The lecture on African Americans in the 1920s by Professor David Canton is very disturbing. His lecture was on the different unjust treatment that African Americans endured. The professor, to me, was trying to make the listener feel the anguish that African Americans did in the 1920s. In some sense he appeared passionate and at times angry about the treatment of African Americans. The government supported this hostile treatment because they believed African Americans were being subversive if they stood up and defended themselves. In listening to the lecture it is evident that there was unfair treatment with fatal outcome at times of African Americans. Throughout history I have seen the changes made by society and government. African Americans have been heard and continue to be heard as issues occur. I find it hard to describe in words how I feel about the treatment of African Americans in years past. As a veteran I cannot imagine sacrificing my life fighting for the freedom of others and to be denied my own freedom in my country. Many African-American veterans were denied such basic rights and equalities under the law. Contrary, the government continued to suppress any African American whom they believed was subversive. The government set up a Military Intelligence …show more content…
Many government officials were involved in attempting to suppress the African American race. The African American race showed persistence and tenacity in fighting for their rights. Most African Americans in this timeframe were born in the United States therefore they should have been given the same rights. We cannot deny that rights and freedoms were given to African Americans that allowed them to stand up for their rights. Many changes did occur and laws passed as a result of this. Even today we continue to adapt and make
Although slavery was declared over after the passing of the thirteenth amendment, African Americans were not being treated with the respect or equality they deserved. Socially, politically and economically, African American people were not being given equal opportunities as white people. They had certain laws directed at them, which held them back from being equal to their white peers. They also had certain requirements, making it difficult for many African Americans to participate in the opportunity to vote for government leaders. Although they were freed from slavery, there was still a long way to go for equality through America’s reconstruction plan.
What was never presented was the point of view from the African Americans because it was seemingly dismissed. It was eye-opening to read about the experience from an African’s perspective because it brought a whole new light to my understanding of what it meant to be a slave and the struggles black Americans face here in the US, even
Although slavery was abolished, there was still plenty of unequal treatment towards African Americans. In many states, Jim Crow laws were passed that segregated men of different colors. Many were lynched or executed for a crime they never committed. Many individuals voiced their concern over the abuse that others received, and many
Many people will collaborate on Dr. King speech, but will most likely talk about what hardships did African American faced during 1900's. To begin with, when Africans Americans came to America they were slaves they did long hours of hard labor like harvesting fields without being payed and was obligated to live in run down houses outside a real home. Also, many were captured from homes to be turned into slaves some did not even eat they made them starve and worked all day. Also slaves did not have no freedom they had to listen to the whites and if they did not listen to the whites the whites will beat them. Also, slaves did not have no rights to be able to do what they wanted to do.
They had many more rights than they had before however they still experienced a large amount of hate. African Americans migrated during the Great Migration due to poor living conditions and treatment in the Southeast of the United States (Phillips 33) . “For many blacks, their departure from the South was a response to, and a defiance of, the coercions used to keep them bound to segregation” (Phillips 39). In the 1920’s, treatment of African Americans was different, blacks were able to do more such as getting a job however, some felt as though the hate they would get for it wasn 't worth it. Although, there would always be challenges that African Americans would have to face such as landowners supporting the passing of laws meant to control the mobility of blacks, limit their wages, and minimize their chance to purchase and own land (Phillips 33).
Before the American Civil War happened close to four million African-Americans were slaves. At the turn of the century the Naturalization Act of 1970 allowed only white men to vote. After the Civil War the thirteenth (1865), fourteenth (1868) and fifteenth (1870) amendments were passed, allowing African-American males to vote and have citizenship, which also led to ending slavery. Even after the ending of slavery, there were still some white men who tried to keep white supremacy alive thereby dehumanizing and alienating African-Americans from the mainstream of people. Even after African-Americans were given all their rights, there were still problems with racial segregation.
Before, during, and long after the Civil War blacks were discriminated against in almost every form of life. They had to fight and be patient to be accepted as equals among their white counterparts; this process took form over a long period of time, and after many failures, blacks were truly equal in the eyes of the government. The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments which were passed in the late 1860’s were supposed to bring political, social, and economic equality for the blacks; however, this was not the case, while in some facets of life blacks obtained more freedoms they had to wait many years after these amendments were passed to be fully equal to whites. The thirteenth amendment abolished slavery in the United States.
This demonstrates the notion that African Americans were given freedom of speech and
Under the Declaration Independence, it says that everyone has the right to life. In America that does not apply to black people. In the early 1920s, there was a large race riot in Tulsa around 300 innocent black people were killed. It started when black shoe shiner Dick Rowland was arrested after being accused of assaulting a white woman in elevator published by a paper eager to win the local circulation war with the title “To Lynch Negro Tonight”. Whites gathered outside the courthouse of where Rowland was being held to lynch him, blacks came from Greenwood to protect Rowland.
The Book “When Harlem Was In Vogue” explains how African Americans had to face the harsh reality of oppression in America once World war I ended. During the war, American African hero where greatly appreciated for courageous deeds while serving the Military. After the war, African American veterans had to create a renaissance era help narrow minded Americans recognize black culture. “The faults of our country are our faults. Under similar circumstances, we would fight again.
The reason why so many African Americans felt that civil rights was not pushed enough in supporting their new freedom was seen here in, “The Ghetto Uprisings.” In this section Eric Foner states that, “With black unemployment twice that of whites and the average black family income little more than half the white norm.” The point here is that if civil rights had pushed freedom over and above then they might could have decent jobs and fix their poverty problems. Seen in the section, “Freedom and Equality” Eric Foner says, “Johnson’s Great Society may not achieved equality … but it represented the most expansive effort” When conditions such as this came up and fell through, African Americans began to feel that if freedom had been promoted more,
Throughout American history, African Americans have been treated as unequal to whites and were not given the same rights. People suffered through this belief for a long, difficult time. During the twentieth century, African Americans realized living in a segregated society was unjust and finally decided to make a change. Several individuals rose to power to speak out against segregation and give a voice to those unheard. African Americans unified and fought to create a future in which they were equal.
Post Civil War, African Americans started to gain rights to gain rights, and soon gain rights equal to whites. While there were some people/things standing in their way (KKK, Black Codes), in the end they got what they needed; Equality. Many acts and laws were passed to aid the new rights now held by African Americans, as well as the numerous people willing to help. New Amendments were added to give African Americans rights after the war, all giving them some equal rights to whites. The first of the three added was the Thirteenth Amendment, it gave African Americans freedom from slave owners, and stated that no one could be kept as a slave in the U.S..
In the book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome written by Dr.Joy DeGruy she explains how the past events in American history has lead to post traumatic slave syndrome. She explains that the way African Americans were treated during the slave era and after has had an everlasting effect on African Americans. The book goes on to describe how America has been denying its past and has not helped to integrated and level all the playing fields for African Americans. The book brings to light how we can try to contribute in making America a fair and equal place for all as most claim it to be. Through the book DeGruy talks about the four major contributing factors for the reason why America is the way it is.
I have learned that African American studies courses are very vital to American history and culture. I have had the opportunity, through lectures, readings, research, class discussions, notes and personal opinions to be enlightened. With the trough of new knowledge that I have acquired from this class I am able to carry on meaningful conversations and dialogues about the African American and the struggle for equality. Unlike gender inequality that transcends both white and black, the African American struggles were confined to a single race. Growing up, I acquired little to no knowledge about Africa and its history.