Journal 11: In the Hands of a Fellow American

Since when I first began to learn about the African American treatment after the Civil War, back in middle school, only one question has ever consistently played in the back of my mind. After reading the story by Pauline Hopkins, “As the Lord Lives, He Is One of Our Mother’s Children,” this overwhelming feeling to ask who gave another individual a right to take the life of another American citizen, has grown even stronger. 

Our nation was founded on the idea that each individual should have the right to their own life and not be told what to do by the masses, the ones in charge. Our legal system and Congressional system take a long time to complete actions because they are making sure they do not encroach on anyone's personal rights. In the story, "As the Lord Live, He is One of Our Mother's Children," Gentleman Jim, or George Stone as we first know him as, is one who is fighting for his right to live. He has been accused of killing a man and there was no evidence he had done it but individuals from the community decided he and his friend were guilty, without trial, just hearsay. Then that same community took his friends life through lynching and sought to do the same to him. Is hate the driving force of inequality in America? Things have changed since then but during that time there was so much innocent blood spilled by the hands of other true blooded Americans. 


I guess my question is not easily answered but I would conclude as such. Every person has the right to a fair trial, as stated in our Constitution and no other individual has the right to take the life of another person out of anger, greed, jealously or hatred. In the era of lynching, hatred and anger drove the actions of the people in the South and I commend those African Americans who had the courage to stay and risk their lives to try and start living their own "American Dream."