What do you notice? What do you wonder?
1.) When I first saw this ad, I was admiring how these 2 siblings were so dedicated to continue to search for each other for 40 years. I couldn't help but notice how lucky these siblings lives were after they were separated, Mary went to a rich women in California and was declared as the women's heir obtaining her money while William was able to make a small-fortune when he was sold as well, much more fortunate then other families and people. When I first read through this I was wondering what war they were talking about since the article was made in 1897 but after thinking about it I realize that when they said war it was 40 years before they found each other, so the war was most likely the Civil War since it was around 1857 they have lost each other. I was also wondering why it took so long for them to find each other and if they have ever lost hope of finding each other after 40 years.
Time/Place:
2.) This ad was made in 1897 towards the ending of the 19th century, around 32 years after the civil war which was the time when William and Mary were sold off as slaves due to their originally owner dying and being in debt. After the war though in 1897, around that time most formers slaves were living new lives a free people, and were moving up north to live their new lives. Since William was living in the north where racism is at the minimal it would make sense for him to be very successful in his Dray business, especially since the United States was going through some sort of a industrial revolution his business would of been booming. https://maryklann.wixsite.com/hist110/post/module-2-emancipation-and-reconstruction. While Mary was working as a servant in California for a rich family, even though she was originally bought by the family as a slave, after the war has ended since slavery is no longer, when the women who bought her died she made Mary her heir and let her receive her fortune.
Implications/Conclusions:
3.) The ad is showing that overall racism and slavery is slowly but surely going away as time progress's on. There is still signs of slavery since Mary was still slave to her owner in California, but eventually that changed in which the owner made Mary her heir. Another thing that showed that slavery is slowly disappearing is when William made is Dray Business and became wealthy with it since back then when slavery was still there no colored person was even allowed to sell or own businesses. I had realized that it took William and Mary so long to find each other because they were really old when slavery was almost completely abolished allowing them to search for each other, also technology wasn't the best yet to search for each other.
Question for discussion:
If you lost contact with your family member who was sold off to slavery and there was a war that happened after that, would you still look for them? If you have been searching for them for 40 years, would you still believe they would be alive after the war and keep searching?
It is really nice to see families reunite after so long and are happy to see their loved ones, but it's really sad that all this happened just be cause of selfishness and slavery.
I think I'm inclined to go with everyone else's answers. If separated from a loved one I would continue to seek to reunite with them for as long as I was physically able. I would always hold onto the hope that even if we never heard from or saw each other again that they were alive and well. I am glad it worked out well for those siblings.
If I lost a family member, 40 years might seem a lot but I would still look for them no matter what. If there was no news whether they are alive or dead. I would still be looking for them. But this will be challenging, because it has been a long time, and they were sold off to slavery. It just feels there will be so many thoughts running through your head.
Hi! You've done a great job analyzing the ad.
As to your question, I would never stop looking for my relatives and loved ones because the family is vital for me. If there were even one slightest chance that he/she/they are still alive, I would continue on my searches.
Also, I want to ask you if there is one thing in Mary's fate confused you? As you mention in the analysis, Mary was sold to a wealthy family that lived in California. Though, California never was a slave state. I am wondering how did that happen and what was Mary's status in the family?
I personally feel that even after 40 years of no contact or communication, I would still keep searching for them. I feel like in the back of my mind I would be wondering if they were still on this Earth, but I would never stop looking. You just never know.