N ATA L I E N E W M A N A N D M E G H A PAT E L

Photo Essay

Subtopic: Family

“MEANING OF FREEDOM” THESIS

• During Southern Reconstruction, emancipated African Americans rejected white authority by striving for social, economic, and political freedom through unification and improvement of black communities while aspiring to acquire property and control over their own labor, and political equality and involvement.

SUB-THESIS: FAMILY

• African Americans were unified and liberated in their aspirations to social independence through establishing new familial roles, migrating to developing black communities, and rejecting obedience to their previous white oppressors.

Domestic Responsibilities; Familial Roles; Liberty

COMMUNITY; FAMILY; ADOPTION; SELF-IMPROVEMENT; REUNITED

STRENGTHENING PATRIARCHY = TENSION AND UNIFICATION

RESISTANCE TO WHITE SUBJECTION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brock, Ann. 2nd Sunday (Black History Celebration). Digital image. The Old Black Church. Blogspot.

10 Feb. 2008. Web. 3 Jan. 2012.

Delano; Library of Congress, Jack. Leaving the South. Digital image. Black History Museum. Web. 3

Jan. 2012.

Eric Foner, “The Meaning of Freedom,” Allen F. Davis, Harold D. Woodmen, eds. Conflict and

Consensus in American History, Volume 2, 9th ed. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company,

1997, pp. 207-220.

Five Generations of an African-American Family, 1862. Digital image. America's Reconstruction.

Library of Congress, 2011. Web. 3 Jan. 2012.

McCurdy, Alvin D. Unidentified Woman in Formal Dress [ca. 1870s]. Digital image. Archives of

Ontario. 2009. Web. 3 Jan. 2012.

Nast. Emancipation of Negroes, The Future. Digital image. American Experience: Reconstruction:

The Second Civil War. KETC 9 PBS, 19 Dec. 2003. Web. 3 Jan. 2012.

Williams, Heather Andrea. “How Slavery Affected African American Families.” Freedom’s Story,

TeacherServe©. National Humanities Center. 3 January 2012.