Reflection About Racism

People saw slaves as incompetent and only having the ability to work for the white man.

Slavery in America was a horrific time period that negatively affected African Americans, and still affect some to this day. Africans were kidnapped from their homes, brought overseas in an inhuman effort, tortured, beaten, and forced to work long grueling hours for no pay. Because of the color of their skin they were considered worthless, and they were also considered as property. Whites did not recognize African Americans as human beings, and

In America, people used to deal with racism daily in The Jim Crow South, the era of ‘Separate but equal.’ In the South, many people of African-American descent experienced racism seen never before. Since the 1960’s, Americans have tried, and tried again to fight for the rights of people, but it never seems like enough. People have long debated, and are still debating, about the issue of Jim Crow, and whether it still lives on today. The effects of The Jim Crow South today still negatively affecting African-Americans today in the south.

In today’s day and age, the United States of America is seen of as the land where every human being is treated fairly. However, it was not always like this and America was considered to be one of the most racist countries in the world up until the 1980’s. From 1885 to 1968, when the Jim Crow laws were in place, black people were segregated from whites and were treated like second class citizens. However, black people fought for equality all throughout the Jim Crow era and finally succeeded after the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. Blacks in the American South sought to improve their lives by supporting and helping white people that had helped them before, by joining the American military, and by protesting against segregation and their rights.

We are reminded of that history with every breath we take of injustice. The unfair treatment of blacks can mostly be attributed to lingering after effects of the end of the civil war and the bitter-sweet downfall of the confederacy. Violence that claims the pavement that we walk on and the lives of those who are our future. Poverty takes hold of the lives of the youth. The dehumanization of those who do not fit the social confines that have been drafted by those who try to crush the people they consider beneath them: It creates a new, invisible barrier that many choose to hold as the definitive disparity that cordially distinguishes the blacks from the

When you look at the riots happening in North Carolina, you see a complete lack of trust that many in the African American community have for the police and white people as a whole today. It seems to be something that is ingrained into their thought process. That it’s them against the rest of America. The stems of these overpowering feelings many African-Americans harbor today can be traced back to slavery. Even though slavery was abolished in 1862, the horrible conditions and accounts of that time still linger with us today. Stories of what Africans slave ancestors had to endure are still retold today.

African Americans have struggled with freedom before America was even a country. Freedom is something that Americans today take for granted. We look at third world countries that continue to exercise discrimination and segregation and America looks down on them. American’s fight wars to protect those discriminated against in other countries. We are almost numb to the fact that we, as Americans, were one of these countries. Some may even feel that these ignorant ideologies still exist today. No one wants to look o the past when this country was not acting like the America we try to project

As an African American I am reminded every day that I am different from someone white. Because of slavery my people have had to fight for equality. Despite that slavery occurred over a hundred and fifty years ago, the racist attitudes and practices that slavery was a part of continue to be embedded in our country�s

Every great civilization or country has had at least one dirty little time in their history that all would rather forget. America knows this feeling well, especially within the 19th century, the slave era. America was divided, the North was generally against slavery and all for letting the African Americans roam free in a colony in Africa. The South on the other hand viewed African Americans as tools, essential to the economy and work, however still just tools. Tools to be bought a sold and driven until the breaking point just like every other implement in the shed. Fast-forward to the 21st century, slavery is gone from America and has become that dirty period of time that is

Enslaved African Americans were treated like animals in the south, without any rights, received no pay for their long hours of daily work, could not have a day off unless their master allowed them to therefore they were very irritated, angry, rebellious, and attacked their masters for this. This is why the African Americans fled up north early before all blacks were granted

The history of slavery in America has been long and treacherous. From day one when their fellow Africans sold them to white men, the long, cramped, and dirty boat ride, and finally being torn away from their family, if they even had family with them. They were then forced to work on large farms, or plantations. After a Civil War, they were finally freed, but still were not equal to white men and women who reminded them daily with segregation.

The United States of America is known for its claims of democracy, equality, and freedom for all of it’s citizens. These claims are the foundation of America’s independence and essentially its entire history. But “claims” are simply all they were in history. While many achieved equal democracy and freedom, the African-American population of the US was exempt from these “inalienable rights” and heavily oppressed by society. The cruelty of slavery and oppression as a whole reached its peak in the 19th century bringing upon the abolitionist movement, which eventually aided in the historic removal of slavery and the continued fight for equal right of citizenship for African-Americans. Of the many abolitionists who fought for

For almost 250 years, African Americans have been treated as a lesser race. They were forced to work hard jobs and had to endure long painful hours. Many dreamt of freedom and some were brave enough to take it. However, most attempts were futile. African Americans who were caught received punishment for their attempt at reclaiming their freedom. After the Civil War, President Lincoln signed Emancipation Proclamation and said a powerful and remarkable speech. the Gettysburg Address. African Americans were freed but still suffered horribly due to racism. They were free but still treated as the scum of the Earth. In the minds of the majority , African Americans deserved nothing but a scowl and the bottom of a master's whip. Some African Americans

Even though the Civil Rights was so long ago, some still question whether our world has overcome the problems faced back then. The U.S. has changed significantly since the Civil Rights in both positive and negative ways, but the majority has clearly been positive. Obviously, there are still improvements we need to make as a society to banish all racism. However, if we work together as a whole, we will definitely be able to achieve these goals.

I would be interested to read some feedback from my classmates if this were a discussion question. "Race" has become that topic that people are trying to avoid, especially now with all of the racially motivated incidents that are happening around the country. It is ultimately forcing people to choose a side, which is simply wrong or right. The topic is beyond black or white, and it is now a free for all. It is especially challenging for an individual like myself. I was born in the Caribbean where the only racism I was ever confronted with was on television or from a book about slavery and civil rights. It was not until my family moved to Melbourne, Florida in the late eighty's that I had my first racist incident. It happened to my brother, while we were playing with some of the children from the apartment complex, and my brother beat this kid in basketball, so he called him the n-word. It was the first time it had ever happened to us ever. I remember my brother just standing there, while the kid ran away. We were unphased by it because we didn’t know how to feel about it. That night we had a long talk with our mother about race, and we played with the kid the very next day. I think the other child was more embarrassed about it because he ran away when he said it, but he and my brother remained friends until we moved away some years later. Now I am not saying that should be the response for everyone. However, I do feel that people give certain things too much power and energy. Therefore let's address these issues of ignorance that were established by individuals whose rationale is just outdated. This revolution begins with the way we communicate with each other and the meanings in the language that we use (Coyle, 2010).