Race and Revolution by Gary Nash - Literature review Example

Race and Revolution by Gary Nash Introduction The of the book, Race and Revolution, Gary Nash is an excellent He presented the case of the slavery during the Revolutionary era in a blunt manner. There was no sugarcoating the horrors of the plight of the slaves in Race and Revolution. Although the topic is sensitive and could be construed emotionally, Nash backs up his facts with documents of the time. Nash is qualified to do this research. He is a professor at the University of California, Los Angles and holds the title of Director of the National Center for History in the Schools (Nash, (n.d.)). Summary In Race and Revolution, Nash offers three essays on slavery during Revolutionary times. Instead of simply stating that slavery was horrible, then moving on to a different topic, Nash delves into the founding fathers’ dream of a democracy and the paradox of slavery. Every child in America is taught Thomas Jefferson’s phrase ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’. As a child, I wondered how Jefferson can speak those words and still own slaves. During the revolutionary era, England and other European nations had colonies. However, these colonies, especially, America, did not see the similarity of a slave’s position and their position in relation to their ruling country. Americans cried for freedom, but enslaved men. The situation was hypocritical, but ignored due to economic and cultural reasons. Nash explores this and other slave issues during the revolutionary times in his book. Another issue that Nash brings up in his book is the anti-slavery movement during this time. Economically, plantation owners would argue for slavery, but what about the rest of the Northern population? Plantation owners were not the majority during this time. The Abolitionist movement is mentioned in history prior to the Civil War, but Nash points out that the Abolitionist movement was around during Revolutionary times. The white Abolitionist movement was pushed into the background as the country moved toward separation from England, despite the black Abolitionists continuation of the fight against slavery. Nash argues that Northern States failed to push the issue, not the Southern States. Previously, historians have put the total blame on the Southern States, but Nash holds the Northern States just as liable for the continuation of slavery. He argues that Northern leaders did not want to compensate Southern slave owners. They were also not willing to accept slaves into their societies. Even when free blacks begin appearing in the Northern States, the communities there discriminated against them. Blacks were not integrating into Northern society. They were forming black communities. Northern leaders did not believe that blacks were equal to them. Nash points out that in response to Northern leaders and attitudes, blacks created their own personal societies, like churches, organizations, and schools. This helped African-Americans pass down their culture to future generations. These close knit African-American communities helped keep the Abolitionist movement continuing. However, without the white Abolitionists, the country continued the practice of slavery. Northern discrimination was just as bad as Southern discrimination. Review In Race and Revolution, the major themes are the revolutionary era generation embracing Abolitionism, Abolitionism failing, and the lives of blacks in a white republic. The first theme is how people during the revolutionary times wanted to free the slaves. Nash does not only point out that many people wanted to free the slaves, but why it was right to do so. The following five points show how slavery could have ended, if the Northern leaders would have pursued the option: 1. First, it was the era when the sentiment for ridding American society of the peculiar institution was the strongest. 2. Second, it was the moment when the most resistant part of the new nation, the lower South, was most precariously situated and thus manifestly ill-prepared to break away from the rests of the states. 3. Third, it was a period when the system of thought called environmentalism was in full sway, suggesting that the degraded condition of the slaves was a matter of social conditioning, not innate inferiority. 4. Forth, it was a time when the opening of the vast tran-Appalachian West provided the wherewithal for a compensated emancipation. 5. Lastly, it was the era when the use of this western domain as an instrument for binding the nation together had moved to the forefront of the public mind and when the existence of this vast unsettled territory as part of a national domain provided an area where the free slaves could be colonized if they were not allowed to remain in the settled parts of the country. (Nash, 1990, p. 6-7) During this time, emancipation could have been easily accomplished, but without Northern support, another generation had to deal with the problem. The second issue was how the Abolitionist movement failed to achieve emancipation during Revolutionary times. The founding fathers and the Northern whites were just as racist as their Southern counterparts. They did not want to socialize, nor have their children socialize with blacks. The same excuses used in the South were used in the North. Blacks were dangerous, uncivilized, and violent. They felt that slavery was wrong, but did not view blacks as equals. Even those who felt they were doing their Christian duty would not have dreamed of inviting a black man, women, or child to sit down to dinner with their family. These attitudes thwarted the Abolitionist movement at that time. The last theme is the blacks living in a white republic. As seen above, whites did not want a biracial country. This forced blacks to form their own communities. Not all blacks in America at the time of the Revolutionary era were slaves. Free blacks and escaped slaves made up a considerable community. These blacks moved to urban centers in newly formed black communities. In this final essay and theme, Nash points out the importance of free black churches. Black churches formed the cornerstone of the black community. Ministers became political leaders, teachers, and spokespersons. This influence can even be seen in the era of the Civil Rights movement (Reverend Martin L. King Jr.) and today (Reverend Jesse Jackson and Reverend Al Sharpton). The church became the focal point of the black communities in the North. Nash organizes his book in three essays. These three essays dealt with the revolutionary generation embracing Abolitionism, Abolitionism failing, and the lives of blacks in a white republic. Several primary source documents are included in Nash’s account, along with a number of secondary resources. The primary sources used are letters, sermons, speeches, and pamphlets written by Anthony Benezet, Luther Martin, Absalom Jones and Caesar Sarter give first hand reports of the situation during the Revolutionary era. He used these sources to prove his position on slavery around the time of the Revolution. This book ties into the context of this courses assigned readings by answering questions that have been ignored or overlook by other historians. Many historians have not focused on this subject due to the sensitivity of the subject. The conflict of fighting for freedom, while suppressing members of the society is a tricky subject. While American historians have sung the praises of the founding fathers, it is hard to find someone who will