African American History. Heritage Essay

Heritage makes up a large mountain of our History. Combine that heritage with guide and you moderate a foundation for establishing distinct beginnings of races that can trace their early origins back to the beginning of the United States. A giant melting pot as it has been described due to t show up ensemble of the immigration that occurred in the early nineteenth century. African Americans discombobulate realised an enormous role in the beginnings and the history of the America. Their continuous squeeze for equation and rights as American people have spanned umpteen years.The actions a run intost African Americans straight following the conclusion of the civil struggle were not fair. This sign cheating(prenominal) preaching sparked numerous debates that every can be followed back to their initial start of fair treat handst afterwards many a(prenominal) years of mis preaching. The dingy Codes were established to restrict and control the lives of ex-slaves. (Bowles 2011) That is not a way to be granted emancipation if your life is unagitated controlled. Freedom isnt freedom if you are unsounded tough below the beltly amongst other races. The thirteenth amendment established to abolish slavery in the United States.This was a major flavor to sufficientity among African Americans. The industrial boom in the north sparked the rice beer of many looking for release. The promise of a job and be commensurate to provide for your family drew the attention of millions of African Americans. These jobs caused a bundle elbow grease of African Americans from the southwestward to the north. This discover was the not bad(p) Migration. The entry into World warfare Two brought some unique opportunities for African Americans. Key comp hotshotnts to the war were the Tuskegee Airmen. pitiful on in their fight for equal rights and treatments, genus Rosa Parks do a stand and refused to give up her seat on a commodious deal.Seeing the need for more action by the government, Martin Luther king assembled a colossal million man environ into the Nations capital. The dis portione for African Americans has been a enormous and at times dangerous struggle. source slave owners and many others in the south did not wish to unconstraint their way of life and what they saw as fair and equal treatment for African Americans. With the determination, the will to make a difference, and legislative actions. African Americans have transferd the laws and made remarkable steps towards the fair and equal treatment they were everlastingly entitled to as any American should be.Their nonstop pursuit of change has had an everlasting effect on history. The hopes and dreams of freedom for African Americans were destroyed presently following the end of the civil war, because of dense enrols and the intimidation with terror and abandon from veteran confederates that formed the terrorist group called the Ku Klux Klan. As newly freed slaves, des olates found out very soon that freedom was not how they dreamed. In 1865, southerners created nigrify code that controlled all aspects of blacks lives and stopped new found African Americans from the freedom that they had won from the civil war. (The Black Codes of the south 1966) Al almost all(prenominal) part of free slaves life was regulated by black codes even off the freedom to migrate. Blacks could not enter certain towns without permission so hopes of determination family that were sold during slavery proved to be a challenge. there was in like manner vagrancy laws that stated all freedman were vagrant if they did not have a job or they were homeless. Black codes made segregation in human beingnesss facilities, carrying any kind of weapons, and to testify in court against lily-white men illegal.If a black person disobeyed these codes and imprisonment would occur most of the time. This was a backwards step towards equality and freedom. Black codes did advise a a f ew(prenominal) certain rights to blacks. They were given the right to marry, and the right to own some land. Although being a free black slave during this time period was a monumental step towards a unified country, blacks would face bigger challenges throughout the next century. The Thirteenth Amendment was one of the most influential amendments to have ever been passed in our country.The Thirteenth Amendment states, Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall survive within the United States, or any place subject to their legal power (US Constitution, Amendment 13, Section 1) The intent of the Thirteenth amendment was to abolish slavery and begin the long process of honourable and equal rights for all American citizens. The passing of this amendment put an end to slavery and caused disruption to the antecedent slave owners in the South.The gray States that seceded from the union were labou red to free their slaves and pass the amendment to be allowed back into the union. The south was then laboured to find a new means of backup themselves and working their cash crops. With this amendment passed, the African Americans were finally free and the vast volume of slaves the worked on plantations were gone because they were free. Although racialism and segregation still played a major role in their lives, they were no longer forced to work as slaves. Slavery was not only a form of forced labor. umteen slaves also faced humiliation, punishment, and harsh lives.They were some slaves that were treated as they were lower than they animals they were forced to care for. The origins of slavery and the continuation of slaves salubrious into after the civil war were tarnish on America. The thirteen amendment abolished slavery, it did not offer much regulation onto gender equality. This was certainly true for former black female slaves. They were not afforded the same equal right s and opportunities as free former black male slaves. Female slaves suffered unique hardships, being exploited for both(prenominal) labor and reproduction. (Tsesis, A.2012).With the initial passing of the thirteenth amendment, the future road was being coatd for equality amongst black both male and female. This amendment would go on to be ratified until topicually equality was achieved for both genders. The great migration covers the parkway of millions of African Americans from the south to the north due to industrial expansion. Though this is not the first great migration, being there was a large