Freed persons; Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877); Southern States -- Politics and government -- 1865-1950
I have discovered that many object to the negro women's being educated
lest they should be led to respect themselves, and not so easily be made
the instruments of the white man's lust.
The people of Vicksburg have asked Colonel Thomas to prevent the
establishment of colored schools within the city--they would probably
say, to preserve the peace of the city; but I feel sure it is because the
sight of them gives pain. And if their removal ever becomes necessary to
the peace of a place, the fact will illustrate public feeling
sufficiently.
I have heard more than one person say that he would kill a colored
teacher if he ever saw one.
The children of a community generally express the public feeling, and we
may usually learn from them what the feeling is, even when the parents,
from prudence, seek to conceal it. Children often exaggerate, but they
get their bias at home. The children of Mississippi throw stones at
colored scholars, and are only restrained by fear from mobbing colored
schools.
My memorandum book contains such information as to points in the interior
of the State as I can gather from officers, and from any reliable source,
to guide me in locating teachers. Some of these memoranda are: "Garrison
withdrawn; school impossible." "No resident federal officer; a teacher
could not be protected." "People much prejudiced; protection cannot be
guaranteed." Such things are said in regard to every place not under
northern protection. I think I do not overstate in saying that I do not
know a single northern man in Mississippi who supposes a colored school
possible where there is no federal sword or bayonet. Some northern men do
not regret this fact, perhaps; and this makes their testimony on this
point more valuable.
White churches recover their houses of worship which the blacks helped to
build, and which they have repaired extensively during the last two
years, and remorselessly turn the blacks out without any regard to their
rights in equity, their feelings, or their religious interests.
I may state here that there is such a general expression of contempt for
negro religion, and such a desire to suppress it, if possible, that it
seems as if the whites thought it a piece of terrible impertinence for
the blacks to worship the same God that we do. The white people also
fear, or affect to fear, that opposition to their plans, and even
insurrection, will be hatched at the meetings of colored people. The
Nemesis of slavery still holds her whip over them. From this source arise
the occasional reports of intended insurrections; and these reports are
intended, often, to cause the prevention of meetings, at which the
colored people may consult together, and convey information important to
them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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