The Quaker delegations of the 1790's were a time in American history that caused much havoc between the leaders of the north and the south. These delegations called for the federal government to immediately end the African slave-trade. The disagreements caused by the Quaker delegations illustrate three critical constructs that were prevalent during this time.
             One of three critical constructs illustrated within Ellis's "The Silence" is institutional racism. Institutional racism uses the power of an institution to overtly or covertly oppress a socio-racial group. In the 1790's, the United States constitution prevented the "federal government [from tampering] with the slave trade during the first twenty years of the nations' existence." Therefore, the African slave-trade could not end until 1808.
             This example of institutional racism illustrates the American Governments' "push" to brand and oppress Africans by treating them as property. Another historical example of institutional racism occurred as late as the 1920's in the south.
             When blacks were freed from slavery, many moved to the north. However, the southern black population was still large. During this time, much of the black population worked as sharecroppers, who suffered economical abuse from their white employers "[winding up] with very little earnings." This historical occurrence qualifies as institutional racism because when black sharecroppers attempted to challenge their landlords, "southern laws always favored landlords' in disputes" leaving blacks at the mercy of their landlords decisions.
             A second social construct that occurred during the Quaker delegations is cultural racism which overtly or covertly oppresses a socio-racial group through the cultural norms of a society. While the Quaker delegations were heavily discussed the question as to what would be done with freed s...