Glossary
Disruption (of family structures)
The severe breaking apart of African American families due to the institution of slavery, through forced sales and separation.
Example:
The constant threat of Disruption meant that enslaved families lived with the perpetual fear of being torn apart at any moment.
Education
A significant function of the Freedmen's Bureau, focused on establishing schools and literacy programs for African Americans of all ages.
Example:
The emphasis on Education by the Freedmen's Bureau led to the creation of numerous schools, laying the groundwork for future Black colleges and universities.
Essential Aid
A core function of the Freedmen's Bureau that involved providing basic necessities like food, clothing, and medical care to those in need.
Example:
Without the Essential Aid provided by the Freedmen's Bureau, many newly freed individuals would have faced severe hardship and starvation.
Freedmen's Bureau
A U.S. government agency established in 1865 to assist formerly enslaved people and poor whites in the South during the Reconstruction era.
Example:
The Freedmen's Bureau played a crucial role in providing education and legal assistance to newly freed African Americans after the Civil War.
Jumping the broom
An informal marriage ceremony practiced by enslaved African Americans, symbolizing their union in the absence of legal recognition.
Example:
Even though it wasn't legally binding, jumping the broom was a deeply meaningful ritual for enslaved couples, affirming their commitment to one another.
Legal Marriage (post-slavery)
The formal, legally recognized union of African American couples after emancipation, often facilitated by the Freedmen's Bureau.
Example:
Achieving Legal Marriage after slavery was a profound act of self-determination and a cornerstone in rebuilding stable Black communities.
Legalizing Marriages
A vital service offered by the Freedmen's Bureau, which formally recognized and officiated unions that were not legally binding under slavery.
Example:
The Bureau's work in Legalizing Marriages allowed countless Black couples to formally establish their family units and gain legal recognition.
Reconstruction era
The period following the Civil War (1865-1877) focused on rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into society.
Example:
During the Reconstruction era, many African Americans sought to reunite their families and establish independent lives.
Resilience (of African Americans)
The remarkable ability of African Americans to endure, adapt, and maintain cultural identity and community bonds despite the brutal conditions of slavery and its aftermath.
Example:
Despite the immense challenges, the Resilience of African Americans was evident in their creation of new kinship bonds and the preservation of oral histories.
Resource Management
One of the key functions of the Freedmen's Bureau, involving the handling of abandoned and confiscated lands and properties.
Example:
The Bureau's Resource Management efforts aimed to redistribute land to support formerly enslaved people, though this was often met with resistance.
The Search for Separated Kin
The widespread effort by formerly enslaved African Americans after emancipation to locate and reunite with family members from whom they had been separated by slavery.
Example:
The Search for Separated Kin often involved long journeys on foot and placing advertisements in newspapers, highlighting the deep desire for family reunification.