While reading Livy and Cicero, my brain was screaming at me “Civil Rights Movement! It’s right there in the speech!” There’s a racial hierarchy in America. During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans were the plebeians: no place in government, regarded in lower esteem than Caucasians, expected to treat Caucasians with “the highest form of respect,” and interracial relationships were not allowed (and that’s putting it lightly). “Now, however, it is perfectly obvious, seeing how bitter an opposition they have raised to our proposed laws. For what is our purpose in framing them except to remind them that we are their fellow-citizens, and though we do not possess the same power, we still inhabit the same country...” (Livy, pg. 2). The Civil Rights Movement was about being able to vote people into office that represented African Americans, because, although they lived in the same country, Caucasians and African Americans were not near equal. The plebeians rose up in the same way.
I liked that these selections talk about intermarriage, because, at least in my education, we never talked about interracial relationships. I was raised with an example of intermarriage through my parents, so, I always assumed it was an accepted thing. When we go through the different civilizations in history, I always understand the hierarchies. I get that we need some form of a hierarchy in order to maintain order. Someone has to be in charge. What I never understand is the idea that marrying someone who is a higher or lower class was not allowed. To keep with the theme of connecting the Civil Rights Movement, it blows my mind that marrying someone of a different race used to be punishable by death.
I liked that these selections talk about intermarriage, because, at least in my education, we never talked about interracial relationships. I was raised with an example of intermarriage through my parents, so, I always assumed it was an accepted thing. When we go through the different civilizations in history, I always understand the hierarchies. I get that we need some form of a hierarchy in order to maintain order. Someone has to be in charge. What I never understand is the idea that marrying someone who is a higher or lower class was not allowed. To keep with the theme of connecting the Civil Rights Movement, it blows my mind that marrying someone of a different race used to be punishable by death.
P.S. I commented on Abigale Bell's post and Caroline Tucker's post.
Interracial marriage was always an intriguing subject when researching different civilization's views on the matter. It seems as though controlling imperial-like forces usually restrict this freedom because they have exalted their own idea of an ideal race, and have thus considered everyone else folly. In more "harmonic" nations, shall we say? The interracial marriage restrictions were less applied because the nations were more accepting of different races in the first place.
ReplyDeleteHi Isabelle! I loved reading your post! You touched on a point which is highly debated in our country even today. I found it astounding in 'History of Rome' that the plebeians were allowed citizenship, they were even allowed a small place in government, but they were not allowed to intermarry. Such was the patrician fear of contaminating their "pure" bloodline. Much like during the Civil Rights Movement (and even still today), the people have a similar mindset towards African Americans. I cannot understand how people can be so prejudiced against each other for so petty a reason as this.
ReplyDelete