Equality for Americans: How African Americans Achieved Equality

One hundred years after the Emancipation Proclamation was written, African Americans were still fighting for equal rights in every day life. The first real success of this movement did not come until the Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954 which was followed by many boycotts and protests. The largest of these protests, the March on Washington, was held on August 28, 1963 “for jobs and freedom” (March on Washington 11). An incredible amount of preparation went into the event to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people attending from around the nation and to deal with any potential incidents.

A critical moment in the advancement of black political activism came in 1941 when social equality advocates, drove by A. Philip Randolph, threatened to walk on Washington, DC, to challenge victimization blacks in the war business. President Roosevelt assented to act just grudgingly, when his endeavors to discourage black pioneers from energetically challenging his inaction had been totally depleted. On June 25, 1941, Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802, which announced full investment in the national barrier program by all natives of the United States, paying little heed to race, ideology, color, or national origin, taking into account the firm conviction that the majority rule lifestyle inside of the Nation can be shielded effectively just with the help and backing of all gatherings inside of its outskirts. The request obligated that the government, unions, and guard commercial ventures accommodate the full and fair cooperation of all workers. The President proposed to modify black dissent notwithstanding plausible U.S. mediation in World War II, yet in issuing his official request, he propelled black activists, who saw it, and generally depicted it, as a point of reference triumph in bowing the federal government to their

Another way was sit-ins', which is when blacks would sit in a place of business and cause no harm, but sit there in large groups and ask for service, only to be denied and forcefully kicked out. A main face of the march for equality was the man who is well known across the board Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. he was one of the main faces and reason behind social equality, and preached about how protesting peacefully and acting in non-violence would push the white community right into the position to have to grant all equal rights and the right to vote. Dr. King did not live to see what all of his work had accomplished, but shortly after his death in 1968 colored Americans did not only receive social equality but, the south could no longer deny a person of color the right to

To what extent can it be argued that De Jure (legal) segregation was the main obstacle preventing blacks from achieving equality in the 1920s – 1930s?

Political and economic inequality of African American citizens caused two marches in Washington to be planned. A. Philip Randolph, president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, planned the first march in 1941. During the Great Depression, the “New Deal” was formed. The African American citizens had the least amount of benefits from these deals, as well as racial discrimination growing against them, and any jobs dealing with defense were denied from them. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt did not try to take action and stop these discrimination problems Randolph did. Randolph called for fifty thousand people to help him start a March on Washington. In June of 1941, Roosevelt issued the Executive Order 8802 to stop Randolph’s March

Civil rights leaders such as A. Philip Randolph saw the unique situation created by World War II and the acute need for workers as an opportunity to demand equality. In 1941 Randolph threatened President Roosevelt with a 100,000-person march on Washington, D.C., to protest job discrimination. In response, Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802, prohibiting discrimination in defense jobs or the government.

The United States of America was founded upon five founding ideals: liberty, opportunity, rights, democracy, and equality. All five of these ideals have shaped what kind of country the United States has become and what it stands for. By definition, equality is “the state of being of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.” The United States has always been changing the availability of equality, depending on the time period. Compared to the founding period, every American has the same rights and same opportunities. This was not always so, however, and some groups of Americans had less rights and opportunities than others. One group in particular that had different levels of equality throughout history was African Americans. While African Americans do have equality nowadays, this was not always the case. It had taken centuries before African Americans could have the same rights and opportunities as other groups of Americans. Fortunately, this has led to equality amongst all Americans.

Even deprived of their rights, some African Americans can resort to violence to benefit them. But it is not always the answer because the Golden Rule is that we should treat others how we want to be treated. The speech "By Any Means Necessary," written by Malcolm X gives true evidence of being willing to do what is necessary for the black people to acquire rights. African Americans had waited so long to get rights and respect but gained only a portion in the midst of the 1960's. Instead, he wants the black community to take action.

The emancipation proclamation was what seemed like the beginning of freedom for African Americans. African Americans fought hard and valiantly in the American Civil war and with the Unions win freedom and peace for blacks seemed to be assured. As most people would quote," Freedom isn 't free." It almost always has a cost. Africans Americans since the origin of this country have literally laid down their lives for the cost of freedom and opportunity in the US. One of the most coveted freedom 's both past and present is the right to suffrage. My paper discusses the many factors leading to and the trials and tribulations involving black 's right to vote. In this paper, I will discuss the constitutional amendments as well as the landmark supreme court cases that affected both the lives and voting rights of African Americans during the time period of 1865 through 1900.

Throughout history, African Americans have encountered an overwhelming amount of obstacles for justice and equality. You can see instances of these obstacles especially during the 1800’s where there were various forms of segregation and racism such as the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan terrorism, Jim- Crow laws, voting restrictions. These negative forces asserted by societal racism were present both pre and post slavery. Although blacks were often seen as being a core foundation for the creation of society and what it is today, they never were given credit for their work although forced. This was due to the various laws and social morals that were sustained for over 100 years throughout the United States. However, what the world didn’t

Yes, I do believe that people are being prejudice or racist to the African Americans, but other nationalities as well. In todays society everyone has equal rights, but I agree back in the past they did not have any equal rights as the white people. Basically the Caucasians were almost the first ones to be in America and take over the lands. I have one question for you, what kind of groups can be a minority that helped when the African Americans tried to have equal rights?

Today many people believe that we have obtained racial equality. However there are multiple reasons and statistics that contradict those arguments . For decades African Americans has been deprived of basic rights, “If America had racial equality in education and jobs, African Americans would have two million more high school degrees…(Raines)”. There are many drastic racial gaps from education to owning property. Throughout America’s history blacks have been limited, when it comes to education, property, and other things. If people truly believe that after four hundred years of enslavement and limited rights, can be fixed within one generation they are wrong. The African American community has faced

There were many places that the African American faced discrimination which led to the need for Civil Rights reform. Discrimination in housing, transportation, public accommodations and the armed services went virtually unchecked by the Roosevelt administration. Roosevelt was forced to issue an executive order banning discrimination in employment in the defense industries in 1941. He did this to avoid a march on Washington, D. C. led by A. Philip Randolph protesting discrimination in the defense industries. (Rhodes).

The Civil Rights Movement brought many accomplishments to African Americans such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The key issues that African Americans fought for were voting rights, integration and racial equality. They were tired of the discrimination and humiliation they received as a result of the segregation laws imposed on them. “State laws mandated racial separation in schools, parks, playgrounds, restaurants, hotels, public transportation, theaters, restrooms and so on” (Blumberg 40). Lawsuits had been tried to gain rights such as the unsuccessful Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 and the successful Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. Although, the Brown v. Board of Education of

During the civil rights movement, African American was fighting against discrimination and racism Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was the president of the southern Christian leadership conferences. was invited to Birmingham, Alabama to a meeting for the movement for human rights, “ I am here because I have organizational ties here”.(pg 329-330). King usually advocated obedience to law, but decided to fight against an unjust law, because he felt that the court order to forbidden demonstrations was unjust. On April 12, 1963 King was arrested for this violation and held for twenty-four hours not allowed communication with nobody on the outside. When he was allowed to contact he heard of what the news had published on his behalf. Dr. King mentions how Birmingham city gave them no choice. He says the oppressor never voluntarily gives the