Essay on Separate and Unequal

African American males in this age group are more likely to be incarcerated than Caucasians and individual of Latino descent due to lack of affordable housing, untraditional family structures, domestic violence and inequality in the justice system (Young, Y., 2015). For many poor Americans, having a decent home and suitable living environment remains a dream. This lack of adequate housing is not only a burden for many of the poor, but it is harmful to society as a whole (Freeman, L., 2002). This lack of affordable housing is only more complicated for individuals with lower educational attainment and wealth disparities. In 1960, 20 percent of black children lived with their mothers but not their fathers; by 2010, 53 percent of all black children lived in such families. Domestic violence among African Americans is related to economic

Take a step back, check the history books about African Americans, and observe the importance of the family. “Historically, strong marriages and commitment to family life have been central features of African-American families (Murphy).” So in reality, marriage has been the groundwork of the home by keeping the home intact; having a foundation is a major key because it creates stability not only for the children but for the adults. “Today the desire to marry seems to be less prevalent in the middle class because women feel they do not need a husband for economic support, and for the low income

The Negro Family: The Case for National Action report by Daniel Moynihan persuades readers to think that blacks are living in poverty are all not able to achieve a good life. He says that if black men were to all have jobs then black families would stay out of poverty. This is false because a family’s income is not determined by just the man. A black woman can have a higher paying job and support the family financially. The report points that single parent women are not able to raise children in the ghetto because of the environment and statistics of the past. Single, black mothers and fathers can raise their child to be intelligent and successful without being in a high-end part of town. These statistics are not accurate for everyone in the black community.

Research studies have shown that African Americans are currently the least likely ethnic group to be married in this country. This paper will examine some of the reasons why this trend exists when there was a time when marriage rates among blacks were about equal to those of whites. History, culture, economics and dominant culture influences have impacted the current trends in African American families. Many are choosing to postpone marriage, while others are finding alternative ways to cultivate family and raise children. Does the African American definition of family differ from that of the dominant culture? How has ecological systems influenced past and present trends in African American families? These questions and more are examined

Martin Luther King Jr. was a leader in the Civil Rights Era, advocating for the Civil Rights Act’s passage and eventually passage of the Voting Rights Act in the 1960s. In his capacity as a Civil Rights leader, MLK delivered his famous “I have a dream” speech after the march for Civil Rights in Washington, D.C. His speech was delivered on August 28th in front of the Lincoln Memorial. In his speech, MLK made sure to emphasize the hope that many African Americans had in the United States. Furthermore, MLK makes it clear that hope to him is defined as, “Sons of former slaves and sons of former slave owners can sit down at the table of brotherhood… that Mississippi will someday be turned into an oasis of freedom and justice… that [his] children will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” (King, 219) MLK’s sense of hope is shared by his need for the humane and equal treatment of African Americans. Moreover, MLK stands and speaks in front of Abraham Lincoln’s National Monument, alluding to the historic signing of the Emancipation Proclamation which abolished slavery. The significance of this allusion helps to show the progress that has yet to be made, the fact that African Americans 100 years later still need to fight to be treated like human beings. MLK hopes to lead a movement which will see the abolishment of segregation between people of color and white people, as well as the right for African Americans to vote and reform their

This note was a promise that all men -yes, black men as well as white men- would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Throughout his demonstration he never ceased to repeat about how the nation must not allow protests to degenerate into physical fights. Thus, only Martin Luther King, but million other civil disobedients sought for freedom and equality with the power of civil disobedience and doing it without violence. In the final analysis, the topic of civil disobedience is actually prevailing in our society regarding recent events.

The black men of today have no strong foundation to mature, and the black women of today have embodied what they think men want and accepted less from men (Batchelor and Garcia) because their identity is lost due to absentee fathers. These children born in single parent households are statistically more vulnerable to be school dropouts, criminals, and single parents themselves (Batchelor and Garcia). Because this problem is the most recent and is shows no sign of improving, it appears that priorities are misplaced. Civil rights leaders have advocated for fighting against police brutality and mass incarceration, and most others cite “black-on-black” crime to be of greater importance. These issues have existed in the past and don't compare to the societal impact of absentee fathers. It is the most damaging to the black community not only because of sheer numbers, but also because of how accepted it

On August 28, 1963, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. In the presence of thousands of civil rights activists, from all kinds of backgrounds, white and black, rich and poor, young and old, Martin Luther King Jr. declared his dream and his vision for the future of blacks. A dream in which whites and blacks lived in harmonious peace, where segregation was no more, and where blacks rejoiced the freedom of equal rights. A dream that happened to be unrealistic. The harsh reality? Blacks were bound in chains by racial segregation and discrimination, viewed as inferior by many racist whites, and lacked equal rights. Furthermore, when blacks would peacefully protest, they were only met with brutal violence and mass casualties. Needless to say, the battle to change their future was very arduous. However, the harsh reality did not deter

Throughout history, African Americans faced daily inequalities through all aspects including, income inequality, educational segregation and civil right challenges. The daily struggles only continued to get worse, as whites realized they were in charge, and that African Americans were not fighting back. In order, to set things right, they decided to do otherwise; it was through the works of Martin Luther King Jr., that made history and shaped parts of the African American community. Not giving in to the oppression and constant threats change soon took place. King influenced many to take that step and fight for their rights, for at the end of the day they were all human. Made up of the same components and by the same God. King shared his dreams and goals for the African American community through the works of non-violence, till this day his tactics of peaceful marches, petitions and walks; have all left their “everlasting effect” that till this day is still in effect.

