America was built on the backs of black slaves. Slaves gave America its economic power and they were repaid with whips and lashes. The Colonial Era was the most severe time for African Americans. Slavery was at its prime; blacks were being sold and most were working on tobacco plantations. The era of Westward Expansion wasn’t beneficial either. As much as the North was praised for their “anti-slavery” views during this time, they didn’t care for black lives as much as we think. After two centuries of being beaten, murdered, raped and sold like animals, blacks have overcome great adversity to be faced with even more adversity. The Reconstruction Era was supposed to change things for African Americans, and for a short time things did improve.
