Essay On The Segregation Era

In wake of the racial turbulency and political climate in today’s America, it is absolutely critical we take the time to understand the roots of the systemic proclaimed prejudice and settle the differences we seem to believe we have as mankind. Although the U.S. has historically had racial conflicts with slavery, internment camps, and segregation, and is a very complicated issue, there are certain historical figures that highlight human nature and its tendencies to fail to see eye-to-eye with one another. From the humble W.E.B. Du Bois, to the well respected Booker T. Washington, these two incredibly accomplished men both have things in common: they are African-American, and peaked in contribution during one the of the darkest times of American society, The Segregation Era. As when most would accept

history, more importantly, the segregation era is one of more valuable lessons due to the fact that it allowed the oppressed to to express themselves and develop their own culture. For this reason, slavery merely sets the stage for the critical period of Jim Crow and ‘Separate but equal is equal’ times from 1900 to 1939. Despite all of the oppression and prejudice towards the previously enslaved blacks, they were able to create their own culture. With the Harlem Renaissance being the most well known example of the beauty of African American culture, as well as famous artists, musicians, and writers appearing at the time and expressing themselves as they were previously thought to be incapable of doing so. While they were meant to be kept ignorant during the slavery era, these African Americans were proving they were not only worthy of education, but were able to change the world. This feat is something that should continue to inspire the young generations of African Americans to continue to do so and refuse to settle for anything less than equal, as separate but equal is most definitely not