(*for white landowning men)
It is interesting that when establishing a new nation, the founders did not want to save everyone from the lack of freedom they faced. America was founded by white men, for white men. It took individuals from every other group to stand and demand the rights that the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not declare for them. Blacks had to fight for their own freedom; woman had to demand equal rights that their male counterparts already possessed; Native Americans had to regain land and respect in their own country; LGBT people had to rally and parade for their own marriage right. Individuals had to speak until enough others listened and spoke with them. Even 200 years after the founding of the United States, not everyone is truly free. Harriet Jacobs remembers her life as a slave in the South, and the sexual abuse she faced from her white male owner--the free abusing their freedom. Jacobs was at the bottom of Americas social ladder as a black female, but by fighting for herself, escaped. Knowing she was "[risking] everything on the throw of a die" (Jacobs) she continues, striving for the freedom that she was never guaranteed. Similar to Fredrick Douglas, she becomes a catalyst for change in the social norm of oppression. These were two people who stood up and eventually convinced others, including non blacks, to stand with them. Freedom from oppression takes the bravery of few, with the following of many.
The two activists.
I like how your post takes on topics that our U.S History classes have skirted around. We always learn about how great America is and how we struggled against the tyranny of the British, but we never talk about the horrible things we did.
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