Prior to being freed, slaves were not allowed to officially marry but were allowed to live together. The fact that they were together did not exempt them from being sold. If a husband and wife were broken up due to being sold, the spouses were only allowed to meet with the permission of the owner. Because many slave owners feared that slaves marrying between plantations would result in lost time at work and increase the possibility of slaves desire for independence, owners favored slaves marrying on the plantations they currently lived.20 Dubois mentions how this system has improved very little, but the Negro Church is attempting to stop the practice of simply living together by performing marriage ceremonies. However, Dubois still believes that the first change that should be made is the standard of living among blacks. Another problem among the blacks in the South is child labor. Most of the children only attend school when the crops are planted and very few stay in school after the spring. The laborious work hurts them not only academically but physically as
Prior to being freed, slaves were not allowed to officially marry but were allowed to live together. The fact that they were together did not exempt them from being sold. If a husband and wife were broken up due to being sold, the spouses were only allowed to meet with the permission of the owner. Because many slave owners feared that slaves marrying between plantations would result in lost time at work and increase the possibility of slaves desire for independence, owners favored slaves marrying on the plantations they currently lived.20 Dubois mentions how this system has improved very little, but the Negro Church is attempting to stop the practice of simply living together by performing marriage ceremonies. However, Dubois still believes that the first change that should be made is the standard of living among blacks. Another problem among the blacks in the South is child labor. Most of the children only attend school when the crops are planted and very few stay in school after the spring. The laborious work hurts them not only academically but physically as