African American History
It is often taught that the social and economic conditions of African Americans have been one of America's greatest struggles. For some, the struggle continues, although changes are evident, it has in no way erased the damage that was inflicted. Others believe that the time has come to move on and consider racism and the residual effect of slavery as a thing of the past. However, it's apparent that the conditions of African Americans have improved, and they are making noticeable contributions in the American Democracy. From slavery to today, many laws has been implemented which would normally restrict blacks from improving their social and economic standards. From the passing of the 14th Amendment to amending the Georgia State flag, laws are continually being updated to reflect America's diversity in regards to African Americans and others. In this paper I will attempt to discuss the progressive improvements of African Americans from their arrival in America in the 15th century until the present day. During a time when it was easier to conform, rather than rebel, Rosa Park, chose the later. Her choice sparked the African American movement during the sixties, igniting others into the bus boycott
Many black activists, such as Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Truman, and Martin Luther King, sacrificed themselves, and began the revolutionizing of America. African Americans are holding the positions that our forefather could only imagine. One critical effort began in Montgomery, Alabama, in December 1955, when a black activist named Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man. Lincoln summed up the problem of slavery in his speech accepting the presidential nomination, saying, "the nation can not survive half-slave and half-free. 3In 1996, 74% of the nation's African Americans aged 25 and over had at least a high school diploma, while 14% had earned at least a bachelor's degree, up from 51 percent and 8 percent, respectively, in 1980About 75,000 African Americans aged 25 and over had doctorates, not statistically different from the number with professional degrees (MD, JP) in 1996. In the end, however, the strongest criticism of slavery was not the behavior of individual masters and overseers towards their slaves, but slavery's fundamental violation of every human being's inalienable right to be free. In 1983 Vanessa Williams became the first African American to win the Miss America Contest. These laws separated blacks and whites in such areas of public life as schools, restaurants, drinking fountains, bus stations, and public transportation. 4"The years that lie behind you, with all their struggle and pains, will in time be remembered only as the way that led to your new life". African Americans achievements continued when L. More remarkable, General Powell was appointed as the United States Military Leader and Secretary of State under Bush. He is the first Black Secretary of State in the United States History.
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