Kansas symbolized the Promised Land for many African Americans during the post-Civil War era due to its potential for freedom and opportunity. After enduring the oppressive conditions of slavery and the systemic racism prevalent in the Southern states, they viewed Kansas as a sanctuary where they could carve out new lives. The availability of land under the Homestead Act encouraged migration, providing a chance for economic independence and self-determination. Furthermore, the spirit of community among black settlers fostered a sense of belonging and mutual support that many had never experienced before. As they arrived in Kansas, like John Solomon Lewis, they often reflected on their newfound freedom and the possibilities that lay ahead, expressing a profound sense of liberation that contrasted starkly with their pasts.
"When I landed on the soil [of Kansas] I looked on the ground and I says this is free ground. Then I looked on the heavens and I says them is free and beautiful heavens. Then I looked within my heart and I says to myself, I wonder why I was never free before?"
This experience of John Solomon Lewis was one of many that were shared in black churches across the South.
Write a paragraph (5 sentences) that explains why Kansas looked like the Promised Land to African Americans. Compose complete sentences that illustrate proper grammar and spelling.
(4 points)
1 answer