Question

why did the committee of merchants for the relief of colored people suffering from the late riots emphasize that \james costello was a shoemaker, an active man in his business—industrious and sober\?

a.) they wanted their audience to understand that african americans were equally capable of temperance.

b.) they wanted to establish that costello was an innocent and exemplary person who didnt deserve his fate.

c.) they wanted to show that free black people deserved the same social and economic opportunities as white people.

d.) they wanted to emphasize that costello was not enslaved but rather was a free business owner.

Explanation:

Analyze the historical context

The question refers to the "Committee of Merchants for the Relief of Colored People Suffering from the Late Riots" and their report on the New York City Draft Riots of July 1863. During these riots, white mobs, largely composed of working-class Irish immigrants, targeted African Americans, destroying their homes and businesses, and lynching several individuals, including James Costello.

Evaluate the purpose of the description

The Committee described James Costello as "a shoemaker, an active man in his business—industrious and sober" to counter racist stereotypes of the era that depicted Black people as lazy, dependent, or inherently disorderly. By highlighting his respectable profession, work ethic, and sobriety, the Committee aimed to establish that Costello was an innocent, law-abiding, and exemplary citizen who was targeted solely because of his race and did not deserve his brutal fate.

Assess the given options

• a.) While "sober" relates to temperance, the primary goal of the entire description was not merely to prove capability of temperance.
• b.) This option directly aligns with the rhetorical strategy of the Committee: humanizing the victims and proving they were upstanding, innocent citizens who suffered undeserved violence.
• c.) While the Committee supported broader rights, this specific characterization was focused on demonstrating the injustice of his murder rather than advocating for equal economic opportunities.
• d.) Being a shoemaker does not necessarily mean he was a large-scale business owner, and the emphasis is on his character rather than his legal status as a non-enslaved person.

Answer:

• (a.) They wanted their audience to understand that African Americans were equally capable of temperance.
• (b.) They wanted to establish that Costello was an innocent and exemplary person who didn't deserve his fate. (Correct answer)
• (c.) They wanted to show that free Black people deserved the same social and economic opportunities as White people.
• (d.) They wanted to emphasize that Costello was not enslaved but rather was a free business owner.