Avery County Stereotypical Slavery Case Study

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With Avery County historically always been a very petite county and approximately never exceeding a population of 17,834, the views and opinions of slavery are corresponding within most residents of the county. To fully understand what most residents think of slavery, the history of slavery in Avery County must be discussed. Involuntary servitude in this particular county was shifted from the typical vision of “American slavery”. Stereotypical slavery usually is envisioned with large plantation homes and brutal masters. However, this was not the case in Avery County. While slavery initially started with Native Americans, the first documented form of slavery in Avery County was an African owned by a man named William Davenport. Davenport owned …show more content…
A descendent of the Banner family currently teaches at the only high school located in Avery County. The Davenport and Avery families have deep connections within the county, and their descendants are currently enrolled in the school system. With this, their family’s opinions of owning slaves are easily spread to everyone else in the county. After the Civil War, most of the slaves left Avery County leaving the county dominantly white. In addition to this, most that grow up in Avery County stay in Avery County. Some may go off to school, but most return and raise their family near the same house they grew up in. With this, their education level is very low. In these circumstances, one who is educated can be seen as one who has a vast amount of experiences, and has develop their own opinions rather than conforming to the opinions of those around them.
Though most families in Avery County have the funds to travel, they have no desire to leave the county, and there is little to no racial diversity within the county. Their opinions on slavery and the black race as a whole are formed due to conformity. Considering they are uneducated and heavily influenced by those who previously owned slaves, they are unable to and do not develop opinions of their own, and their views are very limited and similar. With this, they unanimously see slavery as wrong, but they still see
…show more content…
My mother and her family spent most their youth traveling all over the United States. With this, they experienced a vast amount of cultures and people. Considering they were educated, they were able to develop their own opinions about slavery and the black race. They found slavery to be a horrid and patriarchal based system, and they viewed the black and white races as equal. After my aunt graduated from high school, she moved to Ecuador and fell in love with a black man. Whenever she brought my uncle to meet her family, they were welcoming and loving.
Due to these varying views and opinions about slavery and the black race, there is tension within my family. My entire family on my father’s side was very fond of the family on my mother’s side until my aunt married her husband. Once they were married, tension was created in my family. My father’s side looked down upon my mother’s side for condoning the relation between them. My paternal grandparents stopped attending our family’s Thanksgiving dinner. In addition, they lessened communication with my intermediate family due to our support of their

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