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Life After Emancipation 315 Views
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Description:
Freedom doesn't work like a magic wand. In this video, we'll take a look at life after Emancipation.
Transcript
- 00:10
Hey there… you got some work for me?
- 00:12
I’ll do anything – shovel manure, clean toilets… even become a politician.
- 00:16
I’m desperate.
- 00:19
Yeah, this freedom thing is great and all, but… it sure doesn’t solve all our problems…
- 00:24
Maybe I should back up a bit.
Full Transcript
- 00:26
There… that’s better.
- 00:28
Ever since we slaves were emancipated following the Civil War…
- 00:32
…we’ve been treated a little differently.
- 00:35
Southern whites aren’t exactly showering
- 00:37
us with apologies and inviting us to their poker games…
- 00:40
…but at least we’re being treated like people now.
- 00:45
For the most part.
- 00:49
Before the war, it was like we were teenagers without any of the rights and privileges of adults.
- 00:54
Except… it was sorta like we were always grounded.
- 00:57
Now, we’re recognized by the U.S. government as actual citizens.
- 01:00
We may still not be considered equals, but at least the government has elevated us above
- 01:05
the level of livestock. Legally, anyway.
- 01:08
Baby steps, I guess.
- 01:14
However, freedom has brought with it a slew
- 01:17
of brand new problems.
- 01:18
Slavery was dehumanizing and awful, but it did provide for our basic needs.
- 01:23
After all, our masters needed us to stay alive and healthy… so they could exploit us.
- 01:28
Some slave masters even allowed their slaves to be educated.
- 01:35
Of course, now they can’t afford to support so many paid workers, so most have been let go.
- 01:40
Which means no job, no house, and no guaranteed way to score a steady meal.
- 01:45
Emancipation? More like “emaciation.”
- 01:49
We’re free, which is great, but we now find ourselves in abject poverty…
- 01:55
…and there is very little employment opportunity being offered by white men.
- 02:00
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think they were holding just a little bit of a grudge.
- 02:07
I’ve still got my fingers crossed that things will turn around and times will get better…
- 02:10
…but in the meantime, I could really go for a heaping plate of corn pone.
- 02:14
Or just about anything...
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