Actions and Responses
Example #1
This political picture depicts the hardships faced by African-Americans. When they weren't being prosecuted by their own country, they were abused by the K.K.K and other racist organizations.
Example #2
The excerpt below is from the Provincial Freeman(1854-1857). The excerpt describes segregation and racism through the viewpoint of one of the most famous African-Canadians/Americans in history. This person is Mary Ann Shadd.
"From the position that if there is prejudice against color in the States, it necessarily must exist in Europe, we beg to dissent most emphatically. The absence of prejudice against color in Europe, is no proof of its non-existence in the United States. The conditions on which it depends are not known there, consequently it is not. None of the European governments have the system of negro slavery to cherish; had they, the same results would accrue as do in the United States, where the servile condition of the colored people has given rise to a prejudice such as always exists where there are such antagonisms as the positions of master and slave; and the fact that persons of African, or partly African descent only, are included in the servile class, naturally causes that prejudice to become intensified: so that when the slave becomes a freeman, the color is a bar to his progress. In Russia, when the serf becomes free, he at once takes a position along with the class to which he is promoted; while, in the States, as the color cannot be removed, a withering prejudice constantly pursues him. John Brachman is said to have found the sight of colored gentlemen and white ladies, in company, disgusting to his American taste. Was that feeling a prejudice against color or not? Marriages between white and colored persons, if it were not "for the disgust with which such unions are received in the popular heart, would be dirt cheap all over the country." Now what is this but prejudice against color? What shall we call that disgust in the popular heart? For we are told that there is an increasing number of professional men who, if competent, could do as well as competent white ones; and that as they have had three officials, there is a possibility of having more. The prejudice cannot be of condition, as they have professional men and "magistrates." Why do not these "higher classes," take position with their own class of whites. Surely, as they are now elevated in society, they should sit at the first table, take the best seats in the churches, and the boxes in the theaters. As bearing on this, we here give the observations of an Abolitionist in Nebraska,—that GREAT North West, where the Anti-Emigrationists advise the colored people of the States to go,—as cut from a States contemporary:—
"But the greatest of all reasons why slavery will not exist here, is, I am very sorry to say, a dreadful one; but, nevertheless, a true one. Would you believe it, that multitudes of those who are such flaming Abolitionists here, as they call themselves, are a sui generis kind of Abolitionist—a mongrel character, like Aunt Ophelia, in Uncle Tom's Cabin. They are desperately opposed to slavery entering here—and why? Because they 'dont want the niggers about them.' Now, my blood ran cold within me, when I first ascertained that this was the case; but now I feel quite certain, that the very people who will vote against the introduction of slavery, will also vote for a 'Black Law.' On board our boat, at one of the meetings of our party, I proposed an amendment to our Constitution, so as to read, 'We recognize the right of every male citizen of the United States, without distinction of color, to own 160 acres of land,' &c., merely adding the words, 'without distinction of color: but it was almost unanimously negatived. I find but few who dare to say that they are in favor of allowing the colored man to come here, and buy land on equality with the white man. The common cry is, 'We want no slavery, and no niggers.' Now, although this feeling is satanic, and, to my mind, quite as bad as slavery, yet it will effectually prevent slavery, in name, from existing here. Now, what we want, is radical Abolitionists to come out here, from principle, and not from love of money. Over fifty of the voters of this place, voted for a Nebraska-bill man, and among them was Dr. Robinson; and Mr. Lum, the Orthodox clergyman, advocated the Nebraska man's election. So you see how much dependence is to be put on Eastern anti-slavery men, even, although, I am happy to inform you, 188 persons nobly 'spurned the bribe,' and did not vote for the Pierce Democrat, preferring poverty to riches obtained by striking hands with the Administration. But the spirit of pro-slavery is triumphant here. I have already been threatened by public men with a coat of tar and feathers, for daring to say that the Emigrant Aid Company of Boston has misrepresented the state of affairs here."
"From the position that if there is prejudice against color in the States, it necessarily must exist in Europe, we beg to dissent most emphatically. The absence of prejudice against color in Europe, is no proof of its non-existence in the United States. The conditions on which it depends are not known there, consequently it is not. None of the European governments have the system of negro slavery to cherish; had they, the same results would accrue as do in the United States, where the servile condition of the colored people has given rise to a prejudice such as always exists where there are such antagonisms as the positions of master and slave; and the fact that persons of African, or partly African descent only, are included in the servile class, naturally causes that prejudice to become intensified: so that when the slave becomes a freeman, the color is a bar to his progress. In Russia, when the serf becomes free, he at once takes a position along with the class to which he is promoted; while, in the States, as the color cannot be removed, a withering prejudice constantly pursues him. John Brachman is said to have found the sight of colored gentlemen and white ladies, in company, disgusting to his American taste. Was that feeling a prejudice against color or not? Marriages between white and colored persons, if it were not "for the disgust with which such unions are received in the popular heart, would be dirt cheap all over the country." Now what is this but prejudice against color? What shall we call that disgust in the popular heart? For we are told that there is an increasing number of professional men who, if competent, could do as well as competent white ones; and that as they have had three officials, there is a possibility of having more. The prejudice cannot be of condition, as they have professional men and "magistrates." Why do not these "higher classes," take position with their own class of whites. Surely, as they are now elevated in society, they should sit at the first table, take the best seats in the churches, and the boxes in the theaters. As bearing on this, we here give the observations of an Abolitionist in Nebraska,—that GREAT North West, where the Anti-Emigrationists advise the colored people of the States to go,—as cut from a States contemporary:—
"But the greatest of all reasons why slavery will not exist here, is, I am very sorry to say, a dreadful one; but, nevertheless, a true one. Would you believe it, that multitudes of those who are such flaming Abolitionists here, as they call themselves, are a sui generis kind of Abolitionist—a mongrel character, like Aunt Ophelia, in Uncle Tom's Cabin. They are desperately opposed to slavery entering here—and why? Because they 'dont want the niggers about them.' Now, my blood ran cold within me, when I first ascertained that this was the case; but now I feel quite certain, that the very people who will vote against the introduction of slavery, will also vote for a 'Black Law.' On board our boat, at one of the meetings of our party, I proposed an amendment to our Constitution, so as to read, 'We recognize the right of every male citizen of the United States, without distinction of color, to own 160 acres of land,' &c., merely adding the words, 'without distinction of color: but it was almost unanimously negatived. I find but few who dare to say that they are in favor of allowing the colored man to come here, and buy land on equality with the white man. The common cry is, 'We want no slavery, and no niggers.' Now, although this feeling is satanic, and, to my mind, quite as bad as slavery, yet it will effectually prevent slavery, in name, from existing here. Now, what we want, is radical Abolitionists to come out here, from principle, and not from love of money. Over fifty of the voters of this place, voted for a Nebraska-bill man, and among them was Dr. Robinson; and Mr. Lum, the Orthodox clergyman, advocated the Nebraska man's election. So you see how much dependence is to be put on Eastern anti-slavery men, even, although, I am happy to inform you, 188 persons nobly 'spurned the bribe,' and did not vote for the Pierce Democrat, preferring poverty to riches obtained by striking hands with the Administration. But the spirit of pro-slavery is triumphant here. I have already been threatened by public men with a coat of tar and feathers, for daring to say that the Emigrant Aid Company of Boston has misrepresented the state of affairs here."
Example #3
This excerpt is from the Evening Star, a nighttime version of the Toronto Star. This excerpt was published on Thursday, December 27, 1894. In the excerpt, it mentions how the Empire feels that the whites are unfit to govern. They then say that if the blacks were comfortable, they would become the governors.