Summary Of Howard Zinns A People's History Of The United States

In Howard Zinns, A People’s History of the United States, chapter two was named “Drawing the Color Line” because of the line or division that was drawn between black slaves and the white indentured servants. Some similarities between white indentured servants and black saves are that they were both exploited and treated unfairly. Also both servants and slaves were viewed as lazy, irresponsible, dishonest and ungrateful. On page 37 Zinn writes “In the early years of slavery, especially, before racism as a way of thinking was firmly ingrained, while white indentured servants were often treated as badly as black slaves, there was a possibility of cooperation.” Although white indentured servants had a limited term they were still treated badly and also were a potential threat to the establishment. While there are many

Women in this time were expected to be pure and pias. Women also did not plage a huge role in how history was being written. Black women specifically were double oppressed due to the fact that they were a woman and black. Distinctions that Zinn cited between white and black female oppression were obviously the racial bias, and the class condition and class bias. Women have always been held behind men in society but as a black women you were extra behind. During this time period women were known for cleaning, cooking and having/raising their kids. The explorers were men, the landholders and merchants men, the political leaders were men, all major people in the United States were men. Any income the women earned would automatically go to the men. Many people overlooked their major contributions because they were women. Black women oppression was very different from white women all because they were both black and a women. Overall women were invisible in this time in