America: the land of opportunity and the land of the free*. This phrase seems to have always come with an unspoken asterisk. For centuries it was understood to be the land of plent and the land of the free… as long as you’re not a minority. Today, in the 21st century, the asterisk is losing most of its power and validity, but in the regions of the Black Belt, the asterisk still looms over the land. It is too often forgotten how much of the Black Belt’s “land of freedom” was built on the backs of those that were enslaved. Literal enslavement for hundreds of years has turned into a new kind of confinement for minorities in the Black Belt, specifically African Americans. Historical racism had its tendrils deep-rooted and wrapped around every day
…show more content…
Without the proper economic stimulation backed by education and political influence, the Black Belt’s persistent poverty will never come to an end. The Black Belt will remain crippled by the historical racism that gripped, and may still hold, the area for hundreds of years. In order to fully understand racism’s connection to persistent poverty in the Black Belt region it is important to understand two key questions. The first question is, “What is the definition of racism?” The second question is, “Where is the region known as ‘the Black Belt’?” In the pursuit of the definition of racism, it is important to initially understand that racism is tied very closely with prejudice, power, and oppression (Hoyt). Prejudice, can be defined as a “preconceived opinion not based on reason or actual experience; bias, patiality,” (Hoyt 225). Power can be defined as, “the capacity to exert force on or over something or someone,” (Hoyt225). Lastly, oppression can be defined as, “the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner,” (Hoyt 255). It is a combination of these words and their definitions that explain the racism present in the Black Belt. The historical racism in this region has been race-based oppression both institutional
Without the proper economic stimulation backed by education and political influence, the Black Belt’s persistent poverty will never come to an end. The Black Belt will remain crippled by the historical racism that gripped, and may still hold, the area for hundreds of years. In order to fully understand racism’s connection to persistent poverty in the Black Belt region it is important to understand two key questions. The first question is, “What is the definition of racism?” The second question is, “Where is the region known as ‘the Black Belt’?” In the pursuit of the definition of racism, it is important to initially understand that racism is tied very closely with prejudice, power, and oppression (Hoyt). Prejudice, can be defined as a “preconceived opinion not based on reason or actual experience; bias, patiality,” (Hoyt 225). Power can be defined as, “the capacity to exert force on or over something or someone,” (Hoyt225). Lastly, oppression can be defined as, “the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner,” (Hoyt 255). It is a combination of these words and their definitions that explain the racism present in the Black Belt. The historical racism in this region has been race-based oppression both institutional