African American Impact On Society

We are the only people on the face of the Earth that were taken into slavery, taken to a strange land, lost our identity, our religion, lost any inkling of our true African history. We are the only people that once set free from slavery, continue to sit in the land of the people that enslaved us and continue to support a system that works against our very existence.

Over the course of this semester, I was introduced to many people, ideas, writings, and discussions that sparked my interest and enlightened me on African American history. However, I feel like this was just the beginning of my journey of learning the history of my people, as there is still so much out there to be brought to the surface. Prior to taking this course, I was always ignorant on the topic of African American history and simply made the connection to slavery. Additionally, I was unaware of other black activist, movements, and struggles that I had the chance to witness for the first time in this class. I came to a realization of how deprived of this information I was, because other historic events have been deemed more important. A quote that stuck with me throughout the course that was made by Arthur Schomburg was, “... African history and negro history, are the missing pages of world history”.

In this first-hand account, Blyden speaks directly to African American people encouraging them to embrace their Africa roots. He wants African Americans to feel a connection to Africa, as well as understand important information about Africa. In several places in this text he tries to dispel some myths that were commonly held in the 19th century, and even today. Myths like there was never any great society that existed in Africa, and Africa was completely uncivilized. However, even though Blyden dispelled many of these myths, he also played into them. He did this by stating that African Americans could go to Africa and help “furnish a development of civilization which this world has never seen” (201). He makes an argument that Africa is civilized, and

In the 19th and 20th centuries Europe was thriving and wealthy while most of their colonies in Africa were suffering under their rule. The Europeans all wanted a piece of Africa’s land with its plentiful resources and free labor. Around this time, Europe was going through the industrial revolution and because business was booming the European countries need more resources than they already had. The Africans had the land the Europeans wanted to use to continue having booming businesses, they also had African slaves and workers that they can use so they don’t have to pay for labor. In the 19th century leader of the Europeans countries want to discuss how they will divide Africa without the leaders of Africa knowing. The Europeans then started to invade Africa and take control over the citizens. As the Europeans got more powerful, the Africans become more miserable. Unable to match the guns Europe had, African countries began getting claimed, one by one with the exception of two. The Europeans ruled in a cruel way that left many Africans dead or suffering. Many countries tried and successfully broke away from Europeans after many years under colonization. The Europeans had a negative impact on the lives of many Africans in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially with racism and assimilation. People were taught to be a human they had to be like a European which led to many racist views on African people and culture and is why some nations like France used assimilation to make

By going back to one’s roots, the future of developing countries resided in the “development of Africa is one of the most constructive and universally helpful missions” (Locke, 6). This direction was a form of modernization that was an improvement of relationships between African Americans and other races.

Over the centuries, the African people have endured many trials, obstacles, and tribulations. From the moment that they were kidnapped from their homeland, and had been savagely placed in the cargo holds on ships to be sold into slavery to the American people, the Africans (now known in the United States of America as African Americans or Black people) have journey far to achieve, as well as, accomplished what was thought to be the impossible. These things include but are not limited to, freedom, equality, independence, the right to vote, a fair education, a wider range of occupations to pursue, politics, but most of all, to live a better quality of life.

They say history is decided by the victors, so clearly the history Europeans present is intended to uplift Europeans and disempower people of African descent, especially those living in racialized societies. We can say that the history presented today is intended to disempower Africans because it is self evident in European writings as well as contradictory to actual facts. For starters, after the slaves regained their freedom in America history was used to disempower them people believed that the freed negro would “regress to his former self before slavery, i.e a wild, oversexed, bestial, uncivilized being bent on rape, drunkenness, and crime”(Byrum,1999 p.267). This lead the free negro and his family to be segregated in every area of social life under the jim crow. This was because history was used to describe Africans as primitive and uncivilized and in need of slavery to protect Europeans from Africans and Africans from themselves. A false history was used to justify the unequal treatment of Africans and though it is not outrightly spoken today African history is not spoken of positively and further reinforces an inferiority belief amongst Europeans and African-Americans as well. This disparity in the presentation and receiving of information promotes white supremacy and the disunion amongst African

Africa has undergone a long history of being invaded, taken advantage of and colonized. European powers are primarily at fault for this, however they have experienced their own turmoil in this time period: war. This led Europe to create mercenary armies of African soldiers to fight for their countries, particularly in the World Wars. The rampant injustice of this system and many African lives lost was a spark for the African nation states under colonial rule. It led to the wildfire that was African independence movements, protests, and riots. It also led to the Year of Africa, where most countries were recognized as their own entities and no longer colonies. While there are many factors involved in this portion of history, the importance of

A new day and a new dawn for the American people as new decade was upon them and it brought new feelings into the United States. It was a time for a change in America and many felt it coming. While this time period is known for changing the course of history it happens to be one of the most important time periods for certain individuals and certain ideals. Martin Luther King Jr, John F. Kennedy, and Malcolm X were among those new individual rising to the top bring new politics into the white house and bringing new power to the streets of Chicago, North Caroline and beyond. With changes from president to civil right leaders and war consuming the world, politics and power had seemed to have a large influence on what would happen.

Music influnced African American culture by allowing them to express themselves in a new way-specifically, through jazz. This also was one of the first times blacks and whites could both come together and embrace the same topic. Like the document says on page 59, "...originated by blacks but embraced by whites." One challenge these artists faced was the on-going segregation. For example, the text on page 56 says, "On one side, the word 'white' was painted, and on the other, the word, 'colored.'" This shows, how the issue of racism and separation of races continued. But this had a positive impact. Like the text says on page 59, "...when confronted with racism, he 'took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues." This shows it was possible

African Americans blood run threw America veins, and all their hard work and sweat shaped America. How African Americans shape America is the topic I enjoyed the most in African American literature It first started when blacks can through the middle passage, civil rights, and reconstruction period. African Americans had a significant impact in America history, and with all their hard work they shaped America as it is today.

The future of Africans were being impacted by Europeans and U.S. Colonist controlling Africans and taking their voice. King Leopold himself made them feel little and unheard, so little and unheard that people couldn’t even hear Africa’s cry for

The result of the African Holocaust is one of mankind’s greatest tragedies. The aftermath of the colonization, and forced migration of Africans has affected all descendants from the continent. The results of the Maafa, African Holocaust, are a crippled connection to the culture and practices of Africans during the extensive pre-colonial period. Nevertheless, it is important to note that there are tremendous strides by people of African ancestry to reclaim the rich history. However, there are many people who still have the mindset of someone who is enslaved.

Ghanaians, for instance, protested foreign influence of the US and Shirley Graham Du Bois. African American history is no longer just an American chapter. It’s clear that we can learn so much more about African American history through a global

European domination of Africa had global influence economically, politically, and socially. Areas such as France and Portugal saw some benefits economically and places such as Britain saw social and political benefits. Contrastingly, in regions of the world today, people of the African Diaspora are still seen as lesser and tribal. There has been little progress for people of color, but the progress that has been made is significant. However, the progression of people of color has been met with oppression from an ideal that has evolved from years of unchecked privilege; white Supremacy. White supremacy is not just radical KKK groups but a different version of “racial and social discrimination because it is systematic and more fully theorized.” White Supremacy is a notion that white people are superior based on their characteristics and attributes. This ideal is both conscious to those who act on it and subconscious to those who use their white privilege