Were they really free?

After black slaves were freed in the north, they lived a restricted life. White men had more privileges. They also were separated from the whites. So how free were free blacks in the north?

In Philadelphia, African Americans were excluded from concert halls, public transportation, schools, churches, orphanages, and other places. Not so free. Soon after, they began to lose the right to vote. They were also required to carry passes when traveling in some places and couldn't own property in others. They could only use the ferry in certain conditions. They couldn't own horses or sheep. In Boston, they were not allowed to carry a cane unless they couldn't walk without one.

Whites could have all these things. They took the property requirement to vote from the whites and kept it for blacks. White men could go wherever they wanted, walk wherever they wanted, and do whatever they wanted. They didn't need passes like blacks. They could own firearms too. The whites had more rights than blacks.

Blacks were treated poorly because of their skin color. In addition to all of the restrictions they had, the whites treated them like outcasts. Some states would not allow free blacks to enter the state. In Illinois, if a free black entered the state and stayed for more than 10 days, were guilty of "high misdemeanor."

Blacks had a lot of restrictions. White men had more privileges and rights. They were also treated poorly because of their skin color. I don't think free blacks were really free.