They planned to create an independent
African nation. Others, while not wanting to leave America, still
wanted to withdraw from white society into a world of their own
choosing and making.
The majority, however, insisted that the African immigrant, like
those from Europe, had the right to all the privileges of being
American. Some of them wanted to join the white society, accept
its Euro-American cultural values, forget their past, and
assimilate into the mainstream of American life. Still others,
while wanting to find their place within the American nation,
insisted that the country must be transformed into a genuinely
pluralistic society. While they wanted to be integrated into the
nation, they did not want to join the white society. Instead of
assimilating into Anglo-Saxon culture, they wanted American
civilization to become multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and highly
fluid.
The means which were proposed to achieve these differing ends
were highly diverse. Some argued that the ex-slave must first
demonstrate his readiness to be accepted within white society.
Others claimed that they need only demand the rights which were
legally theirs.
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