The Seventh of March Speech (March 7, 1850) Week 8

         “Now, Sir, upon the general nature and influence of slavery there exists a wide difference of opinion between the northern portion of this country and the southern. It is said on the one side, that, although not the subject of any injunction or direct prohibition in the New Testament, slavery is a wrong; that it is founded merely in the right of the strongest; and that is an oppression, like unjust wars, like all those conflicts by which a powerful nation subjects a weaker to its will; and that, in its nature, whatever may be said of it in the modifications which have taken place, it is not according to the meek spirit of the Gospel. It is not "kindly affectioned"; it does not "seek another's, and not its own"; it does not "let the oppressed go free". These are the sentiments that are cherished, and of late with greatly augmented force, among the people of the Northern States” (Daniel Webster).

This quote reflects the time when African Americans were slaves, and treated as not humans being.  This is a speech written by Daniel Webster supporting slaves. In his speech he is directing to the president and senates to abolish slavery. This quote also suggests a union nation. Webster states that, although slavery wasn’t considered wrong in laws, it’s considered oppression and discrimination against individuals. It reflects war and conflict between the North and the South. African Americans were killed and burned. When he says, “it is not according to the meek spirit of the Gospel”. I think he means that these attitudes of discrimination, oppression and conflict are not within God statutes. Christianity represents love, friendship, equality, kindness and peace. Furthermore, Slaves were from the south, and Webster wanted to stop conflicts between the south and the north.

This quote caught my attention because it reminds me slavery history. It’s so sad how African Americans were treated, like they were no humans. They had no rights to decide for their own lives. They were treated like an object that you can buy.  Likewise, they had no rights to learn to read and write. After slavery was abolished by Abraham Lincoln, discrimination stilled exist. After it was abolished, there were not slaves, but there was segregation involved. Everything was separated for whites and blacks, for example parks, schools, busses, houses, neighborhoods. These all were segregated for whites and blacks. Today in 2017, the constitution of U.S. says “all men are created equal”, but discrimination still exist. We can see segregation in different neighborhoods like Manhattan, Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. These boroughs are divided by different ethnic groups.  For instance, white Americans mostly reside in downtown Manhattan.  Finally, A lot people today still practice discriminatory beliefs. I think that discrimination and oppression still exist today in U.S. toward minorities, immigrants and people of color.