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Joyce Lewis Slavery

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The writings by J. Vance Lewis show the ability of one individual who was able to overcome not only life and its challenges as a slave, but to persevere in the daily obstacles thrown at him to eventually better himself. Joseph Vance Lewis, as a slave, grew up in Louisiana on a plantation where life there was the only thing many knew. So when the freedom associated with the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, allowed many slaves the ability to better their lives, they were unable to , as society had set them up to know only how to do things on the plantations and not in rest of the civilized world. The life, as Lewis knew growing up was full of “butterflies and mockingbirds where the skies were never cloudy. While those around him much older, …show more content…

The slaves and Lewis on the plantation were notified by Mr. Cage that they were “Now you are free to go anywhere you please. I shall not drive any one away. I shall need somebody to do my work still and every one of you who wants a job shall have employment. You may remain right here on the farm. You will be treated as hired servants. You will be paid for what you do and you will have to pay for what you get.” This gave some of them the start they needed to become “humans” in society and live a new life. For slaves prior to the Emancipation, there was never any hope of such freedoms or even options to improve themselves as individuals or as a community. Many rules and laws during this time did not provide and benefits to slave as English common law did not cover them and gave their owners great control over their labor force. They were not allowed to carry or own firearms, a child’s freedom was based on their mothers status to determine them being free or spending their lives as …show more content…

Many groups and individuals were able to preserver and become outstanding members of society despite these attacks. The unfree slaves lives were still kept in check and gave little opportunity for escape from their farms or plantations and for those who escaped; they were either caught and beaten or faced death. Even if they were able to successfully escape they lived in a constant fear of being caught, which could lead to a return to their farm or being resold again. In the end, life was difficult for those free and unfree in society, the rules may have been adjusted, but never full changed to embrace the newer members to society and its classes; this eventually would set the tone and establish the groundwork for the growth of racism that would and has plagued this nation and others for many years. The Out of Ditch experience was for those who despite the conditions and challenges of the times were able to lift themselves out of the ditch of life that was lacking freedoms and be able to pursue life, as it should be equally for

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These people did not whine about leaving the past and were excited to build a new future. To wrap it up, some slaves took advantage of their freedom and got an education as well as a

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Aspects of the law were applying to slaves, those who owned slaves, all white people who either do or do not own slaves, and servants. It shows how all different groups of people in the society have to do their part in order to maintain the economic system. In the Slave Code of South Carolina, it begins stating rules of slaves paying off debts to their owners by saving and paying off with money or goods, or being sold and their profit being given to the original owner. It continues to talk about runaway slaves and the process in which someone must go through if they find one. The document states “ no person whatsoever, except the sheriff or gaoler, shall keep any runaway slave or slaves above four days… employ any of them, or suffer him, or her in custody”, this shows the idea of ownership of slaves in the fact that they must be returned quickly, having done no work for the capturer, and there is a small reward upon return.

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Racism still existed and they were still treated as slaves. Some drank too much and were abusive to their families because they were afraid. Like the slaves Papa had no money, job or home to go back to once the war was over. Papa started drinking heavily, was angry all the time and was very abusive to his family.

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The slaves’ men had to do manual labor in the sugar plantation throughout the day and guarding the same at night. They had no rights of getting an education since their masters presumed that doing so will enlighten them. The slaves were denied the fundamental principle of life such as education, the right of having a family. For instance, Stuart was the only black student in the

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Some slaves seeked free states, while others sought to remain by their family’s side, and those that did escape only took what they needed, not anything else if they had much

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The Negroes were in constant suffering under the racist claws of whites who saw them as their prey. The black community suffered physical violence that made more than just their bodies hurt, violence so painful that made their hearts ache knowing that they were attacked for no other reason than their race. But even those vicious attacks seemed minor compared to the injustice that the blacks suffered. They were guilty of wanting justice so they were sentenced to misery and were tortured. Tortures by those who thought that their color made them unworthy of respect or fair treatment.

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These people were usually war prisoners or criminals who were seen as the “outsiders” in a class hierarchy. Even though some of these slaves were brutally treated and forced to work until death, some however, enjoyed a more filling and successful life. For example, some slaves worked for the state or in the households of their masters while others worked dreadfully in the mines. Also, some masters retired their slaves when they got too elderly to work efficiently. Also, others were granted their freedom after they had paid off a debt or could purchase their freedom.

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become an American citizen they had so many laws and things to stop African Americans to be equal to White citizens. First, there were these codes called black codes they allowed slaves to be freed but they stopped them from having rights they restricted freed slaves from voting, they could not go in jury duty and limited there right to testify against white people. They also were not allowed to own guns or any weapons and also could not work in many places so even though they were freed they were still held against their rights and they did not have much at all. Amendments were passed to allow people as in African American men to vote they banned or prohibited government from denying U.S. citizens the right to vote based on race,color,or past servitude.

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Have you ever been quite certain that something was not right, that you became determined, driven, intent on changing said transgression? Many men and women in the Civil Rights Movement felt this way towards the racial injustice occurring in the United States nation. The 1960’s became a pivotal point in the progression of equal treatment in the United States of America. One prominent leader that emerged during this movement befalls upon John Lewis. He came from small beginnings and from that became a crucial leader in the Civil Rights Movement, who struggled through copious amounts of strife.

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Which wasn’t fair for them. They all had to do things for them like chores, cooking, babysitting, etc. When they do something wrong they get punished for it, punished badly. “In 1776, there was no equality for the half million slaves who labored in the colonies.” Everyone has equal rights as of now.

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To start with, slavery was growing at a rapid rate. New laws made it legal for owners to own enslaved people for their entire lives. They had little or no chance for freedom. Slaves were legally considered property, not people. Slaves were also restricted by a set of laws called Slave Codes; these laws were their rights and rules for living.

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Lewis’s life after the freedom rides were full of noble actions and monumental steps forward in the African American access to human rights. Although John Lewis is known mostly

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After Bacon’s Rebellion, indentured servitude was no longer an option given to black people. Due to a new set of laws called slave codes, freedom and equity became almost

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Have you ever wondered how life was for the slaves in the South? Slaves in the South suffered through many consequences. For example, they suffered through many whippings with cow skin if they didn't obey their master, they also got separated from their family mostly the fathers, so, they can be sold to a very mean slave owner. Even if they were living a miserable life on the farms, they had their own culture and they managed to even get married in the farmland or where they worked. Not only did the slaves live on the farm.

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As each day passes, they start to learn something new about who they are. This causes some of the slaves to go through depression and even anxiety. Even though the lives of slaves were already bad enough, once they found out that they were a slave, there lives just got worse. If I were a slave back then, I would have given up and not fight back. I would not have tried to rise up against the whites because I would be too scared

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