Erin ’s Reviews > A Moment in the Sun: Black Manhattan Before the Civil War > Status Update

Throughout the 1820s and 1830s white New Yorkers complained incessantly about the number of Blacks in the streets.

The white population came to view the court system as the best means of keeping Blacks in line.

Underpinning slaveowner bafflement at the behavior of many African Americans was the widespread view that slavery in New York was less severe than in the South.

In the 1810 census nearly 11% of free Black heads of households were named Johnson, Williams or Smith.

Early 19th century New York City with its rapidly expanding economy was a magnet for both free African Americans and fleeing enslaved men and women.

This first generation of free Blacks was eager to help and show they belonged to claim New York as theirs.

For most of the 18th century New York City had ranked 2nd only to Charleston South Carolina in the number of slaves held by its inhabitants.