This document discusses discrimination and the roots of racist ideologies. It explores how discrimination against African Americans and women became justified through paternalistic and domestic ideologies that claimed they were inferior and dependent on men. It examines how self-interest led to discriminatory policies that then formed the basis for racist ideas and hatred. The document analyzes primary sources that reflect common justifications for slavery and arguments against abolition, as well as cultural attitudes that women should be subservient to men. Overall, it considers how discrimination against both groups was rationalized and embedded into societal institutions and mindsets.
2. Roots of Discrimination
accepted theory
ignorance/hatred racist ideas discriminatory policies
new perspective
self interest discriminatory policies racist ideas hatred
3. Journal
How did reading this make you feel?
What was surprising?
What was not surprising
4. Discrimination: Paternalistic Ideology
“And, it may be added that in no other condition, or in
any other age or country, has the Negro race ever
attained so high an elevation in morals, intelligence, or
civilization”
“blacks had to be kept in slavery; otherwise they would
surely become indolent lazy thievish drunken working
only when they could not steal”
“No, massa, me no want to be free, have good massa,
take care of me when I sick, never ‘buse nigger; no, me
no want to be free”
5. Discrimination:
Anti-slavery Anti-Abolitionists
“Although slavery is wrong… emancipation would do more
harm than good”
“Amalgamation with the other color, produces degradation to
which no lover of this country, no lover of excellence in the
human character, can innocently consent”
Black Americans would civilize the continent under the
tutelage of those White Americans who had civilized them.
It would compensate for “the long course of injuries” they
had endured such that in the end, America, “would have
rendered them perhaps more good than evil”
6. Discrimination: Cult of Domesticity
“A really sensible woman feels her dependence. She
does what she can, but she is conscious of her
inferiority and therefore grateful for support”
“A wife should occupy herself only with domestic
affairs- wait till your husband confides to you those of
high importance- and do not give your advice until he
asks for it. At all times she should behave in a
manner becoming a woman, who had not arms other
than gentleness. Thus, if he is abusive, never retort.”
“Females should become as little children and avoid
a controversial spirit”
7. Round Table Discussion
1. “And, it may be added that in no other condition, or in any other age or country, has
the Negro race ever attained so high an elevation in morals, intelligence, or
civilization”
2. “blacks had to be kept in slavery; otherwise they would surely become indolent lazy
thievish drunken working only when they could not steal”
3. “No, massa, me no want to be free, have good massa, take care of me when I sick,
never ‘buse nigger; no, me no want to be free”
4. “Although slavery is wrong… emancipation would do more harm than good”
5. “Amalgamation with the other color, produces degradation to which no lover of this
country, no lover of excellence in the human character, can innocently consent”
6. Black Americans would civilize the continent under the tutelage of those White
Americans who had civilized them. It would compensate for “the long course of
injuries” they had endured such that in the end, America, “would have rendered them
perhaps more good than evil”
7. “A really sensible woman feels her dependence. She does what she can, but she is
conscious of her inferiority and therefore grateful for support”
8. “A wife should occupy herself only with domestic affairs- wait till your husband
confides to you those of high importance- and do not give your advice until he asks for
it. At all times she should behave in a manner becoming a woman, who had not arms
other than gentleness. Thus, if he is abusive, never retort.”
9. “Females should become as little children and avoid a controversial spirit”
22. Roots of Discrimination
How does this apply to gender discrimination?
accepted theory
ignorance/hatred racist ideas discriminatory policies
new perspective
self interest discriminatory policies racist ideas hatred
23. Psychosexual Control
“After 1830, young, single, and
White working class women
earning wages outside the home
were growing less dependent on
men financially and becoming
more sexually free. White male
gang rapes of White women
began to appear around the same
time as the gang assaults by
White men on Black people. Both
were desperate attempts to
maintain White male supremacy”
– Historian Ibram Kendi, 2016
24. The challenge facing African
American Women
Heafty asexual devoted caretaker;
‘Happy Slave’
‘Yaller Gal’ by Billy Golden
“There is no Nation
under Heaven more
prone to venery
[sexual indulgence]”
25. Ain’t I a Woman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry_i8w2rdQY
26. Conclusion - Think about the legacy
What impact did these movements have on other social
reform movements in the same era?
What impact did these movements have on the
immediate future? (1850s - 1860s)
What are the implications for our world today?
27. Model Text Assignment:
Think of a time you witnessed or experienced
injustice
Write a speech modeled after one of the texts read in class
(Ain’t I a Woman or the Declaration of Sentiments)
Paraphrase the
Declaration of
Independence
List your grievances
(the injustices)
Name your
demands/solution
Ask rhetorical/sarcastic
questions
List your grievances
(the injustices)
Name your
demands/solution
