African American lives changed between 1920 and 1960. Slavery was one of the oldest types of human trade in America, where it first appeared in the 18th and 19th centuries. In all of America, where black citizens were owned by white masters, slavery as a practice was lawful. Until it was outlawed in the late 20th century, this cruel practice persisted. However, there were numerous events that happened between 1920 and 1960. (Bambara, 2015). Black art became important due to publications made in 1920, which marked the beginning of the Harlem Renaissance. Many African Americans joined in the military in 1941 to fight in World War 2. Jackie Robinson as a sports man made history in 1947 by becoming the first black African to play baseball. In earlier days, leagues were segregated based on race and African-Americans could not participate in national league games. Jackie had earlier been discharged from the army after being court martialed. Jim Crow laws were in play in most sectors of the American economy especially education. Public schools were segregated based on race which meant different facilities (Hughes, 1926). In 1954 however, a Supreme Court ruling was made in favor of abolishing laws that separated the two races in public schools.
In 1955, a young boy named Emmett Till only fourteen years old was murdered in cold blood. Emmett had travelled to Money, Mississippi to visit relatives and in the process got in trouble by making flirtatious whistle towards a woman (Herndon, 1937). The boy would later on be murdered and dumped in the Mississippi river. The culprits would thereafter be charged with kidnapping charges only leading to demonstrations. A young pastor named Martin Luther King Jr would lead a boycott against a bus company in Montgomery, Alabama. The boycott was against Jim Crow laws that had segregated seats based on race.
The education sector had received a major boast earlier on with desegregation of schools around the country. The law would however be opposed in some states around America such as Arkansas. The governor of the state Orval Faubus made a successful reelection campaign vowing to avoid desegregation (Bambara, 2015). The federal government would however send National Guard police and the army to enforce the law in public schools. Sit ins is the other trend that developed in 1960 as four black students started sits ins at a Woolworths store that could not sell them coffee. The trend would later catch on as more sit ins occurred in colleges.
How Notions of Identity and Inclusion Evolve
Beginning of slavery brought many Africans from different countries leading to establishment of clear American roots. The African American community was treated as second class citizens in all social places. The law was clear on the type of establishments that the black community could enter (Hughes, 1926). It is for this reason that Fredrick Douglas would bring a motion to remove Jim Crow laws against African Americans. The first reason that he presented was need to fight slavery as African Americans. It was important for the black society to fight as one force in a bid to end slavery.
The second reason that Douglas presented was that America was the only home that African Americans knew. Slavery started as early as the 18th and 19th century when the business started. Slaves brought in different markets in Europe left families without a possibility to trace them. The law prohibited interracial marriages which meant that Africans intermarried establishing new homes in America. Due to this, Douglas fought for integration of the black society into other sectors.
The main purpose of slavery was for Americans to acquire cheap labor for the large pyrethrum farms. White masters owned huge tracts of land which in turn demanded huge numbers of slaves per household. The result of this was low wages that could not buy any meaningful property (Hughes, 1926). Douglas however pushed for abolishing of the law that prohibited African Americans from owning property. He argued that, African Americans had abandoned their homes back in Africa hence the need to acquire property. The clause was meant to make lives better by escaping poverty.
Fourthly, he wanted to prevent emigration of the African community in various states. The white community had taken charge of all economic activities and punished disobedience severely sometimes death. It is hence for this reason that most African Americans decided to participate in emigration from racially abusive states Bambara, 2015). Douglas however wanted for African Americans to stand their ground in a bid to end slavery. Slavery had been losing grip in many sectors of the economy as education, churches, transport and other social activities were desegregated.
Who Americans should be, live and what role of government changed for African-Americans.
The integration of various activities in small steps such as improving the education sector led to improved activities. The government played a role in pushing for various laws affecting the black community in a bid to end segregation. Education is the first sector that the government participated in eliminating Jim Crow laws. In the past it was impossible for the black race to mix with white race in schools. The government however enforced a court order making it legal for black and white citizens to attend common public schools.
Discrimination is the other factor that played a role in increasing slavery cases around America. African Americans were divided into groups starting with neighborhoods where specific groups lived. It was also impossible for black Americans to visit certain stores and hospitals as they were reserved for white citizens (Herndon, 1937). The government played a huge role in such cases as it became necessary to have equal laws for all citizens. The government enacted laws that abolished segregation of both races at all levels. It is such efforts that made it possible to end slavery.
Economic justice is the other factor that differentiated white from black citizens in America. White citizens in America had the ability to acquire property in any part of America without opposition. The black community however was limited on the number of economic activities they would participate in (Bambara, 2015). This in turn made it impossible for black citizens to escape poverty. It was possible to see economic disparity between the two races as white masters progressed. The government’s decision to banish segregation however offered an opportunity for the black community to acquire property.
In the end it is important to note that, the journey to eliminate first slavery and segregation has taken combined efforts. The black community had to rise and oppose various laws imposed against them. The government on the other hand played a huge role in implementing various laws that prohibited slavery and segregation. It is from this point that a conclusive argument may be made on progress in abolishing slavery.
References
Bambara, T. (2005). The Black Woman: An Anthology. New York: Washington Square Press.
Herndon, A. (1937). History Is a Weapon. “You Cannot Kill the Working Class”1-15.
Hughes, L. (1926). The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain. New York: The Nation.
