Josephine Griffing's Speech

Josephine Griffing: Ladies and gentleman, it is an honor for you to have me here today. First off, I would like to thank you all for giving me such opportunity to voice for the underprivileged. I am here to ask your kind and generous sympathy of the Congress and the wealthy ones that have more clothing, books, and food than needed. If you all can lend a helping hand to the starving poor and those who are close the death.

Jacob R. Shipherd: Ladies and gentleman, like what Mrs. Griffing had stated it is with great pleasure to stand before you all today. I am here not for the same reason as Mrs. Griffing, which most of you already know. I am here today to save you from giving away your hard earn money. To awaken you from the fantasy Mrs. Griffing
Shipherd, but can you please classified what you mean by “for those who refused to find a job.”

Jacob R. Shipherd: I have already said it loud and clear, but if you didn’t hear it I don’t mind repeating it once again. Let me make it more understandable for you Mrs. Griffing, the former slaves or as some people like to put it, the Negroes are demanding for too much aid, way more than the Congress can offer. Actually, I don’t blame them, as you are the one behind them all, writing your appeals and asking the Congress for sympathy.

Josephine Griffing: Mr. Shipherd you had clarified what you had stated then so will I. I don’t ask for sympathy and aid if not needed, but the truth is the black community is suffering. They were forced into Washington without a choice. Families have torn apart, along with friendship. They don’t have shelter, a warm comfortable bed, and the very least food for survival. Mothers would see their children starve to death, crying to me, telling me they were better off as slaves. I would like everyone to hear this sentence once more, a mother thinks their lives are worst than enslavement! Just as we thought we are abolishing the worst thing we have done to them, we ended up breaking down into further miseries. The mother told me as slaves, she would at least have a bed to sleep in, food for her babies so they don’t die. Winters is coming, if we don’t provide them with the resources they need, we will see more dead bodies
Shipherd: They asked for freedom and freedom is what they were granted. What more do they want? If the Negroes continued to ask us for assistance and aid, how is that different from slavery? In the end isn’t still the white men feeding and sheltering the black families? If they really want to be free they should go and find their own job, make their own money. Not sitting at home and asking a white woman to begged for their