Coatesville by John Jay Chapman - 1912

Written as a response and an address to the burning of a black man. This was meant to address, not only the people of Coatesville, but the people of America as well. Chapman's purpose in writing this address is to criticize the people of Coatesville as well as the people of America for standing by and doing nothing in response to the public burning of a person. His purpose is also to inform the people of America that "A nation cannot practice a course of inhuman crime for three hundred years and then suddenly throw off the effects of it. Less than fifty years ago domestic slavery was abolished among us; and in one way or another the marks of that vice are in our faces," (Chapman). Chapman uses this quote to describe how humans accept change gradually rather than abruptly. The abolishment of slavery was an abrupt change that took years to be accepted into society. Just as today we still face issues with people's acceptance towards change in regards to the legalization of gay marriage which is still heavily opposed in society. Being treated unfairly in either situation, whether it be a burning, or the denial of a marriage license.