For Douglas, the reconstruction period is represented by a variety of actions, such as remaining steadfast in his political exhortations, being permitted to work on cotton plantations, producing music, and building cities after achieving freedom. The chapter's main argument centers on the obstacles that the black race has to overcome in order to advance and grow. Although reconstruction signaled the beginning of a time filled with optimistic pledges, according to the author, those promises were never kept. the numerous liberties that they enjoyed before and after the civil war but that were eventually taken away, including the right to an education, the right to vote and hold office, and the right to reunite with family. The black people prioritized owning of land, and they believed that by securing land they could be able to do farming on their own (Painter 144). The forty acre land patches which they were receive were solely recalled to the Confederate citizens. With time, a majority of the black farmers ended up being landless with their numbers continuously increasing after that (Painter 145). It was not easy for the blacks to find jobs thus they resorted to being employed by the previous owners. Regardless of the real struggle, they made in the organization and construction of schools given that they perceived education to be a vital tool in their future life. They made numerous attempts to establish themselves and attaining success, but the results were disastrous. The blacks are considered a threat to the dominant white class's failing perception; the outcome was persecution, assaulting and murder of those who violated the status quo of the white.
It is evident that the Reconstruction era seems to be hard on the blacks compared to earlier times. An important factor to note is the achievements they had made in the earlier times. The abolition of slavery was not an easy thing; a lot had to be done for the progress to be attained. Reconstruction was ended by terrorism alongside other political challenges, for example, corruption and economic crisis (Painter 151). The democratic system which took over never managed to stop incompetence and corruption. After the Reconstruction, the states from the South worked as per the requirements of the elite and advocated for white supremacy with the objective of achieving race division among the poor (Painter 157).
The involvement of the black in American Revolution if only they could be allowed to vote and hold office. Slavery was outlawed, but that was not enough to justify that slavery was abolished, the only way to guarantee that slavery was abolished was through black having a ballot. The black men who managed to hold offices exercised political influence despite having white legislators who prevented black men who were elected from taking their seats.
By understanding the main arguments presented in the chapter, any reader by understanding that slavery is the primary focus of when it comes to the history of Black Americans. It is through the slavery they underwent that we today have freedom and an embedded image of patience among the people. Slavery's pervasiveness was so strong a reason why some of the calls for change and reform were equally achieved.
Work cited
Painter, Nell Irvin. Creating black Americans: African-American history and its meanings, 1619 to the present. Oxford University Press, USA, 2006.
