Zahra Alexander Emancipation Proclamation & Letter

Period 2
11-16-2022

Link

Emancipation Proclamation
1. What area of the US have those enslaved been freed?
Any state or any designated part of a state (meaning all of the United States).
2. Why is emancipation deemed “fit and necessary war measure”?
This is because Abraham Lincoln felt that freeing the enslaved people would
weaken the army.
3. What does he say newly freed people should refrain from doing?
Abraham Lincoln says that the newly freed people should avoid any violence unless
it’s for self-defense.
4. What does Lincoln encourage newly freed people do?
If they work he recommends doing it for a reasonable wage.
5. Why does God get mentioned again?
God gets mentioned again because the bible was the basis of all political laws and
decisions. (People lived by the bible at the time.)
6. Does this doc actually free enslaved people? Why or why not? If yes, how
so? If not, what would it take to free enslaved people?
Yes this doc does free enslaved people because Abraham Lincoln is declaring that
the enslaved people will now be “forever free”. Meaning that the executive
government of the U.S., including the military and naval authorities “recognize and
maintain the freedom of said persons.”
7. What, then, is the purpose and significance of this document?
The purpose of this is Abraham Lincoln declaring that the enslaved people have
freedom now in all states and that the military, naval authorities, etc. have to
respect their freedom which makes it a significant and important mark in the
proclamation.

1. Who wrote this letter? What do you know about this individual from the letter? (Speaker)
Amari Whitaker, from this text this mother seems to be very strong willed as well as
willing to reach for a goal she believes in
2. Under what circumstances was this letter written? (Occasion) This letter was written
after due to the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation publicization
3. Why was this letter written, i.e., what action(s) does the author request of President
Lincoln? (Audience/Purpose) Amari, demanded that men of color, specifically her son,
should be able to fight in the war, same as white men
4. What inspires or compels her to make her request? She believes that everyone should
be able to fight for freedom of America fairly. She also feared her son would become
enslaved
5. What most concerns her regarding the Proclamation? Amari thinks that if the President
doesn’t revoke the Proclamation, he sone would be sold into slavery.
 6. What do we learn from this letter about emancipation? (Significance) It’s not about the
war, it’s about keeping people of color from significant things and segregating them
7. How would you describe the tone of this letter? Is the tone important? Why or why not? I
would describe the tone as demanding, Whitaker knew what she wanted and demanded
it from the president. As a black woman in the 1800s I'm sure writing and sending this
letter took some real guts and persistence. The overall tone of the letter is majorly
important, it shows her drive and real fearfulness for her son.

NewYorkTimes link
1. What is the significance of Juneteenth?
The significance of Juneteenth is that it’s the annual commemoration of the end of
slavery in the U.S.
2. Do you think it should be celebrated as a national/federal holiday? Why or
why not? Yes, having Juneteenth gives Black Americans this day to have as
their own. It no longer as to be the day that they were “set free” by the white
americans t instead a day for them to celebrate and remember their history
and stories.
3. What does it mean that some large companies have made it a company
holiday?
Some companies were firing their employers that disrepected Gorge Flyd or
made racist comments.

Descendants
As you watch "Descendant" in class, think about ways in which the above readings
connect, support, and challenge what is brought up in the film.
All of the sources connect in the way of celebrating black lives and what they are
owed from America. People of color have been detached from rights since the very
beginning, and still don’t receive the treatment of most other citizens. They all have
a win embedded in their story but also the overarching years of pain hurting them
and their ancestors.