*"For Africa to me...is more than a glamorous fact. It is a historical truth. No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place" (Angelou). The treatment of African Americans in the United States has historically been that of great injustice. They have suffered through the hardships of slavery, segregation, and the recurring racism that is still prominent in society today. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is a political allegory that depicts racism in both America and Africa. A political allegory is a story that has a hidden meaning which encourages the readers to question political normalities (“What Is a Political”). The preeminent obstacles faced by African
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The enslavement of these Africans was not by their own will. Almost all of the Africans were kidnapped and then brought onboard ships to be sold at another location. After the initial kidnapping, the Africans would go through multiple inspections during which their captors would look for things such as deformities, narrow chests, or anything that could restrict them from working. If approved, the Africans would board a ship the same night. In certain places, rejected Africans would be beheaded. The approved Africans would be tied up and remain under strict watch at all times. The bottom of the boats which transported the Africans were constantly filled with water. Africans were given a miniscule blanket that served as their only source of protection (“Slave”). Native Africans were treated in an unacceptable manner and caused the following generations to see the African race in a similar, negative …show more content…
In order to prevent the race as a whole from gaining economic, social, legal, and political power, certain laws, known as the Jim Crow Laws, were established. These laws entrenched regulations on the black race’s job availability. African Americans were given the worst jobs with the lowest pay, while the higher paying, more “suitable” jobs were reserved for whites only. These restrictions helped ensure that the white race would remain dominant in society. Socially, blacks and whites were strictly separated. Some examples of this separation were, “A black man couldn 't offer his hand or shake hands with a white man because it implied social equality. A black man couldn 't offer a hand or any other part of his body to a white woman without the risk of being accused of rape. A black man couldn 't offer to light a white woman 's cigarette, because that implied intimacy” (“The Original”). In dealing with the law, African Americans were not able to testify against a white person. In addition, all judges and juries were white. Political oppression was demonstrated by the law inhibiting blacks to vote. As African Americans were unable to vote, they were also unable to elect officials who would be willing to fight for equality (“The Original”). Eighty years later, after enduring a period of political oppression and a lack of officials willing to fight for equality, it was time for
The enslavement of these Africans was not by their own will. Almost all of the Africans were kidnapped and then brought onboard ships to be sold at another location. After the initial kidnapping, the Africans would go through multiple inspections during which their captors would look for things such as deformities, narrow chests, or anything that could restrict them from working. If approved, the Africans would board a ship the same night. In certain places, rejected Africans would be beheaded. The approved Africans would be tied up and remain under strict watch at all times. The bottom of the boats which transported the Africans were constantly filled with water. Africans were given a miniscule blanket that served as their only source of protection (“Slave”). Native Africans were treated in an unacceptable manner and caused the following generations to see the African race in a similar, negative …show more content…
In order to prevent the race as a whole from gaining economic, social, legal, and political power, certain laws, known as the Jim Crow Laws, were established. These laws entrenched regulations on the black race’s job availability. African Americans were given the worst jobs with the lowest pay, while the higher paying, more “suitable” jobs were reserved for whites only. These restrictions helped ensure that the white race would remain dominant in society. Socially, blacks and whites were strictly separated. Some examples of this separation were, “A black man couldn 't offer his hand or shake hands with a white man because it implied social equality. A black man couldn 't offer a hand or any other part of his body to a white woman without the risk of being accused of rape. A black man couldn 't offer to light a white woman 's cigarette, because that implied intimacy” (“The Original”). In dealing with the law, African Americans were not able to testify against a white person. In addition, all judges and juries were white. Political oppression was demonstrated by the law inhibiting blacks to vote. As African Americans were unable to vote, they were also unable to elect officials who would be willing to fight for equality (“The Original”). Eighty years later, after enduring a period of political oppression and a lack of officials willing to fight for equality, it was time for