Been in the Storm So Long, by Leon F. Litwack - Book Report/Review Example

? Order 6 0 Topic: Been In the Storm So Long The Faithful Slave" In the first chapter of the book, “Been in the Storm So Long,” Leon F. Litwack deals with the psychological conditions of the slaves, their family members and the members of the family of their white masters. The tensions in their minds were showing in their conversation and deeds. The white families were suspicious about the possible reactions of the black people, who had begun to sense that freedom would soon arrive and they would find a new identity, protected by the legal provisions of the constitution. The author describes one such sequence in the day to disposition between the blacks and whites. “The easy familiarity of the master and mistress gave way to suspicious glances, and the slaves were permitted less freedom of movement around the place.”(3)The author provides a factual presentation of a strange situation relating to the dilemma in the minds of the blacks and whites. The whites are worried about the indifference of the blacks to their emancipation and the lackluster approach to the issues. The white women are deeply apprehensive about the black majority in the farms. Civil War had created highly complex social situations. Litwack wrote, “Unprecedented in the disruptions, stresses, and trauma it generated among both whites and blacks, the Civil War threatened to undermine traditional relationships and dissolve long-held assumptions and illusions.”(4) In this chapter the author makes mention about the war preparations that were going on and the stake the whites of the South had in winning the war. Many blacks turned emotional when they saw their masters proceeding to the warfront and they knew it was life and death situation for them. The mutual suspicion amongst the plantation owners and the slaves had an element of cordiality about it. Litwack mentions about the observations of a North Carolina plantation owner to his slaves thus: “There is a war commenced between the North and the South. If the North whups, you will be as free a man as I is. If the South whups, you will be a slave all your days.”(5) 2. Black Liberators Liberation from the bondage was a fascinating experience for the blacks. This was also an opportunity for the so-called social workers and politicians to show themselves as the saviors of the black race. Such people saw an opportunity to build up their image for personal aggrandizement. The euphoria of the black race was understandable. Litwack describes their jubilation in their own words: “Now we sogers are men—men de first time in our lives.”(64)Not all black leaders were unselfish and not all white people were unsympathetic to the cause of the blacks. The hope of blacks had for effective implementation of the provisions of emancipation was the attitudes of the North to their cherished goal of reconstruction. But Washington was hesitant to go out and out to help the blacks. Their fate hung in balance between the two contending, sometimes co-operating federal power-centers—Union Army occupation forces and the Freedman’s bureau. These authorities did help the people but not to the extent needed. The section of blacks that suffered most during slavery was women. Their family life was fractured and their psyche almost destroyed. They were skeptical to take help from the so-called liberators. Litwack wrote, “Having already experienced forced separations from their loved ones, black women did not necessarily look with favor upon similar disruptions undertaken by their professed liberators.”(76) Legal safeguards for the blacks notwithstanding, the mutual distrust obstructed in more than one area the process of assimilation of the black race in the mainstream American society. 3. Kingdom Comin' The scene is indeed difficult for the printed pages to capture. What were the feelings of the masses of black men, women and children? After being in the dark cave for centuries, what would have been the feelings of the individual who experienced light for the first time in life! The situation brought forth the best poetic talents, for such occasions were rarest of the rare in the history of humankind. Litwack has provided us the records of the sentiments of the people thus: “We’ll soon be free, we’ll soon be free, we’ll soon be free, when de Lord will call us home.”(104) As for the white leadership Litwack writes, it was “most certainly an admission of defeat. The scene lent itself, in fact, to one of the most popular wartime songs, “Kingdom Comin.”(111)Any social scientist would have expected the massive upheaval after the emancipation. The era of exploitative relationships was gone forever. But the process of life-changing alterations was difficult both for the blacks and whites for different reasons. For the former it was sustenance and for the latter it was erosion of authority and economic considerations. Laws had their own limitations and they were implemented by fallible human beings. Researchers of history relating to this era have their own problems and accurate rendering of the events is rather impossible at this stage. Very little written history is available from the black race perspective. They were at the receiving end and therefore, their version should dominate the proceedings. Some tangible efforts in this direction were made but it was seventy years after the Civil War, when Federal Writers’ Project began to be implemented. Such traumatic experiences of the blacks needed immediate recordings if its authenticity was to be preserved. The language idioms and the slang of the blacks were different. Inferiority complex prevented even the vocal amongst the blacks who wished to give some information and they revealed what was convenient and pleasant to their white masters. Yet these exclamations of the blacks must be reverberating over America somewhere in the heavens, “De massa run! Ha, ha! De darkey stay! Ho, ho! It miss’ be now de Kingdom comin’. An’ de year ob Aabdo!”