I Am a Man!

I Am a Man! is a declaration of civil rights, often used as a personal statement and as a declaration of independence against oppression.

Am I Not a Man?

Am I Not A Man And A Brother emblem used by abolitionists.

Historically, in countries such as the United States and South Africa, the term "boy" was used as a pejorative racist insult towards men of color and slaves, indicating their subservient social status of being less than men.[1] In response, Am I Not A Man And A Brother? became a catchphrase used by British and American abolitionists. In 1787, Josiah Wedgwood designed a medallion for the British anti-slavery campaign. He copied the original design from the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade as a cameo in black-and-white. It was widely reproduced and became a popular fashion statement promoting justice, humanity, and freedom.[2]

The question "Am I Not A Man?" was brought up again during the Dred Scott decision of the U.S. Supreme Court.[3] During the Civil Rights Movement at the Memphis sanitation strike in 1968, "I AM A MAN!" signs were used to answer the same question.[4]

On trial for bringing his son back to Nebraska for burial, from a forced march to Oklahoma, in 1879 Ponca Chief Standing Bear spoke to judge Dundy in his Omaha trial, "That hand is not the color of yours, but if I pierce it, I shall feel pain. If you pierce your hand, you also feel pain. The blood that will flow from mine will be the same color as yours. I am a man. God made us both." Standing Bear (and Native Americans) were granted habeas corpus meaning that they had status in the court and were indeed human beings.[5]

Modern use

"I Am a Man!" has been used as a title for books, plays and in film[6] to assert the rights of all people to be treated with dignity. "I Am a Man!" signs were used in Arabic language Ana Rajul during the Arab Spring.[7]

Other uses

See also

References

  1. Andersen, Margaret L. (2008). Sociology With Infotrac: Understanding a Diverse Society. Thompson Learning. p. 61.
  2. Dabydeen, David (February 17, 2011). "The Black Figure in 18th-century Art". BBC News. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  3. Am I Not a Man? by Mark L. Shurtleff. Reviewed by Robert Fleming. AALBC.
  4. Miami Herald
  5. "I Am a Man": Chief Standing Bear's Journey for Justice, Joe Starita 2010.
  6. Marc Myers, "Mining the Memphis Sound", The Wall Street Journal, June 17, 2011.
  7. Ben Shapiro, "Dark Forebodings of the Arab Spring", Frontpage Magazine, May 20, 20110.
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