migration of African Americans shortly after the civil war, this migration had a much larger effect. Populations of African Americans drastically changed because of it. Population diversity was established.During the 20th century, African- Americans participated in one of the most significant demographic events in U. S. history, The Great Migration. The Great Migration was a massive movement of African Americans from the South to the spousal relationship spanning from 1863 to 1960. The largest movement in the migration occurred from 1910 to 1920. (Bowles 2011) The Great Migration was caused by assorted reasons that pushed African Americans out of the South, and other plays of opportunity were clout them to the North. The spring on 1916, Six million African-Americans locomote to the North and the wolfram part of the United States of America.After the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, less than 8 percent of the African- Americans population lived in the Northeastern or Midwestern part of the United States. The U. S. Senate had ordered an investigation into it. In 1900, rough 90 percent of blacks still lived in Southern states. They also moved to Canada in order to maintain safe haven from anti-abolitionists. When it was time for the blacks to move the only transportation for them were trains, boats, heapes, but sometimes cars were used for th eir transportation.The promise of corking employment, food, money, and a place to mete out care of your family drew the attention of many African Americans. The Great Migration created the first large urban black communities in the North. Along with massive amounts of blacks relocating to these cities also come problems. Many blacks were crammed into housing. At times, the occupancy of the housing that they lived in exceeded the limits they were designed for. Imagine an apartment that can hold five people comfortably being push over the limits by having twelve people reside in it instead.These were perfect conditions for disease, unsanitary conditions, and in some extreme cases, death. These dwellings became to be known as ghettos. All total things must come to an end and many blacks realized that due to the mass amount of laborers that migrated to the North, many of the jobs were taken. The south offered the work of the past, but this time they would be paid for it and not for ced to do the work. After the Great Migration, blacks move to move in search of opportunity as some returned to the South, man others moved to suburbs or better neighborhoods within the North.(Stewart E. Tolnay 2003) An of import military milepost is African American history were the Tuskegee Airmen. These brave airmen were the first step towards race equality within the aviation sector of the military. Although African Americans had regularly fought in wars, they were not allowed to participate in actual light combat. The airmen were an import report in closing the race inequalities within the military. The Tuskegee airmen have become to be known as the most influential air squadron during world war two. Racism was still a major ongoing issue well into world war two.Many whites did not like the idea of African Americans being allowed to fly airplanes and fight in aerial combat. The Tuskegee Airmen did more than just that. They became the first black soldiers Air corps pilots. Their beginnings started when president Roosevelt had put a meeting with three African American leaders of the Army and Navy. They argued that equality undeniable to be stable throughout the military, administration needed to be fair in regards to the ongoing draft, and African Americans should be allowed to fly.(Percy 2003) concisely after the meeting had concluded, the War Department issued a policy guiding stating that black men would be admitted into the military in numbers equal to civilian black population. In December of 1940, the Army Air Corps had submitted a plan that would establish experiments with a fighter squadron that consisted of all black pilots. Initially, thirteen black men were selected as pilot trainees for the architectural plan. The training occurred at Tuskegee Alabama, hence the name given, The Tuskegee Airmen. Majority of the instructors designate to train the men were white.There were high hopes the failure would occur and this would prove to the W ar Department that African Americans were not suitable for flying. The man probably most responsible for the achiever of the Tuskegee Airmen, the man whom the cadets looked to most often, was Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr. (Percy 2003) Captain Davis helped happen the fight alive in all of the cadets which allowed them to ignore the Jim Crow laws that were still in place and they were able to focus their attention on sightly pilots. After the success of the Tuskegee Airmen, they became a vital part of the war effort.The Tuskegee Airmen were assigned combat missions, participating in aerial combat, and hel dipg to win the war. The Tuskegee Airmen program was a giant step towards equality within the military and an important historical milestone in our history. A famous name associated with the genteel Rights movements is Rosa Parks. She was the average every daytime woman. She rode the bus to and from work every day like any other ordinary person. She had acquired a job as a seamst ress at a local department ancestry in capital of Alabama Alabama. On the dark of December 1, 1955, Rosa took the bus home as normal. The public bus was split into two different sections.There was a white section and a black section. If the white section filled up, people in the black section were necessitate to give up their seat for the whites and they would have to stand. This was an unjust law in Montgomery that many blacks disagreed with. This did not seem like the equality that they deserved. bitstock this law with all of the segregated services in Alabama one would think that the hatred for free African Americans ran high. Rosa refused to give up her seat despite the threats given to her by the bus driver. (Wiltenburg, M 2001) She was arrested and forced to pay a fine of $14, which she never did end up paying. contrive of her arrest spread fast and immediately following the next day, flyers emerged all around Alabama black schools and businesses pleading that those who r ode the bus should seek alternate means of travel. The bus company was owned by whites even though majority of the passengers were black. The actions were to show that the law was not fair to blacks and hopefully the bus company would see this through their loss of profit due to their unfair rule. The boycott lasted well over a year. Finally the United States dictatorial Court ruled that it was unlawful and illegal to treat people differently on the bus because of their skin color.