Taper's Perception Of Slavery

The nation is built on laws that were created to be equal to all its citizens. However, in America some were not considered citizens which means that equality didn’t apply to slaves. No doubt America has a past of horrors when it comes to human rights. An escaped slave by the name of Joseph Taper writes a letter to inform of his new life in a different country. In the “Letter by a Fugitive Slave”, Taper provides insight of how his family life is much better since they left America. The letter provides an accurate account of the nation’s perception of slavery because it details the gain of liberty and education which were factors that slaves were deprived of in America. The nation’s perception of slavery was a contradiction to the foundation of our country which was liberty. Slaves were denied of …show more content…
However, the new country has provided Taper and his family with access to education. Taper writes, “We have good schools, and all the colored population supplied with schools.” A stark contrast from the American policy towards educating slaves. Slaves were forbidden to read and obtain an education in America. Williams writes, Louisiana “state’s legislature criminalized teaching slaves to read or write.” According to Williams, “the law punished with death, or imprisonment at hard labor for life.” Basically, Taper was accurate in his portrayal of America’s perception of slavery when dealing with the education of slaves. Although, Taper’s letter was very compelling, there were some in America who believed slavery was valid. They supported slavery based off the history of slavery. According to De Bow’s review, “From the earliest period of our time down to the present moment, slavery has existed in some form or under some name, in almost every country of the globe” However, the basic right to freedom, the principle which America was built on, contradicts the act of