Northern Discrimination Against African Americans
Between 1784 and 1865, New Haven, Connecticut, experienced a consistently growing African American population, making it a home to various communities. Similar to other Northern cities, such as Boston, Philadelphia, and New York, the African American population in New Haven was regarded as having more rights than in Southern states. However, it remained vulnerable to severe discrimination and prejudice. It is possible to state that the community in New Haven could not enjoy the same level of freedom that Blacks in other Northern cities had.
Comparison of Black Experience in Different American Cities
Black Population Size
Although New Haven was home to a large number of colored people of color, their experience was somewhat different from that of Blacks in Boston, Philadelphia, and other cities. One of the key differences was related to the number of free African Americans in New Haven. In 1790, there were fewer than 100 free individuals in New Haven, compared to several hundred in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia (Dias 76-82). As a result, the status of free Blacks in New Haven was not as influential as in other urban areas, and this smaller population had fewer opportunities in New Haven to form their own strong communities and institutions.
Discrimination Severity
Another difference was associated with the level of discrimination faced by free African Americans. Although there were various cases of racism and prejudice in all of the discussed cities, for a certain period of time, New Haven had a reputation for being rather hostile to African Americans and those who supported them. For example, in the 1830s, some white citizens destroyed Simeon Jocelyn’s house because he was an advocate for Black rights and promoted educational opportunities for them (Dias 112-116). However, despite these problems, African Americans in New Haven were still able to form their own cultural institutions and church. Thus, the experiences of colored communities in New Haven were both different and similar to those in other Northern cities.
Work Cited
Dias, Maria Suzette Fernandes, editor. Legacies of Slavery: Comparative Perspectives. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2021.