The Bright Side  

 

This painting was created in 1865 by Winslow Homer. In the painting there are four African Americans and one whose head is sticking out facing the sun. Metaphorically this is saying that even though slavery was horrible and it crippled the African American community the war came and released African Americans from they're shackles. yeah times are hard and it may even be tough just to keep your land and survive,but at least you aren't picking cotton in the field. At least you aren't getting whipped or being taken from your family. African Americans were going through quite a bit and this painting is almost like telling them to suck it up and be grateful for the freedom they should have had anyways.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bright_Side_(painting)

http://americanart.si.edu/pr/library/2012/civilwar/civilwar_wall_text.pdf

http://usatravel.about.com/od/museums/ig/The-Civil-War-and-American-Art/Winslow-Homer--The-Bright-Side.htm

http://www.winslow-homer.com/The-Bright-Side.html