Black History: A Journey from Then to Now

1865, 160 years ago, slavery was officially abolished after the Civil War and years upon years of cruelty and suffering of the black people who were forced into slavery, and those slaves finally gained freedom.

Ideally, everybody in support for the abolition of slavery hoped that things would get better for the Africans who were forced to be slaves, but realistically, that wasn’t the case.

Jim Crow segregation laws*: From the 1880’s till the 1960’s, these laws segregated African Americans from places that had White people, upholding the standards of “Separate but equal”, meaning it was completely legal for African Americans to be denied from attending schools, restaurants, or any other public space for white people, and even occupying front seats, which were usually reserved for white people. *(Segregation was outlawed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964). 

Harlem Renaissance: Perhaps one of the first instances where there was a rise in the incorporation of the culture of African Americans into American society, even though this occurred during the time of the Jim Crow segregation laws. Black pride saw its rise as African Americans represented themselves artistically in the form of music, dance, fashion, literature and art. This created a growing awareness in discrimination and inequality towards African Americans, and it also reshaped how Black people were viewed and portrayed in modern society. The Harlem Renaissance was very important because it gave African American artists and writers control over how black culture was represented; it also laid the foundation for future African American literature.

The March on Washington: The march on Washington, also known as the march on Washington for jobs and freedom, was one of the largest and greatest political rallies for human rights in the United States. It was a march that consisted of a majority of black people, with some white people who also supported the cause of M.L.K and his allies. It was during this march that Dr. King delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. The main purpose of this speech was to call for an end to racism and also to advocate for civil and economic rights of African Americans. His speech was based on the premise that the Emancipation Proclamation that was made in the 1860’s by President Abraham Lincoln, declared that the African American slaves were free, and yet 100 years later, the African Americans still suffered from racial prejudices by White counterparts. This speech was the most famous and most iconic speech for civil rights in the history of the United States and was credited as a reason why the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Voting Rights Act of 1965 were passed by President Lyndon B. Johnson after the death of John F. Kennedy.

Black Panther Party: Founded in 1966, the Black Panther Party sought to protect African Americans from police brutality by engaging in armed patrols in their neighborhood, particularly whenever a black person was stopped by the police. They also provided legal aid, education, and free health clinics, as well as the children’s breakfast program, which provides free breakfast for African American students in their schools, even till this day. The women of the group also advocated for the rights of women, protesting against inequality between men and women.

More recently:

Dr. Mae Jemison: Dr. Jemison was the first African American woman in space in 1992, who broke gender and racial barriers in astronautics. She’s the leader of the 100 year starship project aiming to make human interstellar travel possible within the next century, blending specific rigor with bold imagination.

She continues to inspire inclusivity and diversity in STEM fields, influencing emerging leaders to push beyond conventional boundaries.

Stereotypes: Through the late 1970's and into the 80's & 90's, there was a growth in how black people were viewed in a negative light. African Americans were often associated with either being drug addicts, gang members or criminals. Poorly funded education systems, the influx of illegal substances into African American neighborhoods, and a lack of government funding and attention leading to a substantial decrease in property values, caused some African Americans to become products of their environment, and unfortunately exasperating these stereotypes. Subsequently, African Americans faced more discrimination and over-policing. There were honest and decent Black people who put in hardwork and dedication for their passions, but were still facing discrimination, and in some cases brutality from the police.

In spite of these stereotypes and disadvantages, in today’s society, the view of African Americans has been reshaped through the various accomplishments and struggles they’ve had to endure for years. We see more representation of Black culture in the media, workforce, and government, including electing the first Black president of the United States, Barack Obama, in 2008, who took the office in January 2009 and served two consecutive presendential terms. 

Although we started out as a minority who lived under harsh conditions, we’ve continued to grow, become more empowered, and have made several positive impacts that have helped reshape the society and its views on African Americans.

Happy Black History Month

By: Carlson Nwawuru