In Chapter 1 and 2 of “Creating Black Americans,” author Nell Irvin Painter addresses an imperative issue in which African history and the lives of Africans are often dismissed (2) and continue to be perceived in a negative light (1). This book gives the author the chance to revive the history of Africa, being this a sacred place to provide readers with a “history of their own.” (Painter 4) The issue that Africans were depicted in a negative light impacted various artworks and educational settings in the 19th and early 20th century. For instance, in educational settings, many students were exposed to the Eurocentric Western learning which its depiction of Africa were not only biased, but racist as well.
The course begins with the year 1877, which is when Reconstruction “ended”, even though it stilled occurred for years after, but not at as great of capacity. I believe that this is the best place to start this course because there is a different name to the United States after Reconstruction, and to see how much progress was made after the Civil War. Many important events occurred during Reconstruction, such as the creation of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. These amendments legally allowed for African- Americans to have rights in the United States. African American men were now legal United States citizens due to the Fourteenth Amendment, and had “equal protection of the laws” compared to white citizens during this time era, and
The recently freed African Americans plead to receive citizenship and equal rights, they expected to be treated as any other human being. After many years of slavery, the African Americans were finally freed from slavery by president Lincoln. Many of them were granted freedom for serving loyally in the Union army, along with certain rights, such as the right to buy land. The freed slaves were then allowed to purchase land, and received help from the government in the form of establishments such as Freedman’s Bureau and Freedmen’s Aid Society. The former slaves were now allowed to attend certain churches, schools, and were also allowed to socialize in public, although only in certain places.
Radical Republicans wanted the society of the South to change imminently, no slow progression, and that included giving rights to former slaves. According to the series, the Republicans created the Freedmen’s Bureau, who is responsible for the general welfare of the freed slaves. They built schools, and also with 800,000 acres of confiscated land, with the intention of giving that land to freed slaves, but this land never makes it to freed slaves. While under President Andrew Johnson he approved of freeing slaves and taking down big plantation elite, he did not believe in making blacks somewhat equal in society. During elections, many former Confederate states have been won by former rebel legislators, and many of those legislators enact the
African Americans face a struggle with racism which has been present in our country before the Civil War began in 1861. America still faces racism today however, around the 1920’s the daily life of an African American slowly began to improve. Thus, this time period was known by many, as the “Negro Fad” (O’Neill). The quality of life and freedom of African Americans that lived in the United States was constantly evolving and never completely considered ‘equal’. From being enslaved, to fighting for their freedom, African Americans were greatly changing the status quo and beginning to make their mark in the United States.
In the early 1900’s America as a country was going through a reconstruction as they just overcame a four year battle that split the country into free and slave states. . Race played a big factor in this reconstruction, because before the civil war wealthy whites were able to own slaves. Slaves were supposed to gain their full freedom after the civil war, but they never really gained it. Many opportunities opened for Americans, and as the country became one again.
Progressivism is the term applied to a variety of responses to the economic and social rapid industrialization introduced to America. This term began as a social movement, but eventually turned into a political movement. According to the textbook, progressivism had roots in the 1890s at the time that multiple reformers were shocked due to the devastation of the depression in 1893. However, progressivism did not mean progress for blacks at this time. Progressivism was the first modern reform movement in many ways.
Francisco Alarcon Discussion question: African Americans in the Late 1800s If I would of had to follow an African American leader during this time of segregation I would have definitely followed, W.E.B. Du Bois, instead of Booker T. Washington because if I were an African American during this period of time I would want my rights to be enforced As a human being and respected, I believe no matter our race we shall have the right to demand are rights if there are not given to us. and I believe demanding rights in my opinion is a faster way to get whites to respect African American Rights rather than asking them and waiting the way Booker T. Washington thought it should be done. African Americans during this period of time were prevented from
During the early 1800’s, President Thomas Jefferson effectively doubled the size of the United States under the Louisiana Purchase. This set the way for Westward expansion, alongside an increase in industrialism and overall economic growth. In fact, many citizens were able to thrive and make a better living in the agricultural business than anywhere else. All seemed to be going well in this new and ever expanding country, except for one underlying issue; slavery. Many African Americans were treated as the lowest of the classes, even indistinguishable from livestock.
Rights of African Americans in the 1930s African American rights in the 1930s were immensely limited, depending on where you were located. The US was vastly different, and had very diverse views on society. Each state had its own thoughts on what should and should not be permitted. After the Civil War, African Americans had more rights in the south then in the north.
According to history, race and ethnicity mainly consisted of white and black, however with the recent (last 50 years) influx of immigrants, the trend shows a diversification that will increase in the future. United States is slowly diverging from white and black, where it is now considered as a multi-ethnic and race society. The book states that Latinos and Asians are able to mix with white people due to their skin color and socioeconomic status, though those with darker skin will be often considered as an African American. The predictions for the future refer to a higher amount of interracial families, where the line will no longer be between white and black, but nonblack and
When a majority of today's society envisions a young African American, they don't often associate such a person with the terms "successful", "prosperous" or even just "well off". Rather, black people have become a group that is mocked. The African diaspora are often referred to as "thugs", "uneducated" and "lazy". According to a 2015 News Week study, out of the 41% of those that choose higher education, black males make up 33.9% of that pool. Which is significantly higher than the 18% they previously held in 1988.
After the Civil War, our country was battered and beaten, but it rebuilt itself over time and spread its policies, as well as manufacturing practices, throughout our country. Early in the 20th century, members of our nation started to look at some of these practices and policies and began to question their merit and whether they assisted our population or not. Many people were involved in the progressive movement in America from the presidents to a slew of popular authors and photographers. The one thing that they had in common was that they saw problems with how various industries in our nation performed that they knew needed to be fixed. They did not always agree on everything, such as immigration, but they always had the nation’s best interest at heart.
In the 1950s there were several laws that kept African American people separated from White Americans. African Americans were not allowed to do anything with White Americans or even be close to them. The White Americans were so harsh toward them that they established laws that said that African Americans could not vote, could not enter the same building of White Americans, they was not even allowed to drink out of the same water fountain. The people of the South were very strict to their beliefs and laws and if any African American was caught breaking any of the laws they were punished and sometimes killed. Some African Americans that were not familiar with the dangers of the south were few of the unfortunate ones to lose their life.
African American Studies was a great experience. Has opened my eyes to my surrounding and the world around me. This course with Dr. Sheba Lo, was something out of me confront zone. I learned so many things from race to cultural to the importance aspect of African American. We are isolated to an environment that hide so much history that we all don’t think they are important to who we have become.
