In the primary source “James Henry Gooding, an African American Soldier, Pleads for Equal Treatment, 1863,” discusses how black soldiers were not being treated as equals in comparison to their white counterparts. Their main concern was with being underpaid for the same work as the white soldiers. They felt as though they were being treated as if they were “contraband” instead of freemen. In a way, African Americans were still in a way being treated as slaves when in fact they were free. The issues as described in this primary source exemplify the equality and freedom, or lack thereof, for African Americans following their emancipation. Their lives from that point would forever be different, but what matters is how they changed.
As with most …show more content…
Gooding claims in his letter that they are barely being treated better than if they were slaves or as if they were“contraband”. He states that they have performed their duties exactly as asked and have gotten little in return. Gooding points out that colored soldiers have always been there to serve their country even when they weren’t wanted. He states that black soldiers were at severe disadvantage compared to their white counterpart because the black soldiers lacked, “a paler hue and a better acquaintance with the alphabet.” (James Henry Gooding, an African American Soldier, Pleads for Equal Treatment, 1863). The change in the lives of these soldiers from being slaves to free men has not been one all for the better. Gooding states that although they now are free, there’s still racism present and makes it so they are not treated as equals. Their lives have not been changed for the better in that aspect. The majority of the freed men live in poverty, struggling to provide for their families and being undercut for their work makes their lives that much more difficult. Gooding’s question to President Lincoln was that, “We have done a Soldier’s duty. Why can’t we have a Soldier’s pay?” (James Henry Gooding, an African American Soldier, Pleads for Equal Treatment, 1863). this was not an unreasonable request considering they are putting their lives on the line for a nation that used to have their best interests at heart, of becoming free and equal. After not being paid as equals, the soldiers now realize that the nation did not in fact have their best interests at heart and didn’t care for them and equality as once was
As with most …show more content…
Gooding claims in his letter that they are barely being treated better than if they were slaves or as if they were“contraband”. He states that they have performed their duties exactly as asked and have gotten little in return. Gooding points out that colored soldiers have always been there to serve their country even when they weren’t wanted. He states that black soldiers were at severe disadvantage compared to their white counterpart because the black soldiers lacked, “a paler hue and a better acquaintance with the alphabet.” (James Henry Gooding, an African American Soldier, Pleads for Equal Treatment, 1863). The change in the lives of these soldiers from being slaves to free men has not been one all for the better. Gooding states that although they now are free, there’s still racism present and makes it so they are not treated as equals. Their lives have not been changed for the better in that aspect. The majority of the freed men live in poverty, struggling to provide for their families and being undercut for their work makes their lives that much more difficult. Gooding’s question to President Lincoln was that, “We have done a Soldier’s duty. Why can’t we have a Soldier’s pay?” (James Henry Gooding, an African American Soldier, Pleads for Equal Treatment, 1863). this was not an unreasonable request considering they are putting their lives on the line for a nation that used to have their best interests at heart, of becoming free and equal. After not being paid as equals, the soldiers now realize that the nation did not in fact have their best interests at heart and didn’t care for them and equality as once was