point out their shortcomings. Before all of the blame for slavery and the inequality between the races was placed on Southerners and Southern plantation owners, whereas the blame should have been put on the Northern States, especially the leaders as well. Nash wrote Race and Revolution because he is a historian. He saw that not many other historians had chosen to take on slavery or free blacks around the Revolutionary era. Most historians want to focus on the Revolutionary War. If blacks were mentioned, it was either speaking of them fighting for or against the Patriots. When speaking of slavery or free blacks, other historians often speak of the struggle to end slavery and oppression. However, Nash also points out that there were black communities forming during this time. These communities had to live within a white republic, but were formed. The existence of these communities has been largely ignored by most historians. Nash felt that this period of history should be not only written about and explained, but taught to children as an important part of the American culture. Nash presents his arguments clearly. He believed that emancipation could have been accomplished in Revolutionary times . Nash also asserts that the North was as responsible as the South for slavery and the treatment of freemen. In fact, he states that the reason emancipation was not accomplished because of the discrimination of the Northerners. Finally, Nash clearly shows that black communities were formed during Revolutionary times and history has largely ignored the fact. When historians discuss the Revolutionary War, blacks are largely ignored due to the conflicting message that is sent. It seems stupid for blacks to fight for the Patriots. Why fight to support the system that is oppressing you, especially slaves, who after risking death would go back to a life of slavery? Even freemen would risk their lives for a country that treated them as second class citizens. On the other hand, the blacks that fought for the British are considered traitors. However, when one thinks about it, they were only fighting for their freedom. The British had promise to free all slaves if successful in the war. These issues cause conflicting emotions and statements. Americans are patriotic. So anyone fighting for the British, black or white, would be frowned upon. Historians have tried to balance the bad of Northern discrimination and treatment of slaves and freemen with the good of forming a new democracy. Much has been said about Southern economic forces preventing emancipation, but the Northern States had as much to lose economically as well. If slaves were freed during Revolutionary times, the North would have had to compensate the South for their slaves. Southern slave owners had paid for slaves or paid for their voyage to America on slave ships. They would expect to be compensated for buying what at that time was legal, no matter how repugnant that sounds. Geography is another issue in the reasoning why emancipation did not happen during the Revolutionary era. Although freed slaves could have been relocated to territories in the West, Northern leaders were to greedy to accept this possibility. Why give free land to emancipated slaves, when the government could settle that land with the white man? Again it would be economically expensive to relocate these slaves. Economics and geographical concerns were a reason for not only the South, but the North as well. This book does contribute to my understanding of history. I have wondered about the conflicting ideas of democracy and slavery. This book helped explain why the founding fathers wanted freedom, but only for whites and not blacks. Racism was an attitude that permeated not only the South, but the North as well. Blacks were not seen as people, but a subspecies or animal, whether a slave or freeman. This was taught from infancy. Thomas Jefferson had a black mistress. This woman was his slave. If blacks received equal rights, then his actions would have been seen as immoral. The children they had together would have to be recognized. Other founding fathers and Northern leaders were in the same position. They were not prepared to have a biracial country. I have always known, but this book reinforces the notion, that men in history were mere men. The Northerners and Southerners cannot be deemed bad or good, they were men. They made mistakes. Southerners have been made to be evil (which in no way excuses their slave owning or prejudices), while Northerners are seen as the emancipators. All of the white people during the Revolutionary times are responsible for the continuation of slavery. The prejudices, fears, and ignorance kept the continuation of slavery and poor treatment of freemen. Another thing this book made me realize was the formation of black communities. Black communities have lasted to this day. African American values are carried on through churches and organizations. It is amazing that some blacks only recently off the boat from Africa or newly released from slavery formed fully functioning communities. Not because of their race, but because of the hardships endured. These communities might have been formed out of necessity, but they were great achievements for their founders. Not much has been mentioned of black communities. This is probably because of the sticky issue of runaway slaves. It is repulsive to me to write about slaves as property. Many other historians and writers find the subject hard; this is why the subject is avoided. It must also be pointed out that Nash is white. I was amazed at his picture on the UCLA website. This type of writing is expected of African American writers and historians, but when a white man writes like this makes me hopeful for the future. Conclusion Nash’s Race and Revolution is an exceptional novel about blacks during the Revolutionary time. This book takes on the hard subject of controversial issues of a country fighting for their freedom, while oppressing another element of their population. Democracy as envisioned by the founding fathers was meant for whites. That might be wrong, but is what they meant. This book also takes on the issue of the responsibility of Northern leaders. Unlike popular belief, emancipation was possible during Revolutionary times, but due to prejudice and economic concerns of both the North and South did not happen. Finally, the emergence of black communities is documented. The foundation of what black communities are today can be traced back to this era in American history. All of these issues are important for Americans to understand. Just because part of history is ignored, does not mean it never happened. Every high school student should be required to read this book as part of their U.S. History course. It is a hard subject, but until Americans get real about their past, present, and future, racism will thrive in this country. By blaming all Southerners for slavery, creates resentment in the white population there, by holding the Northerners not responsible creates black and white tensions. Until the past can be come to terms with, our future is in jeopardy. Nash has created an opening where both races can start conversations about the past in order to heal today’s wounds. This is an excellent book, well worth reading. References Nash, G. (1990). Race and Revolution. New York: Madison House Publishers. ---. (n.d.). Gary Nash UCLA Homepage. UCLA. Accessed 18 April 2008 from http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/history/nash/. Read More