In the reading, The Right to Fight: Black Soldiers in the Civil War, it discusses the obstacles blacks had to undergo to be considered army men. After many occurrences of white men and volunteers being slaughtered by brutalities that accompany the military, the last resort was to consider the idea of having “colored men” to offer assistance, and this idea was strongly back by Fredrick Douglass. He argued, “Would to God you let us do something, we lack nothing but your consent…..But you won’t let us go.” And consent was granted in 1863 when blacks began being recruited, and documented by James Henry Gooding. Blacks yearned to display their strengths but were minimized to other duties and even earned less than whites until 1864 which was granted by congress. Despite continued racism throughout the journey of the black men, the proved themselves as soldiers and gained respect from their peers.
Questions1. Why do you think it took so long for the blacks to be granted the right to enlist in the war?
2. How long would it have taken them to get equal pay if the congress denied their request?
2. How long would it have taken them to get equal pay if the congress denied their request?
