What is the difference between a white man and a black man? One thing, the color of their skin, a simple pigment difference. Both are still human beings, both cry the same tears, bleed the same blood, and love to the same extent. Yet, there was a time when some whites treated blacks like property, inferior creatures, and the U.S. is still struggling to heal that wound. Ever since the beginning of the Slave Trade, race relations have been and continue to be a central issue in American political and social life which has largely been a result of slavery and America’s struggle to overcome its prejudices.
America’s history of slavery is essential to understanding race relations in today’s society. In 1619, the first twenty African American …show more content…
history, but it is because of history that America has gotten to this place. There are still racial tensions which occur today that are very important and have their roots in history. For example, in 2018 Mississippi’s state flag has a confederate flag on it. In addition, many people, especially in the south hang, wear, and/or have bumper stickers of the Confederate flag. This is an important and prominent racial issue because the Confederacy represented a group of states that wanted to keep slavery and expand it for economic gains. Many people, blacks especially, find this flag offensive and racist because of its place in U.S. history. There is also the Black Lives Matter Movement, which has been dubbed the new Civil Rights Movement, which protests and brings awareness to police brutality against blacks and other forms of racism. Thus, this movement is inspired by the Civil Rights movement. What this movement is protesting has its roots in racism throughout history that mainly resonates from the time of Jim Crow Laws. The movement is even pointing out microaggressions which stem from America’s extremely racist past. However, white supremacism and racism, almost identical to Jim Crow Law times, is still prevalent in 2018 as the KKK is still alive and well, recently evident in Charlottesville. Finally, the rise of affirmative action, defined as positive discrimination, is an effort by many legislatures to create more opportunities for minorities (blacks included) through equitability. This is a result of the push for equality amongst the races in the 1950-60s in efforts to correct the damage of the Jim Crow
America’s history of slavery is essential to understanding race relations in today’s society. In 1619, the first twenty African American …show more content…
history, but it is because of history that America has gotten to this place. There are still racial tensions which occur today that are very important and have their roots in history. For example, in 2018 Mississippi’s state flag has a confederate flag on it. In addition, many people, especially in the south hang, wear, and/or have bumper stickers of the Confederate flag. This is an important and prominent racial issue because the Confederacy represented a group of states that wanted to keep slavery and expand it for economic gains. Many people, blacks especially, find this flag offensive and racist because of its place in U.S. history. There is also the Black Lives Matter Movement, which has been dubbed the new Civil Rights Movement, which protests and brings awareness to police brutality against blacks and other forms of racism. Thus, this movement is inspired by the Civil Rights movement. What this movement is protesting has its roots in racism throughout history that mainly resonates from the time of Jim Crow Laws. The movement is even pointing out microaggressions which stem from America’s extremely racist past. However, white supremacism and racism, almost identical to Jim Crow Law times, is still prevalent in 2018 as the KKK is still alive and well, recently evident in Charlottesville. Finally, the rise of affirmative action, defined as positive discrimination, is an effort by many legislatures to create more opportunities for minorities (blacks included) through equitability. This is a result of the push for equality amongst the races in the 1950-60s in efforts to correct the damage of the Jim Crow