African American History Personal Statement Examples

Slavery began in the late 16th century to early 18th century. Africans were brought to American colonies by white masters to come and work on their plantations in the South. They were treated harshly with no payments for all their hard work. In addition, they lived under harsh living conditions, and this led to their resistance against these harsh conditions. The racism towards the African Americans who were slaves was at its extreme as they did not have any rights; no civil nor political rights.

Culture is not a fixed phenomenon, nor is it the same in all places or to all people. It is relative to time, place, and particular people. Learning about other people can help us to understand ourselves and to be better world citizens.

The tensions of race and ethnicity, although vastly improved since the civil war, between racial groups still affects America on a wide scale. From our representation in politics to the daily discrimination that minority groups may face, racism and discrimination are still huge problems that our society faces. Recently, the shooting of African-American teenager Michael Brown has brought the discrimination in the town of Ferguson, Missouri to light, as well as, reminded American that the fight against discrimination is far from over. Michael Brown’s death and the following reaction in Ferguson can exemplify the sociological terms of minority groups, stereotypes, prejudice, racial profiling, and discrimination.

As I video blog this Journal Entry, I will share personal thoughts and feelings on American Racial Relations. This week’s module, on American Racial Relations: Prejudice, Racism and Oppression is very powerful, and influential topic. Throughout the history of the United States, and for as long as I can remember, racism between Black and White Americans has shown to be a major issue. The history of American racism has likely altered current behaviors and attitudes of each group toward one another such as the decreases and prejudice and the rise in racial anger in Americans.

Throughout time and history, most of the White culture has become accustomed to the resulting diversity and changes. From the Reconstruction Era to the Civil Rights Movement, the struggle to achieve and maintain good race relations was evident. America was once the place where a black man had been considered property; now he’s considered an equal human being. These events and many more have shaped the American culture and relationships in which we live in today. It wasn’t always an easy transition for either Whites or African Americans. Some tension in racial relations still exists today. Take for example, the incidents in Ferguson and Baltimore. Race relations weren’t as tense as before, but some are still angered. Also, the presidential elections of President Obama for two consecutive years is strong proof that race relations have progressed. There has been less opposition, and in fact, increased support and involvement from Whites for most minority groups, especially African Americans. Overall, race relations have immensely improved from the time after Civil

The great connotation of racism in American life received dramatic and widely publicized emphasis in the “Report of the national advisory commission on Civil Disorders,” in March 1968 (US Commission of Civil rights, 1970) . Clearly the Americans never believed that they were being racists which again caused a situation that became contentious among the Whites and Blacks and thus proves that, due to being ignorant about this situation with minorities, the minorities have certainly become defiant in harsh

1b. I am a woman, I practice Catholicism, I am 26 years old. As for my socio economic background I come from a middle class family. Growing up in the Congo we didn’t have much money, my parents did everything in their power to provide us with everything that we need to have the best possible life. For that reason my dad got a job here in Denver twenty plus years ago and we had to start all over. It was through the help of many family friends and relatives that we were able to have all the chances in life. My parents had to go to school and learn English and work at the same time. They had sacrificed a lot in order to make sure that we had everything in order to succeed in this

In Ellis Cose last chapter in The Envy of the World: On Being a Black Man in America, he list twelve “Hard Truths.” The first truth reads: “Play the race card carefully , and at your own peril.” To play the race card means to use race to gain an advantage in a situation. At your own peril is another way of saying at your own risk. The whole phrase as a whole acknowledges the fact that being of a certain race holds an advantage. In order to gain the advantages during different situations you must use the race as a tool, but carefully. Being that you must be cautious with using your race, negative consequences may follow if the race card is used the wrong way. This is why it must be done at your own risk so there is no one to blame but yourself.

Despite numerous misconceptions, African Americans who have attended HBCUs have thrived tremendously. In fact, African American students that attend an HBCU are more likely to go on to graduate from a professional school than African American graduates from other institutional types. Brandon Busteed, an executive director who organized a survey about the matter under Gallup-Purdue University stated, “There are still noticeable challenges around completion rates and loan default rates, and this data doesn’t change that…but this data does add a whole new dimension to the conversation about the value of HBCUs. Black students are having very meaningful experiences at HBCUs, compared to black graduates from everywhere else.” (Busteed) Here we can assume what Busteed analyzed from the survey was that despite the fact that HBCUs seem to have challenges, for instance one that wasn’t mention regarding how PWIs receive a substation amount of funding as compared to HBCUs. In the face of all this the black students that do attend HBCUs are still confident and graduate quite successful. Moreover, approximately 33% of African American students receiving their PhDs

I am a spoiled rich kid. I live in an upper middle class town located in one of the prosperous countries in the world. I attend to a competitive school with qualified teachers who care about their students. I have seemingly endless opportunity to participate in my community or gain experience in a job. I have fair skin, living in a world where is being Caucasian is advantageous.

It all began in the year 1955. This was the year that so many great things shook the foundation of America that will never be forgotten for years and years to come. My name is Joyce Norman I was a military brat that was born and raised in the small town of Fayetteville, North Carolina along with one brother and four sisters. To show a little humor, this is another place like Texas that has bipolar weather from sunny skies with a hint of rain to a giant blizzard that’ll give you a death of pneumonia. Throughout, the years of my life as an African American we heard songs of change, we were insured and inspired in church that change would come some way or another either in the community or in our nation. As the world continued to change I

I am an African American. You must be wondering what’s my name since im “black”, you might be thinking that its ghetto, right? No need to know where I came from, you must think that I come from the projects right? It’s not like it’s important to you. You probably think that my future plans are that I won’t finished high school and that I will become pregnant. One look at the color of my skin is all it takes. Right? Look again.

Being an African American woman in a Caucasian male dominated society, I have experienced my share of racial and sexual inequalities. Nonetheless, for the purpose of assignment only racial inequality will be discussed. As stated in last week’s assignment. For centuries, inhabitants of the earth have had an innate superiority complex, countries with greater weapons, numbers, technology and economic resources, created systems of inequality through domination of inferior-minority-groups, maintained and perpetuated through social forces.

As stated in Webster's II Dictionary, a woman is defined to be an adult female human. In today's society being an African American woman is a rigid task to live up to. It means to reside to what their ancestors have left behind, which means to be stronger than ever. Rosa Parks was strong, Harriet Tubman was also strong, and Jezebel was even stronger. So what exactly does it mean to be a woman? It means to stand up for what is right, even if that means sacrifice, it means to be strong whether it be physically, emotionally, or mentally. African American women are perceived to be the backbone of the family, meaning that even though the male may support the family financially, that the women have the emotional and mental part in the bag.

African Americans have a long history in the Americas. Their experience in United States is however laden with historical records of oppression and segregation. It has been difficult to shed off slavery tags that emanates from their historical entry into the Americas. There are many issues that emerge when considering the experience of African Americans. One of the most important issues that has been extensively studied in regard to African American experience is the issue of leadership and politics. For a long time, African-American leadership has been sidelined until the rise of civil rights movements starting from 1950s. Since then, African Americans have exerted their position in United States leadership culminating in election of