Slavery by Another Name

Sam Milbury
9.23.11
Summer Reading Essay

Slavery By Another Name focuses on the Emancipation Proclamation and the resentment it created from white Southerners.   Written by Douglas Blackmon, the main focus is the highly neglected treatment of African Americans after their freedom of slavery.   The mid nineteenth century was a time full of racism and prejudice towards African Americans. The south was essentially ripped apart by this conflict between the two races. While the Emancipation Proclamation sought to dispel slavery that existed in the south, it was unsuccessful because, while it made slavery illegal, racism still continued to be a prevalent part of Southern culture. African Americans escaped one type of slavery but fell captive to indentured servitude and forced labor, which was just as restrictive and binding as traditional slavery had been. Despite the best efforts of the Emancipation Proclamation, it ultimately would fail in its attempts to rid the south of its culture identity and racism.
The Emancipation Proclamation made African Americans living in the south legally free, but southern racism proved to be too powerful to escape from.   A majority of slaves were cut loose, but were then forced back under the white’s power because of lack of jobs, no place to live, and ultimately no money.   Former slaves were brought into indentured servitude and forced to work to earn money.   Eventually by earning enough money, indentured servants could gain their freedom.   However, often workers could not make it to the end of their working terms because of the overwork, lack of nutrients, and disease. With the devastation of the civil war still affecting the southern economy, African American were now subject to work on different varying terms in ways that could benefit the struggling Southern government. “The concept of reintroducing the forced labor of blacks as a means of funding government services was viewed by whites as an inherently practical method.”...