Black Codes: Black Man's Struggle For Equality

Throughout history, African Americans struggled to become equal. There has been many things that dehumanized African Americans. There were always restrictions amongst them. They needed permission to do every little thing and they didn’t have any say. Every black person was defined as weaker, less intelligent, and overall less valued. They weren’t seen as being equal to whites and no one ever thought that they could be. In March of 1857, the United States Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, declared that all blacks -- slaves as well as free -- were not and could never become citizens of the United States. (Dred Scott v. Sanford) There has been many obstacles that took away the rights guaranteed to African Americans by the Fourteenth

Even though slavery was outlawed, it was replaced with racial discrimination and injustice that was upheld legally by Black Codes. Black Codes were restrictions made amongst African Americans by Southerns . However, African American’s rights improved little. “The codes did grant black persons a few more civil rights than they possessed before the Civil War. The codes declared that “persons of color” now had the right “to acquire, own and dispose of property; to make contracts; to enjoy the fruits of their labor; to sue and be sued; and to receive protection under the law in their persons and property.” (The Southern “Black Codes”) Before slavery ended, African Americans were also not allowed to marry one another, but “for the first time, the law recognized the marriages of black persons and the legitimacy of their children.”(The Southern “Black Codes”) But the law went on to state that, “Marriage between a white person and a person of color shall be illegal and void.” (The Southern "Black Codes") Disobeying a Black Code could lead to imprisonment or wrongful death. The 14th Amendment attempted to prevent discriminatory state laws such as those that made up the Black Codes. “Efforts by the federal government to rebuild the South's economy and society in the 1870s, called Reconstruction, abolished the Black Codes though open racial prejudice and

Despite successful acts against the laws, the effects of Jim Crow remained strong. There was little to no change on any prejudice and discrimination acts. Activists were targeted for death because of their civil rights work. Many individuals lost their lives in the struggle for freedom. People were determined for a change and they sacrifice their own lives, which brought new awareness to the struggle. It took numerous activists and many years before integration was finally implemented. The Jim Crow laws were finally abolished on July 2, 1964 when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It invoked the commerce clause , outlawing discrimination in public