The Hardships Of African Americans In The 19th Century

Like many other problems, Racism has existed throughout the history of mankind. The definition of Racism is being discriminant and disrespectful towards a racial group with the belief that your own race is superior. Racism has changed the world and how people view each other. This belief that ones race is superior has lead to create violence, stereotypes, health problems and hatred in the world. White Americans’ support for segregation sprang from a widespread belief in black inferiority and that blacks’ disadvantaged status tended to reinforce this sentiment (Harris and Leiberman).

Racism has deep roots in American history. Slavery, segregation, and unnecessary police charges are just a few examples of racism. But, why does racism exist? Many people believe that their race and ethnicity is superior than others, and that those who are “different” are inferior. Those who are considered, “inferior,” have to be treated differently, which results in unfairness and discrimination.

The African Americans thought they should be treated the same and should have all the same right as everyone else and this is have the conflict

The major racial discrimination in the 20th century happened with the formation of the separatist movement called the Ku Klux Klan. The movement was received positively across the nation especially among the whites in the southern states. The movement was being regarded as a racist movement because they were against the idea of racial equality in social and economics. According to Jonathan M. Bryant (2002), pointed out that the Ku Klux Klan

The worth and importance of human beings in this world has been narrowed down to one factor: race. Race has aided in the development of the Human and it is a construct whose sole reason of existing is to oppress one group, while giving another power. There are numerous authors who have studied the meaning of race and how it affects what it means to be human, and each of these individuals have deconstructed the implication of race as what makes a person human while challenging every notion of white superiority over black people. The two races that were created to be in opposition to one another are white and black, and this divide has been able to prosper due to the establishment of reason by white individuals who wanted power.

“Beginning in the late 1870s, Southern state lawmakers passed laws that required Whites and Blacks to attend separate schools and to sit in different areas on public transportation.” (“Jim Crow Laws” 1). People thought these laws were needed because “The Jim Crow system was undergirded by the following beliefs or rationalizations: whites were superior to blacks in all important ways, including but not limited to intelligence, morality, and civilized behavior; sexual relations between blacks and whites would produce a mongrel race which would destroy America;” (“

For many years racism and colonialism have been the reality of the world. Both were used to advance the idea that one race was superior to another, the blacks being inferior to the whites. The Atlantic Slave trade headed the notion of colonialism, the whites believed it was their duty to civilize the blacks as they were seen as ‘untamed beasts’ that needed to be colonized. This resulted in a number of whites exploiting the blacks to gain wealth whilst, the blacks lost everything (families, identities and even their lives). The whites were skilled at manipulating to the point that some blacks believed their views as they often found ways to justify their actions.

The country and the economy have collapsed as soon as Slavery was abolished in 1865. Many people have lost their lives during this history period and different events arouse. The country on the other hand has successfully reconstructed over the years even though it faced a tremendous situation due to the immeasurable debt and the violent war, riots and rebellions. Unfortunately, the Ku Klux Klan and the new types of discrimination have negatively impacted the country since many have been killed and tortured. Similarly, the migration patterns have led to the creation of a new race, the Afro Americans who in the end have aroused to power and still nowadays are fighting for their

White Supremacy; “the belief that white people are superior to those of all other races, especially the black race, and should therefore dominate society.” (Blau, J. R., & Bonilla-Silva, E., 2002). Throughout history, there are many occurences with white supremacist groups targeting the minority groups of the United States, whether it was because of their religion or the color of their skin that was inferior to the average white male. “White supremacy is known for its ruthless treatment of other racial groups, and for its enforcement of a superior race” (Adams, J., & Roscigno, V. J., 2005). In the late 1800’s, there were many different racial groups living in the United States, some including the “civilized” and “uncivilized”.

(socialistworker) Definition Racism is the discrimination between races based on the belief that one’s own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others. (ADL, n.d) Forms of Racism There are several types and forms of racism in our contemporary society. The most important forms of racism are the Individual Racism, a form of racism which infers to an individual 's racist assumptions, to his way of thinking and to his personal behavior, the Aware/Blatant Racism, a type of racism in which racists are not afraid to express their dislike to people of color, the Aware/Covert Racism, a type of racism in which groups of racists are not expressing themselves by saying to someone that they are racist with him.

It has often been said that “that this is a greatest period for people of all races to live in.” Yet with change in society over time , there has a been a divide over the truth about that statement. In dialogue about race issues within the United States, one controversial issue has been about systemic racism towards people of colour, in particular, black americans. On one hand, Ralph Ellison, a recent predecessor to our present time argues that no matter what the future holds, people will judge others based on their association, their image, which will. In relation, a modern black activist group, Black Lives Matter, argues that even though change has come to America race relations, black people are still endangered by the system.

Affirmative action is defined as; the policy of favoring members of a disadvantaged group who suffer from discrimination within a culture. History in America has always had the reoccurring theme of racism. Throughout history there has traditionally been a universal feel of oppression to minorities. Blacks and Latinos specifically have been stereotyped as underprivileged and not able to have equal opportunity in America. Statistics back these claims up as well; America boasts 64% of the American workforce is considered Non-Hispanic White, 16% Hispanic, and a mere 12% for African Americans.

Since slavery became illegal after the Civil War, many Americans needed to get their anger off in other ways. " Frederick Douglass’ son Lewis, saw the war as an extension of America’s racist ideology, for it resulted in 'in the acquisition of an empire containing millions of colored people '" (203). With more colored people part of the American empire, white supremacy was increased. Not only did whites have black people to oppress, but also millions of brown people in the former Spanish lands. All this led to more verbal abuse and murders of colored people.

As mentioned before in this paper, Social Darwinism utilizes a dehumanization tactic to promote superiority among races. However, what happens when this tactic mixes with the ideologies of a democracy? You end up with instances such as Plessy vs. Ferguson and the American ⅗ compromise. With these instances of blatant racism, democracy uses an exception to the rule of equal rights when speaking about the African American minority. 1800s

Alexander arguments were about equality. As stated in the book, “The backlash against the gains of African Americans in the Reconstruction Era was swift and serve. As African Americans obtained political power and began the long march toward greater social and economic equality, whites reacted with panic and outrage” (30). Many whites didn’t appreciate that African American were gaining power. I believe that racism is a very cruel and brutal topic.