American History: Segregation And Discrimination

1995 Words8 Pages
Segregation American History Since African Americans have had to endure years of segregation and discrimination. What has our government done to eliminate the isolation of African Americans? Have African Americans attained equality and equal civil rights? African Americans have had an uphill battle since the inception of our country dating back to 1776. The start of slavery can date back to slavery which was made illegal in the Northwest Territory. The U.S. Constitution states that Congress may not ban the slave trade until 1808. Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin 1793 that increases the demand for slave labor (Jean Lee Latham;Fritz Kredel,1962). In the same year a Federal law is enacted, providing for the return slaves who had…show more content…
For example African Americans still live in sections of towns, and cities were either they cannot escape the circumstances or have been forced to live due to political or economical factors. In these certain areas the facilities may below par and they do not have the educational advantage like those who live in more affluent neighborhoods. While being isolated in these parts of towns and cities the regular family of African Americans will not seek better health facilities and the health care for these families may have poorer health then other ethnicities who live in and around better facilities. In addition to the poverty like situations the African american may be forced to utilize public transportation therefore not having reliable transportation to maintain a steady job and then must be forced to rely on the government for assistance. In the eighties and early nineties you had the negative image of gangs giving the African american a bad image. If they where not committing drive by’s they were involved in some sort of illegal or illicit…show more content…
In the early eighties the hip hop culture exploded on to American culture and ever since the view of African Americans is to achieve the American dream of big houses and nice cars. You have these artis and or sports figures luring young African American and even Caucasians’ into thinking and acting as if they are African American. With the role models of yesterday and today you have idols like Michal Jordan, Tiger Woods’ who show that it is ok to be and African American. Now you have people from all walks of life and cultures and ethnicities who want to be like these individuals. Back in the eighties the only symbol of African American was the negative portrayal of gangs and everyone was ok if they shot and killed each other. Today you have role models like Jay-Z who is listed on the Forbes magazine as being a billionare and part owner of the New Jersey Nets. Today you also have other African Americans who have become philanthropist such as Oprah Winfries who has done tremendous amounts of charitable work for other and assisted those in Africa with building and all girl school. There is no way that a female black woman would have been able to attain that kind of wealth and power from humble roots in the fifties or sixties only in today society can a person of any race color or creed attain
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