Gaining a more accurate picture of the lives lead by African Americans held in bondage during these times is important for all students, but it is particularly crucial for young African American students who often see it as a period of personal shame. When examining this phase of history, many students cannot understand what they see as the needlessly submissive behavior of blacks suffering under an obviously unjust system. These students see an absence of open dissent and rebellion. This perception can make them both angry and ashamed. The anger is understandable, the shame unnecessary.
Unless they delve beneath the surface, initially, students fail to see the pervasive strength of the system which allowed this injustice to exist. Open rebellion was doomed almost universally to disaster. One's welfare and life and, perhaps more importantly, the welfare and lives of family and loved ones were risked with even a hint of modest dissent or rebellion. Students need first to know of the all encompassing strengths of the system, in order to understand and appreciate the heroics of the resistance, to realize and marvel at the subtle forms of rebellion, and to feel pride in what African Americans achieved in the face of such a formidable foe.
Perhaps, because of the strong emotions this period in United States history elicits, there are a variety of vivid, visual images which have been created by African American artists depicting the people and events of this era, particularly the common people, ones without recognizable names or histories. These works are available for use by those teachers who attempt to make this period come alive for students.