(112) 4. Slaves No More The history of African Americans is daubed in bloodshed and atrocities against the black race, unfortunately though. But facts are facts and they are undeniable. The author highlights this aspect in this chapter. The end of Civil War brought about dramatic changes in the life of black families and a new era was in front of them to challenge. They had to face challenges of different types. Their status was uncertain, though legally they were free. The adjustments were difficult and were exploratory in nature. The transition from generations of slavery to newfound freedom was tough. But this gave rise to many social and law and order problems. The younger generation, whether blacks or whites was combustible. Violent acts were reported from some counties, where blacks were in majority. Litwack wrote, “Where slave misbehavior had been particularly “outrageous” as northern Louisiana and the adjoining Mississippi counties, the Yankee raiding parties had no sooner to their bases than local whites demanded swift and severe retaliation.”(174) So the time for the blacks to be jubilant in spirit and with a hopeful future outlook and upbeat mood, soon turned nightmarish. Abolition of slavery was however, a double-edged sword. It meant freedom for the former slave but economic and prestige loss to the masters. Both sections were learning new lessons. Whites, what it is to live without the slave labor, and the blacks, what it means to live without income. The transition phase was tough for both the sections. Litwack wrote, “No matter how easily the old paternalism might adopt itself to the new realities, the death of slavery remained difficult to accept. The slave-owning class had always included in its ranks men and women of varying degrees of temperament and mental stability…” (193) A new situation arose for the blacks where they had to get back to their masters and adjust to the agricultural labor system, though in a slightly modified form as contract laborers. 5. How Free is Free? The aftermath of emancipation, led the blacks to a situation of confrontation with their existing conditions and future possibilities, both immediate and long-term. The author used a number of primary sources, oral interviews recorded by the Federal Writers’ Project in the 1930s, and his own experiences. The newfound freedom was difficult to deal with many complicated issues awaiting resolution. Independence also meant interdependence with the white race that enjoyed superior economic and social position. Tensions continued to bother and change of attitudes was not the easy one to achieve overnight. The experience of slavery was difficult to erase from the minds and lifestyles for both the whites and blacks. A new insight into the race relations was beginning to shape and the process was slow. The fact that legal provisions alone would not bring equality and prosperity to the blacks became clear. The steps like the establishment of Freedman’s Bureau and the establishment of the Freedman's Bureau, passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitutional, failed to provide relief to the blacks. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery but in response to the Black Codes, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act over a Presidential veto. Persons born in the United States secured the citizenship under the 13th Amendment and this happened after a long tussle between President Johnson and Radical Republicans in the Congress. The scopes of federal power were redefined. The 14th Amendment reiterated the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Act and protected the rights of citizens. The 15th Amendment forbade the states from denying voting rights to former slaves on the grounds of race and color. 6. The Feel of Freedom: Moving About Freedom from slavery was a good and most welcome experience, but the question before the blacks was how to fructify it to their economic advantage? Litwalk wrote, “newly liberated slaves adopted different priorities and chose different ways in which to express themselves, ranging from dramatic breaks with the past, to subtle and barely perceptible changes in demeanor and behavior." (292) Break from the past was toughest of the task and yet many did it with success and became role models for others. They provided the inspiration and confidence how to lead the life of autonomy. The author puts it as the way to "the urge toward personal autonomy"(293). It was difficult to live as slaves for the blacks. For whites it was more difficult to live without the services of the blacks to which they were accustomed since generations. To talk about fundamental rights is one of the easiest options in the present situation. But the conditions obtaining immediately after the abolition of slavery were so perilous; it was a nightmare for the blacks to taste the fruits of freedom. Free and go where with his family members? That was the question. The former slaves were vocal in articulating their problems. With blacks moving from the plantations a labor crisis was created for the whites. Black population moved to cities and towns and this created fresh imbalance. The whites found it difficult to accept the newfound racial etiquette and their regal behavior needed modifications. The racial tensions instead of easing hardened further as each section took stands which were in their interest. Disputes bordering violence spread everywhere and affected all segments of social life. Public space like sidewalks and streets and facilities like public transportation were the bone of contention. White men without exception believed that strict measures were necessary to control the blacks from going astray and their urge for freedom was ill-founded. 