Martin Luther King Junior’s most remarkable movement, the minds of students across the nation have been being consumed with learning about America’s preeminent leader and his tireless fight against segregation in the United States of America’s. Cogent change occurs when children begin acting similar to the leaders in the world and when the leaders begin acting similar to children. By breaking through the barriers of diversity, Martin Luther King Junior took a small step for discriminated men and women everywhere, and an even more monumental step for all of humanity. In a sense, he woke up humanity and even took the liberty to preach the ideas of equality that is clearly stated in the Constitution and integrated the concepts of freedom, dignity, and equality into America’s reality. With that in mind, he extended his hand in an attempt to remind everyone to recognize the value of a stranger’s character. In the eyes of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, one would be lost in a dark world if one would not allow the characters of another to shine through the clouds of judgment; he once wisely stated, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do

Famous for his distinguished, non-violent actions for advancing civil rights in the 1950s-1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. remains a martyr through peaceful protests that are still currently ongoing. Following the death of Michael Brown, America was spun into action, and entire communities were devoted to the loss of of life; injustice was molded into a brand, BlackLivesMatter, where people of all walks of life came, and still come together as one to peacefully protest for righteousness. No stranger to peaceful activism, these protests have been endorsed by the country in its entirety and others who were wronged similarly, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and endless others, have stimulated thoughts that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” (MLK Jr.). The spark for these protests have been lit for a long time; they were not pursued simply from the unrighteous death. These advocates are protesting decades of abuse and intolerance, and like MLK Jr. said of the same in

A primary technique used to overcome racial segregation during the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement in the United States was direct action. One of the most influential leaders of the Civil Rights Movement was Martin Luther King Junior who is known for his use of nonviolent direct action, which often entailed the violation of laws as an act of civil disobedience. On April 16, 1963, King composed his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” where he accepted the consequences for his disobedience against the Birmingham law which forbids one to parade without a permit. In the letter, King explains the intent of nonviolent direct action, and that although his actions broke the law, this particular act of civil disobedience may be morally justified because the law itself was unjust. In fact, King held a high respect for the supreme law of the United States—the Constitution—as it grants equal protection of all under the law. It was the specific laws throughout the nation which promoted racial segregation that King found to be unjust and required direct action to be overturned. With reference to his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” I will explain King’s concept of the nature and purpose of nonviolent direct action and its relation to civil disobedience, as well as why in order for nonviolent direct action to fulfill its purpose, humans must have the capacity to embrace their natural senses of justice and sympathy in order to suppress their self-interests in favor of justice.

Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial on August 23, 1963 to address something that our founding fathers had never gathered in Philadelphia for: a fight against racism. With the long history of slavery and the rising tensions of segregation, there was a dire need to address this issue. These ideals have pushed themselves into society even long after the abolishment of slavery, and Dr. King’s dream was to ensure equality amongst all men and women across all races. Although some may argue that Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech has already been fulfilled, the unfortunate reality of the overwhelming masses of African-Americans afflicted by police brutality and mass incarceration show that society is far from what Dr. King envisioned.

The Civil Rights Movement was an era rife with tension, anguish and struggle for equal rights in the United States. Dr. Martin Luther King, a more prominent leader, was aware of the injustices that African Americans were experiencing and his methods of protesting put him right at the center of the movement. In 1963, eight Alabama clergymen wrote King a letter as he sat in jail for protesting. They believed that the protests were untimely and unwise and urged King and others to remain patient while working with local level government. After responding in his famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail, the necessity of actively protesting the unfair systemic racism became more apparent than ever. Fast forward almost five and a half decades later, the issues of civil rights still manifest. As people continue to protest against police brutality, discrimination and the persisting systemic racism that plagues society today, there are those who continue to believe that this method is futile and will not cause change. There is a sentiment that people should wait to be relieved from their oppression by reaming calm, docile and quiet. Even though landmark decision from the past fifty-three years have provided some change, the suggestion of remaining calm and not protesting are tactics moderates still use today in order to silence the oppressed.

No amount of makeup could ever disguise the pain and suffering caused by racial prejudice and segregation, which serves as one of the most embarrassing blemishes on America’s historical reputation. On August 23, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered one of the most powerful, bold, and perpetual speeches in history. He shared a dream of his in which his “children [would] one day live in a nation where they [would] not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” (King). At this time in America, African-Americans were segregated and stripped of most of their democratic rights. These continual constitutional crimes were especially active in the “southern states [which] featured not only separate black and white schools…elevators, and cemeteries” (Miller, n.d.). African-Americans were treated as though they did not fit under the criteria to be considered part of the people, severely violating the words of the Declaration of Independence, in which the idea of equality for all is preached. Leading the fight against racial inequality was Martin Luther King Jr., “a Baptist minister and social activist who played a key role in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968” (History.com Staff, 2009). Spurred by events such as the brave Rosa Parks remaining in her front seat spot on a bus in Alabama, the Civil Rights Movement represents a time of great change in America. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech supplied an