The “oppressed” is what I have always viewed the African American community. To
endure so much over a long period of time and still try to fight for rights to this day, is
unjustifiable. The white community have now used racial color-blindness to force themselves to
believe that they do not view blacks as different or less than. Abraham Lincoln tried to first
abolish slavery, but even in his document, “The Lincoln Papers,” abolishing slavery was still
made a choice. The documents states that “the point is not that all the states tolerating slavery
would very soon, if at all, initiate emancipation… (The Lincoln Papers, 2021).” This quote
proves that there was still some type of justification in mind to blacks being slaves and treated
inhumanly. Even after the abolishment, African Americans were mistreated, mostly because of
their conscious known rights as citizens of the United States. Therefore, African Americans have
experienced social, political, economic, and educational struggles to obtain first class citizenship
and equal rights.
African Americans resisted oppression in many ways, from past history classes I have
learned various ways African American resistance to oppression. One of them being the way
they were being treated. Improper treatment led African Americans to run away, destroy
property, and some cases work slowly because of being treated so poorly. Also, women would
kill their own children, so that they would not become a slave. Some African Americans went to
the extent of suicide or doing bodily harm so that didn’t have to work in those conditions.
African Americans experienced different opportunities during World War 1. Almost a
half of million migrated to the north because of the stringent laws that were placed in the South.
Some of the reasons for migration were, unfair legal systems, lynching, and inequality of
education. During the war there were opportunities for jobs and more equality for African
Americans up North. The demand was very high for blacks to migrate to the north that some
were paid to go because of job opportunities. According to Christensen, S. (2007, December 06)
the demand for work resulted in the loss of five million lives due to military and the restriction of
foreign immigration.
The Civil Rights movement was a struggle for social justice that occurred in the 1950 and
the 1960’s. for African Americans to obtain equal right under law in the United States (The Civil
Rights Act of 1957). During this movement slavery was abolished, but there was still
devastating impact on African Americans due to prejudice and racism. Although, this movement
made so that African Americans can vote, there were still disparities that was faced due to the
southerners. Some of those difficulties were literacy programs, knowing that African Americans
struggle with having opportunities to get education. To this day, we still struggle with the voting
issue in the United States. The main factor is this movement was to protest for equal rights
without violence. Even though laws were passed, African Americans still had to suffer with
discrimination with housing and employment.
The Civil Rights leaders were, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Harriet Tubman.
These leaders all had impact on this movement because of the change they all were trying to
accomplish. I picked these three leaders because of their legacies. Martin Luther King, wanted
to end segregation in America and for African Americans to be able to have equal opportunities
when it came to education, and economic opportunities. He had the non-violent approach and it
led to violence because of White Supremacy. Malcolm X, was a leader with a different
approach, his favorite line and I quote ‘By any means necessary” which urged African
Americans to fight for their rights and come together as one nation under Islam. Harriet Tubman
era was earlier in history. She freed many slaves to the North for freedom and equality.
The differences of African American experience from 1865 to now is that our voices are
being heard to a certain extent. We can protest non-violently without resistance. Opportunity
for education is equal and fair. There are a lot of similarities from 1865 to this day. First, the job
market still discriminates with African Americans. I know from my own experience with the job
market after obtaining degree. Jim Crow still is in the making with restriction on voting in the
south. The law states that if in summer or hot weather if an elder needs water, then you will be
prosecuted for the act of giving them a bottled water.
Women’s Rights with the Abortion Law in Texas. This law indicates that in the event of
any women being raped, if the fetus has a heartbeat, that you can’t get an abortion. Even if you
were raped by a family member if the fetus has a heartbeat no abortion. This law is unfair in so
many ways.
Police brutality against people of color still exist in the worst way. The police were
established right after slavery ended. They were placed to keep the negros in line after slavey
was abolished. To this day, the police are still treating the people of color unfairly because of the
color of their skin. There is no way to deny this, it proven every time you turn on the television.
We are still oppressed with the justice system in the worst way. White Supremacist rewarding
murders, as hero’s and supporting them with jobs and vast opportunities for work. The fact that
it was legal for Texas Border Officers to apprehend Haitian Americans with horses and whips is
unbelievable. As more things change the more, they stay the same. In my opinion, African
American still have a long way to go.
Reference
Christensen, S. (2007, December 06). The Great Migration (1915-1960) Blackpast.org.
http//.www.blackpast.org/African American-history/great-migration-1915-1960/Civil
Rights Act of 1957. Civil Rights Digital library.
The Library of Congress. The Lincoln Papers. (2021). Retrieved from:
https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/mss/mal/148/1481000/1481000.pdf