Maria Stewart believes that the African American race will prosper and gain acceptance from the white community through the growth of moral worth and intellectual improvement. She asserts that no person, regardless of their race, is satisfied with their lives if they are forced to perform menial jobs that are beneath their capabilities. Stewart even claims that she would rather die than be trapped in a job with no possibility of advancement. She uses the metaphor of chains to represent both slavery and being stuck in low-paying jobs, emphasizing the terrible nature of supporting such forms of slavery.
It is impossible to enrich one’s life when spending it on menial tasks such as washing windows, shaking carpets, brushing boots, or tending to gentlemen’s tables. This kind of work does not inspire the motivation to engage in more substantial, intellectual activities once you return home at the end of the day. In conclusion, Stewart attempts to connect with her new white audience by emphasizing that their American blood flows through her. She uses the phrase “your blood” instead of “our blood” because she recognizes that her previous use of colloquial language when addressing her black audience has made her more intelligent crowd skeptical of accepting her into their group. They may consider her as just another “lazy and idle” member of what they perceive as the African American community.
