Hardships Of Slavery

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American slavery has indeed caused some hardships in the past. Some viewed slavery negatively while yet other used believed that if you just obeyed your masters everything will be just fine. In the article’s that I will feature in this paper, “An Address to the Negroes in the State of New York” by Jupiter Hammon and “Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World” by David Walker, show two very different men who hold two very different views towards slavery. One suggests slaves to respect and obey their masters, never to rebel, and learn how to read, while the other pushes the issue about equality between whites and black, and suggests that slaves become rebellious towards their masters, while also making references to Thomas Jefferson’s “Notes …show more content…

“Christ tells us, "swear not at all," and again it is said "thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain." (Hammon 10) Anyone who uses profaneness will indeed have to answer to God. Hammon states that profaneness is a sin and if it is used, it is very well the same as speaking God’s name in vain. The common phrases “goddamn” and “go to hell” are both the profane and sinful phrases that are being referred to in the article. “How common is it to hear you take the terrible and awful name of the great God in vain?-To swear by it, and by Jesus Christ, his Son-How common is it to hear yon wish damnation to your companions, and to your own souls and to sport with in the name of Heaven and Hell, as if there were no such places for you to hope for, or to fear, Oh my friends, be warned to forsake this dreadful sin of profaneness.” (Hammon 10). Hammon wants all to realize that although you are a slave, you are still your own person and you are held accountable for the wrong doings cause by yourself. “and some of you may say this of your masters, and say no more than is true, But all this is not a sufficient excuse for you. You know that murder is wicked. If you saw your master kill a man, do you suppose this would be any excuse for you, if you .should commit the same crime? You must know it would not; nor will your hearing him curse and swear, and take the …show more content…

He was not fond of slavery, in fact he believed that no man should be forced to be controlled by no man other then God. He felt that God was the master of all things and should be the only one man should serve and no one under should have the power to rule men. “who are willing to admit that God made man to serve Him alone, and that man should have no other Lord or Lords but Himself--that God Almighty is the sole proprietor or master of the WHOLE human family, and will not on any consideration admit of a colleague, being unwilling to divide his glory with another”. (Walker