th-century Europe. Now that they did not have to spend all day working for someone else and were no longer being kept from gaining an education, many

3 Rauch African Americans sought exposure of any and all types of literature. While this can be seen as irrelevant to gaining the civil and social rights that many postbellum racial philosophies sought, it is a prime example of how driven African Americans were for these rights. At the time, education was not a legal requirement for all minors, and these people, many fully grown adults, were jumping at the chance to be educated, an idea that would baffle many of my students. A prime example of one such author is Phillis Wheatley, who often alluded to Greek mythology in her writings. In this hunger to learn, it should be no surprise that many authors found their voice. The African-American authors who were finally allowed to put their pens to paper helped show the world that a change was happening, whether society was prepared for it or not. It is imperative to realize that just because African American authors now had the means to tell their stories did not mean they could. As noted by Gates and Smith, publishing the work of African- American authors was almost impossible (517). The inability to get these works published was due to people not wanting to change their ways. This change did not come easily; it took groups like The Women's Christian Temperance Union and the Unitarian Church to stand alongside the African Americans and help make real social change. An important point to note is, "Not all African Americans had been slaves, nor was slavery the only way in which former slaves defined their lives or shaped their narratives" (Gates and Smith 515). An example of an African American who did not have a background in slavery is Charlotte Forten Grimke. Grimke's family was wealthy and educated; she educated African Americans and advocated for their rights (543). Nevertheless, there is still the misconception that every African American's ancestors were enslaved. While it seems self-explanatory that not all African Americans of the Reconstruction period were not enslaved, many people today think that they were. This misconception comes in

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