Eugene V. Debs: "Revolutionary Unionism"

In Eugene V. Debs's speech "Revolutionary Unionism", he talks about how he wants workers to unite together against the capitalist. One thing that stood out to me in his speech is what he says about the workers who do the work for the people who own the jobs. He says, " while the workingmen who do the work and produce the wealth and endure the privations and make the sacrifices of health and limb and life, remain in a wretched state of poverty and dependence."(401). The reason why Debs points this out is to try to make the workers aware of their situation under the capitalist. To also show how although the workers are not always doing the same type of job, that they all have something in common, that they are all in the same class in the social ladder. Debs wanted the workers to be part of a revolutionary unionism rather than a trade union because trade unions only refer to a specific craft, while a revolutionary union refers to EVERY worker. Also Debs believes that if all the workers unite, they would be able to seize control of the government.

W.E.B Du Bois: The Soul of Black Folks (1903)

In Du Bois's essay The Souls of Black Folks, what stood out to me the most in his essay was what he says about Blacks during his days in regard of their goals in America. He says, "[Black men] simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of opportunity closed roughly on his face"(375). What Du Bois is clearly saying is how blacks wish to be both accepted as an African, based on their skin color and culture, also as an American like every other man either white or colored, to be treated equally in opportunity and rights because they are Americans.

William Graham Sumner: What Social Classes Owe to Each Other(1884)

In Sumner's passage about What Social Classes Owe to Each Other, a particular things that he says regarding to the roles of the rich and the poor stood out to me the most. He says "Those who are bound to solve the problems are the rich, comfortable, prosperous, virtuous, respectable, educated, and healthy; those whose right it is to set the problems are those who have been less fortunate or less successful in the struggle for existence"(302). I believe that Sumner is saying that the right or duty of the rich people or those who are in a high social status is to fix the problems made by the poor and low class people, because they are the reason for problems that come up in the first place. He believe the rich should do this because the poor people are "unfit" to solve their own problems according to the thoery of Social Darwinism, in other words "survival of the fittest".

Abraham Lincoln's Speech on Dred Scott Decision(1857)- Equality between Whites and Blacks

What really stood out to me in Lincoln's speech about the Dred Scott decision was one thing he talks about about African Americans in terms of equality. He says, " because I do not want a black women for a slave I must necessarily want her for a wife. I need not have her for either,...In some respects she certainly is not my equal; but in her natural right to eat the bread she earns...she is my equal, and the equal of all others"(264). I think what Lincoln means by this is that blacks are equal to whites only in political wise, and unequal when comes to social equality. He believes that whites and blacks she never be mixed to gether as far as marrying one another, and having children with one another. Lincoln finds amalgamation between these two races "disgusting". I disagee with him on amalgamy, I find that people should be able to mix their race with others if they please without any disgust with the act of doing so. Its beautiful and perfectly natural.