Slavery and inequality toward other races unarguably allowed our country to develop into the world super power it is today. However, with the changing times treating others without equality is no longer acceptable and is commonly viewed as an unacceptable practice by most. African Americans have gained equality in the eye of the law while fighting for their rights; however, they are still punished more harsh compared to their peers, they are pre-judged by law enforcement, and are looked upon as inferior in the workplace despite the laws that were enacted to protect them.
The historical routes of discrimination against African Americans in the United States traces back to the 13 colonies. African Americans were first brought over to Jamestown Virginia to be used as slaves in 1619 (Slavery 1). During this point in time the United States required a
…show more content…
The largest use of slaves in the United States was after the invention of the Cotton Gin which greatly increased the productivity of cotton harvesting by slave workers (Why Was Cotton 1). After the Confederate States succeeded from the United States in an attempt to retain their loved practice of slavery, civil war broke out between them. After Robert E. Lee surrendered the last major Confederate army to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, slavery from what we knew was abolished. However, slavery was not legally abolished with the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, the end of discrimination was no where in sight. From the 1880s to the 1960s, Jim Crow laws were in effect in a majority of states and furthered the level of discrimination against African Americans (United 1). Blacks were forbidden to use the same schools, parks, libraries, drinking fountains, restrooms, busses, trains, restaurants, etc. as whites used. This consequently allowed discrimination against blacks to involve all aspects of modern life. Under the law, blacks