Ned Cobb: an Important Person in American History

The life story of Ned Cobb is a piece of American history that everyone can benefit from learning. Ned Cobb who is also known by the name of Nate Shaw was born after slavery was abolished. His parents had been slaves. Like many black men at that time, Ned was illiterate. He was illiterate due to the lack of education opportunities available to black people at that period of time. Ned Cobb's history is available to us thanks to a college student who recorded Nate's life story.

Nate lived during a time when black people were held down. Black people were treated as second class citizens. Many black people worked as sharecroppers and treated unfairly. Sharecroppers were never given the opportunity to get ahead. In fact, the sharecropping system was set up in such a way as to keep the sharecropper in endless debt. Black people may of been freed from slavery, but they still were not given the opportunity to be free. They were kept in constant debt and their rights were violated. Poor white people also suffered the difficult life of being sharecroppers.

Ned Shaw's story gives us a great view of what life in the south was like for black people during that time in history. What makes Ned's story invaluable though, is the way in which he lived his life. Ned is an inspiration to others. Ned knew that he had the world against him, but he would not satisfy himself with the poor and hopeless life that most black people faced. Ned was an honest man that worked hard to achieve his goals. He saw the world for what it was. He knew that the rich white people sought to keep the laboring class poor. He knew that white people liked to keep black people down. Ned refused to let anybody hold him down as far as was in his power. He knew it was wrong the way black people were treated, but he only had so much power. Ned used all the power that he had to make his life better.

Ned worked hard. He believed that hard and honest labor was the key to success. It worked for Ned. He managed to get himself out of sharecropping and on to his own land. He always kept his family fed and clothed. Ned even owned not one, but two automobiles. Not many black people owned automobiles at this time in history. All of this was not an easy accomplishment. It was through hard work, smart decisions and standing up for himself that Nate was able to achieve all that he did.

Ned had every reason to hate white people, but he didn't. Nate saw each person as an individual and did not lump them into one big group. Something every person could learn from. He knew that the majority of white people in the south sought to hold black people down. White people wouldn't let black people get ahead. If a black person started to get ahead, white people looked for ways to what they had away. But Ned saw that their were some good white people. He saw that there were poor white people as well. Ned differentiated between friend and foe by the individuals merits and not by their color.

Ned Cobb stood up for what was right, worked hard, lived an honest life and treated others kindly. Odds were against him, but he refused to let that bring him down. What Ned accomplished in his life is truly commendable.

Source:
{All God's Dangers - The Life of Nate Shaw, Theodore Rosengarten}