(Wiltenburg, M 2001) The actions taken by Rosa Parks to generate a civilian Rights Movement were brave for her to exact during the racist times of Montgomery. Her actions set off the initial movement that would pave the way for many more to come and challenge the racist laws that qualified the lives of black people. The Million Man March was another major event of the Civil Rights Movement. What better way to peacefully protest the unfair treatment of African Americans than to assemble in the Nations Capital and fight for equality among all races. Some Civil Rights Leaders were opposed to the march. bloody shame Frances Berry, Chair of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, thought the actions of the march were bad due to the black community being in deep trouble already. (Winter, 1995-1996) Despite her disapproval, the march went on. While the actual number of participants cant be pin pointed to an exact number, it is estimated that it was between 1. 5 and 2 million participants. This large presentation of force allowed for peaceful protest and representation for the black community. They sought to gain the attention of the Federal Government so they could surpass the harsh globe that racism was still an ongoing issue and blacks were still being treated unequally by whites.Majority of the attendees were black males. The march was also attended by origins of race that were not primarily black. They saw an opportunity to take part in the possible change of equality and rights as we ll. Many famous black speakers were in attendance at the march, from Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, and many black religious leaders. Although the peaceful protest eventually ended, it still mud one of the most talked about and biggest contributions to the Civil Rights Movements. History has shown that African Americans have faced a lot of challenges.Through unfair treatment in the early beginnings of America, African Americans were used as slaves and the country saw this as a normal and legal way of life. The actions taken by President Lincoln helped shed light on the tarnished actions of the American people and he is credited with having helped free the slaves. The black codes were a way that hateful southerners could still control the lives of black people. The southerners were upset because their way of life and what they saw as normal was being changed. The passing of the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery.This was a step in the right direction and it sparked the creation of many amendments to follow in suite. The great migration offered new hopes and promises of work in the North. Millions of African Americans began showing up in cities eager to get a piece of the American workforce. They were met with many housing, health, and natural challenges. Some blacks realized that the work in the North was not for them and they returned to the South to continue farming of their own free will and not infra the control of slavery. World War Two brought light to African Americans with the chance of becoming pilots.The Tuskegee Airmen showed courage in the face of racism and overcame the discriminations brought onto them through the military. They became a vital part of the war effort and actively participated in aerial combat and bombing raids. Rosa Parks set the stepping stones for the Civil Rights movement. Her actions that night on the bus spread quickly and blacks refused to ride the buses in Montgomery Alabama. The efforts lasted well over a year and C ongress finally heady that the law was unlawful. The million man march is one of the biggest actions in the Civil Rights movement.Blacks showed in large numbers to promote equality and diminish racism on the federal level. Many key speakers participated in this march, even though leaders of the Civil Rights Committee did not agree with the march. These actions taken by African Americans represent a small portion of the triumphs that they have overcome since slavery ended. There are many events and sacrifices that have been made by African Americans through the years. Their nonstop pursuit to end racism, have equality, and pose change to America will have an everlasting change on history. References Bowles, M. (2011).A history of the United States since 1865. San Diego, CA Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Jim Crow and Uncle Sam The Tuskegee warm Units and the U. S. Army Air Forces in Europe during World War II William Alexander Percy The Journal of Military History , Vol. 67, No. 3 (Ju l. , 2003), pp. 773-810 produce by Society for Military History denomination Stable universal resource locator http//www. jstor. org/stable/3397326 Tuskegee A Retrospect and Prospect Booker T. Washington The North American Review , Vol. 182, No. 593 (Apr. , 1906), pp.513-523 Published by University of Northern Iowa word Stable URL http//www.jstor. org/stable/25105549 Wiltenburg, M. (2001, Feb 20). The story behind the rosa put story. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved from http//search. proquest. com/docview/405670133? accountid=32521 The Black Codes of the South by Theodore B. Wilson Review by Irwin Unger The Florida historic Quarterly , Vol. 45, No. 2 (Oct. , 1966), pp. 183-185 Published by Florida Historical Society Article Stable URL http//www. jstor. org/stable/30147751 Tsesis, A. (2012). GENDER diversity AND THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT. Columbia Law Review, 112(7), 1641-1695.Maloney, T. N. (2002). African American Migration to the North sore Evidence for the 1910s. Ec onomic Inquiry, 40(1), 1-11. one-year Review of Sociology , Vol. 29, (2003), pp. 209-232 Published by Annual Reviews Article Stable URL http//www. jstor. org/stable/30036966 Marable, M. (1995). After the march. New national leader & Society, 8(376), 14. How Black Academics Viewed the Million Man March The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education , No. 10 (Winter, 1995-1996), pp. 59-63 Published by The JBHE Foundation, Inc Article Stable URL http//www. jstor. org/stable/2962767.