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African American Identity Essay

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The development of America brought the introduction to new ideas, experiences and different cultures coming together. Both non-European and European groups of people traveled and settled into this new world to find new land to conquer or find salvation. Many of these groups faced hardships coming into this new world, as they soon learned their differences would define them. The British would be deemed superior to their religion, ethics, and skin color would dominate the perception of the “true” American. The Irish and African Americans were two groups that came to America in hopes for better opportunities and a life they could build without hardship. They, however, both face great difficulties achieving this, as their old and new identities …show more content…

It was for the exploitation and use of these people for work and servitude at the request of the British. Many English people believed that “the color black was freighted with an array of negative images” and thus depicted Blacks as these weak, evil beings (Takaki 50). They saw them not as humans, but as objects to use at their bidding so that wealthy plantation owners could become even wealthier. Even if they were deemed “free”, they were still treated as the lowest class of people and not given any chances to really ground roots. The Northern states, who did not promote the use of slavery, “erected barriers to the entry of blacks” as they felt they didn’t want the “burden” of these people (Gjerde 87). African Americans were being hidden under the shadow of this perception that they could not be assimilated and that they must be separated in everyday activities. There was a fear that if African Americans and white people mixed, such as in schools, it would taint the purity and image of society and being American (Takaki 102). This perception would have even more people discriminate against Blacks, as they wanted to keep the image they have set out as the only acceptable thing. Anything that was remotely different from the norm would be deemed as going against what America truly stood

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Its spring 1865 and the Civil War is finally over- costing more than 600,000 lives, and a downfall economy for the South. Although economic reasons, slavery and state’s rights led the Civil War and had caused much damaged to the South, it still gave many African Americans slaves their freedom. But now what? What should the Nation do with the free slaves besides focusing on reuniting and reconstructing the South? Just because African Americans weren’t no longer slaves, does that mean they have the same social, politic and economic life as a white American?

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Post Civil War, African Americans started to gain rights to gain rights, and soon gain rights equal to whites. While there were some people/things standing in their way (KKK, Black Codes), in the end they got what they needed; Equality. Many acts and laws were passed to aid the new rights now held by African Americans, as well as the numerous people willing to help. New Amendments were added to give African Americans rights after the war, all giving them some equal rights to whites. The first of the three added was the Thirteenth Amendment, it gave African Americans freedom from slave owners, and stated that no one could be kept as a slave in the U.S..

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