Oppression Of The African American People (Final)

Oppression of the African American People (Final) Oppression of the African American people within the United States originated in 1619 when Dutch traders brought the first African slaves to Jamestown. Since then, this race of people has confronted many hardships regarding discrimination and injustice from those that saw themselves as superior. The struggle and efforts to fight against such oppression has been evident through speeches, other literary means, and physical actions. One must first identify how such people were enslaved to understand their hardships both during and/or coming out of enslavement. A multilateral system of trade took place between Great Britain, West Africa, and the West Indies. Even though some African rulers fought

Although the concept of abolition was introduced, action wouldn’t be taken until almost a century later in 1865 with the ratification of the 13th Amendment. During that century slaves had various forms of revolt/ rebellion within the system they were in; this ranged from the simplest action of learning how to read to the most radical of violent uproars. Various free African American activists were vital in bringing awareness to their cause to white America. For example, Frederick Douglass’ work “ levied a powerful indictment against slavery and racism, provided an indomitable voice of hope for his people, embraced antislavery politics and preached his own brand of American ideals” (“Frederick Douglass”). This can be seen in his “What, to the Slave, is the Fourth of July?” speech where he states, “What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant

Many leaders from within the African American community and beyond rose to prominence during the Civil Rights era, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Andrew Goodman and others. They risked—and sometimes lost—their lives in the name of freedom and equality (“Civil Rights Movement”). On April 3, 1964, Malcolm X delivered his speech “The Ballot or the Bullet” in regards to black nationalism during the current election year. “At the time, blacks did not have much say in who they wanted to elect. The white politicians would come into black neighborhoods and push press, and force it upon blacks to put them in office,” (“A Rhetorical Analysis of "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech by Malcolm X”). X’s speech signifies the civil rights movement in its entirety due to covering every issue blacks were dealing such as racism, violence, votings rights and segregation. One prominent example of racial segregation in the United States was the Jim Crow laws, a series of policies in effect from 1876 to 1965. Jim Crow laws segregated people of color from whites in housing, jobs, schools, public transportation, public spaces, military service, prisons and