Movie about after Reconstruction and Freedom
with the end of the civil war and passage of 13th amendment they could embark on freedom
ventures (desired independence - from owners, in houses, schools ect.
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Deeply committed to improving families and toward new futures
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Willing to work very hard (exploit themselves with long work days) but wanted to control
hours and work off of there own land.
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Desired to integrate into american life
Cotton and economic dismay
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Laborers were the most important part of cotton southern economy
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Blacks had the same ability of whites (demand equal respect) this challenged everything
to the bitter core of white peoples soles
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This worried whites-that the blacks would take revenge
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or that they wouldn't work and spur cotton economy any more
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Blacks trying to improve themselves (were seen as competitors to the illiterate whites who
were also trying to do the same)
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this combined with Johnson lenient policies resulted in vigilant KKK groups attacking
blacks
Reconstruction and Political and social freedom
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White resistance to bi-racial government increased
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blacks seeking freedom could count on less help from northerns and government and
could count on more attacks from racist white supremacist groups
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the explaniantion was that the freedmen were unequipt for freedom
END OF RECONSTRUCTION
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crime and piunsihment changed
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effectively criminalized black life
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couldnt walk aside rail road
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couldnt spit, be drunk in public, or yell in womens presence
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exaggeration of black criminalization
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pig laws (enhancing penalties to felony offense)
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theif of pig (5 yrs in prision)
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stealing 8 cent ring could be labor
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IF not employed you could be considered a criminal
Southern states placed blacks in indutries where they could be closely watched (if the states paid
the industires)
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it said slavery was abolsihed except within the nature of a crime
Prisioners could be a source of profit (they abused this-making blacks criminal whenever)
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they increased revenue through this
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all states throughout south (leased CONVICTS to some private industries)
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land owners
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industry owners
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they could do whatever they wanted with there african americans
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