7. Back to Work: The Old Compulsions The march from slavery to freedom was difficult. The march from freedom to freedom was even more difficult. The expectation of land redistribution went haywire in many areas. “Forty acres and a mule,” was a well thought out plan on paper but its implementation was tough. Some experiments in land redistribution did succeed. But that success was an exception. More blows were in stock for the blacks. Government was not willing to step in and redistribute the land. On May 29, 1865, President Andrew Johnson took drastic steps. He condoned the former Confederates and permitted them to take over the confiscated and occupied lands. For this operation Freedman’s Bureau and Federal troops saw that the order was complied with and the former owners got their land assets back. The land from the possession of blacks was handed over to the white owners and their fundamental rights were restricted. Their position was back to square one. With the advantage they gained, the plantation owners wanted to make it quite clear that the freed slaves must work for them or starve. Black Codes were drafted to enable the whites to control labor and fulfill their economic needs. But these Black Codes did not last long. The ad-hoc arrangement continued as the blacks were cornered by the white plantation owners on one side, and the Freedmen’s Bureau not coming to the rescue of the black labor force. The ill-will between the two sections of the society continued. Blacks had no recourse to legal remedies. Legal rights were further restricted when the union armed forces began the process of eviction of the plantation labor and prevented them from settling down in the cities. They were forcibly sent back to their earlier place of work. 8. Back to Work: The New Dependency Freedom arrived to black race with clutches of dependence as far as the economic aspect was concerned. Freed slaves with experience in working in farms wanted land to establish in life. The acquisition of land was not an easy task. They were up against the powerful forces that were not willing to concede land rights. Many of them were compelled to do the same jobs but with the difference that they were no more treated as slaves but as contract laborers in plantations, engaged in the fields and doing sundry domestic jobs. Thus the blacks were still far away from enjoying the full range of privileges entitled to a free citizen of the country. Land ownership was the only alternative. It “remained the most exciting prospect of all.”(399) Emancipation and freedom in the real sense was possible only by getting land rights. When the intended land distribution in most of the areas ended in a fiasco, and when the lands were restored to the plantation owners, arrangements like “voluntary” contracts were created to keep the labor. Even with the shortage of labor, the existing labors were unable to exercise their rights. Bargaining power of the blacks to reject the contract was limited. Supporting himself and his family was the main concern, and if he held out too long, he would be evicted. The options of the labor were non-existent as if! The aftermath of slavery continued to remain a nightmare for the freedmen. They were compelled to undergo slavery in a different form. The race relations at the personal and social levels turned worse. Their economic conditions remained as poor as were before the Civil War. 9. The Gospel and the Primer In this chapter Litwack highlights the role of religion that tries to play a conciliatory role in an atmosphere surcharged with ill--will against each other. To strike the balance in the scale of social justice was important. Not much was expected of the politicians with private ambitions. Before the Civil War even the Church took a partisan stand in favor of the whites and the blacks were taught to curse their destinies. But with freedom arriving, the stance of the church changed Litwack mentions about one such address of the Bishops of the African. He wrote, “Wealth, intelligence and godliness combined, make their possessors indispensable members of a community.”(450) White missionaries had a special responsibility. They arrived to the South to preach to the freed slaves and were impressed with the simplicity and innocence of the people. Litwack wrote that they now took the new responsibility of “guarding them against fostering animosities and prejudices and against all unjust and indecorous assumptions, above all, indoctrinating them in the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”(480)The school teachers also took up the new responsibility with the missionary zeal. They believed that they were rescuing the blacks from vice and crime. Black newspapers appeared on the scene to articulate the religious and political rights of the blacks and began to question why they were not given the voting rights? So, religion took the center stage and provided relief to the damaged psyche of the black people. The changed attitude of the church and white preachers helped to assuage the feelings of the blacks to some extgent. 10. Becoming a People The consequences of war and attainment of freedom led to beginning of problems of identity clashes between the white and black people. No legal provisions were in a position to offer the total solution. Each black individual had his individual problems and problems related to the race as a whole. They had to assert their rights at every stage and the process of ‘becoming a people’ was a tough one. The trusted slaves for generations suddenly left their masters without forethought and without any concrete plans. Many had to revert to their old masters for sustenance. Forget butter, bread was the immediate problem. Staying alive was the immediate concern; solving the problems came next. Opportunities were not forthcoming to the blacks from the grudging leaders of the white society. The urgent urge to break the old order was fine; but how to build and what to build and the wherewithal to build was the complex issue. Blacks were without economic and social privileges. The legal provisions could not change the sentiments of the white race. There were practical difficulties. Get freedom from the farm work and go where? Outside the plantation area, there was not enough work for everyone and it created huge welfare problems for the controlling agencies. Blacks were compelled by the circumstances to revert to their original positions, though under slightly modified conditions. So, the reality of the situation was, blacks continued to depend on the whites and the whites continued to depend on the blacks. The changed political system failed to provide tangible reliefs to the black race. Works Cited Litwack, Leon F. Been in the Storm So Long. 1980; 1st Vintage Books Read More