How did African Americans respond to compensated emancipation?

Answer 1

African Americans generally viewed compensated emancipation with skepticism and disappointment, as it often prioritized the financial interests of slaveholders over their rights and freedom. Many believed that true emancipation should not involve compensation for enslavers, as it perpetuated the notion that their labor and lives were commodities. Additionally, the limited scope of such measures often failed to address the systemic inequalities and injustices faced by African Americans, leading to calls for more comprehensive reforms. Overall, while some supported gradual emancipation efforts, many sought immediate and unconditional freedom.