What is the central idea of this text? * Eree Blacks in the North African Americans in the North lived freor lives, but blacks experienced discrimination, or unequal treatment, everywhere they turned. In many states, African Americans were denied the right to vote. They had trouble finding good jobs. In the 1850s, some 87 percent of free blacks in New York held low-paying jobs. "Why should I strive hard?" asked one young African American. What are my prospects?... No one will employ me; white boys won't work with me." In addition to unequal treatment, policies of segregation separated blacks from whites in nearty all public places. Black children were often denied entry into public schools Those states that did educate black children set up separate schools for that purpose. A New Yorker observed around 1860, "Even the noblest black is denied that which is free to the vilest [worst) white. The omnibus. the Iralroad).car. the ballot-box, the jury box the halls of legislation. the amy. the public lands. the school, the church, the lecture room, the social.circle the Irestaurant) table, are all either absolutely.or virtually.denied to him." Douglass discovered how deeply rooted this racism was when he tried to join a church in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and was turned away. 1 tried all the other churches in New Bedford with the same result," he wrote. African Americans responded to discrimination by organizing to help themselves. In 1816, Richard Allen, formally enslaved, became the first bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The AME, which still exists today. quickly became a center of African American life. Allen also created organizations to improve the lives of blacks, such as the African Society for the Education of Youth. Other Northerm blacks started their own schools, churches, and self-help organizations In 1853, free blacks formed the National Council of Colored People to protest the unequal treatment they received. Such treatment, the council declared, would humble the proudest, crush the energies of the strongest, and retard the progress of the swiftest." That blacks were neither humbled nor crushed by prejudice and discrimination was evidence of their courage and spirit. A. Free blacks in the North were denied the basic rights of citizens and subject to mistreatment, so they often formed communities to help one another B. Some free blacks in the North had a great deal of freedom and equality while others had none. It varied by state. C. Free blacks in the North were almost always mistreated and therefore organized military groups to fight the American government D. Free blacks in the North were almost always mistreated and therefore gave up the fight for a better life

What is the central idea of this text? * Eree Blacks in the North African Americans in the North lived freor lives, but blacks experienced discrimination, or unequal treatment, everywhere they turned. In many states, African Americans were denied the right to vote. They had trouble finding good jobs. In the 1850s, some 87 percent of free blacks in New York held low-paying jobs. "Why should I strive hard?" asked one young African American. What are my prospects?... No one will employ me; white boys won't work with me." In addition to unequal treatment, policies of segregation separated blacks from whites in nearty all public places. Black children were often denied entry into public schools Those states that did educate black children set up separate schools for that purpose. A New Yorker observed around 1860, "Even the noblest black is denied that which is free to the vilest [worst) white. The omnibus. the Iralroad).car. the ballot-box, the jury box the halls of legislation. the amy. the public lands. the school, the church, the lecture room, the social.circle the Irestaurant) table, are all either absolutely.or virtually.denied to him." Douglass discovered how deeply rooted this racism was when he tried to join a church in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and was turned away. 1 tried all the other churches in New Bedford with the same result," he wrote. African Americans responded to discrimination by organizing to help themselves. In 1816, Richard Allen, formally enslaved, became the first bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The AME, which still exists today. quickly became a center of African American life. Allen also created organizations to improve the lives of blacks, such as the African Society for the Education of Youth. Other Northerm blacks started their own schools, churches, and self-help organizations In 1853, free blacks formed the National Council of Colored People to protest the unequal treatment they received. Such treatment, the council declared, would humble the proudest, crush the energies of the strongest, and retard the progress of the swiftest." That blacks were neither humbled nor crushed by prejudice and discrimination was evidence of their courage and spirit. A. Free blacks in the North were denied the basic rights of citizens and subject to mistreatment, so they often formed communities to help one another B. Some free blacks in the North had a great deal of freedom and equality while others had none. It varied by state. C. Free blacks in the North were almost always mistreated and therefore organized military groups to fight the American government D. Free blacks in the North were almost always mistreated and therefore gave up the fight for a better life