Slavery

During the Seventeenth, Eighteenth and part of the


Nineteenth Century the White people of North America used the


Black people of Africa as slaves to benefit their interests.   White


people created a climate of superiority of their race over the Black


African race that in some places, still lingers on today.   The


American Civil War however, was a key turning point for the


Black African race.   Through their actions and the political actions


of President Lincoln and his administration, Black Africans set a


presedent for their freedom, equality and liberation.


A very important aspect of Blacks proving themselves was


that of the Black Man acting as a soldier in the Civil War.   During


the Civil War the official decision to use Blacks as soldiers in the


Union Army was a slow gradual process and a series of   strategic


political decisions.   The actual use of Blacks as soldiers in the


Union Army was completed by a series of actions the Black Man


performed that won him the respect of becoming a soldier.   The


two differ in that it was to President Lincoln's benefit to enlist


Blacks as soldiers when he did.   Whereas the later was the Black


Man's will to fight for his freedom and prove himself as an equal


human being.   However, because the Black population was barred


from entering the army under a 1792 law(4) the Black Man


becoming a soldier was not officially recognized until late 1862.


"There was strong anti-Black prejudice among most people


in the free states, and in the loyal slave states the idea of arming the


Black man was anthema"(1).   This statement directly reflects the


generally held fear White people had about putting Blacks on the


fighting line of the armies in the Civil War.   Whites felt that the


Civil War was a war started upon the White Man's issues and what


possible...