Reconstruction Era Sources for your Essay

African-American History the Reconstruction Era


The common culture developed by slaves in the antebellum South included religion, family, folk tales, songs, and a common belief and hope that someday they or their children might be free. "Antebellum black slaves created several unique cultural forms which lightened their burden of oppression, promoted group solidarity, provided ways for verbalizing aggression, sustaining hope, building self-esteem, and often represented areas of life largely free from the control of whites" (Blassingame, 1972, p

African-American History the Reconstruction Era


.to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced" and "that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom" (Current, 1967, p