Week SIx Assignments (HIST150) (7)
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School
Bellevue College *
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Course
150
Subject
History
Date
Nov 24, 2024
Type
Pages
2
Uploaded by CommodoreDugong812
Self emancipation can be defined as a process whereby an enslaved person finds an
ability, method or strategy to escape from slavery.
Throughout the course of the history of slavery, those that were enslaved pursued
freedom by any means even paying the cost of their own lives or the lives of their loved
ones. Although self emancipation can appear to be a singular or individual process; for
many self emancipation was a collective effort. For example, those that participated in
the underground railroad as conductors were an active part of the process of freedom.
This movement was one of the staple foundations for the process of freedom and
served as a conduit of hope that inspired many to take a stand against the institution of
slavery itself.
Another collective example can be found in the groups of those that escaped slavery
during the civil war to either fight in all black troops or become refugees at union
outposts. One example would be William Butler, who was a union major general who
instead of following the then current law of returning all runaways chose to label them
as contraband of war or “illegal property” (Many Rivers To Cross). This “contraband
continued to grow in size, resulting in refugee camps near military stations such as Fort
Monroe. Between the contraband finding some form of refuge and African American
soldiers fighting for the union to gain their own freedom, we are provided with another
look at how African Americans achieved their freedom by various methods and by any
means necessary.
There are also multiple individuals who served as examples of singular actions
producing in the process towards freedom. People such as Anthony Burns who in 1854
escaped from slavery in Virginia by stowing away on a ship to Boston (Hines) exemplify
how fugitives were an early part of the emancipation toward all slaves. Anthony Burns
initially gained freedom but was returned to slavery by the U.S government. His case
served as a “tipping point” for many regarding the unjust practices of slavery and the
need for emancipation.
A second singular example would be the life of Margaret Garner, who represented many
in the lengths that could and would be taken to obtain freedom. In 1856 Margaret
Garner escaped slavery with her children but was caught. Before she and other
fugitives were captured Garner slit the throat of one of her children rather than watch
them be returned to slavery (Hines). As tragic as her story was it mirrored the depths of
the horror of slavery and the importance of freedom. Many other slaves chose death as
a means of self emancipation and this was one of the many ways they were able to free
themselves and those that they loved.
In conclusion, there were many movements and persistent individual efforts that lead to
the freedom of African Americans. Although it is simple to credit the entirety of the Civil
War or the words of Abraham Lincoln to this freedom, this leaves out the tireless efforts
of African Americans that were made towards self emancipation. All in all, even though
those that were enslaved lacked resources that would be deemed as prime tools for the
freedom of many, they were enriched with both a severe fortitude and unique innovation
that lead to the freedom for all.
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