The Constitution guaranteed them this freedom, and white slaves were virtually non-existent. Slavery was so deeply ingrained as an attribute of the “black race,” that it came to be used as a descriptor to further lower the status of African Americans. Freed from these racial tensions, whites seemed to enjoy freedom without conflict. However, in reality, not all white people had access to the same freedom. “Liberty” often meant the ability to have equal opportunity, as the goal of immigration to the colonies was often based on a desire for economic independence. Equality of opportunity was not the case in a hierarchical and socio-economically divided America. Land ownership or religious affiliation were often required to vote or run for office, respectively. In many ways, slaves were actually subject to a less forced social structure on the large plantations of the South, where they could develop their own private communities. The Gullah language is an example of Creole of English and West African dialects. Religious syncretism often resulted in African-influenced versions of Christianity that were far more culturally mixed than what Puritan Massachusetts required its citizens to adhere to. These cultural characteristics served as the “glue” for many African Americans and reflect the complex facets of the word “freedom.” The expression should therefore be modified to take into account the fact that