Things such as "Black on Black" crime, broken homes, high poverty levels and drug problems are believed to have links back to slavery. Much like Blacks, Mexican Americans have problems in their communities today that stem from their dealing with immigration in this country. Their problems still exist greatly because immigration is still going on between Mexico and America. The affects of slavery and illegal immigration began many years ago, continued throughout history and continue into today’s culture. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Blacks were oppressed with the use of Black Codes followed by the implementation of Jim Crow laws and segregation.
This film explores numerous Supreme Court cases that made national headlines and paved the way for history to become what we know it as of today. It delves into not only the racial discrimination and injustices but also the social implications and effects that the integration process had on African Americans. Prior to the segregation of blacks and whites there were the struggles for equality due to slavery that subsequently have carried over for generations. The film stated that segregation is against the bible. Genesis 9:27 is a wonderful example to explain why God is again... ... middle of paper ... ...il rights movement is an example of conflict theory seen in our countries history.
Additionally, the incarceration rate for Black Americans relative to white Americans is higher than it was before the Civil Rights Movement. Professor Michelle Alexander (2012) focuses on the influence of mass incarceration on Black Americans. Alexander (2012) wrote, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, where she uses her experiences as a Civil Rights Lawyer. Alexander (2012) examines the development of institutionalized racism following the war on drugs, and how it has created what she calls a “New Jim Crow Era”. Additionally, Jim Crow laws are known as the former practice of segregating black people in America.
Even though black people have made many strides this long-standing history of oppression has persevered throughout the generations. The deep-rooted contention of inequality and injustice has infiltrated the social fabric of American society and government as black people today experience discrimination on every level. Structured discrimination has been to blame for the many disparities that black people face in America. The most obvious are the disproportionate amount of minorities in the United States Criminal Justice System. Blacks make up approximately 13% of the U.S. population, and whites 67% of the U.S. population (Census, 2009); however, of the 2.2 million incarcerated, 900,000 are Black (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2011).
The book Citizen by Claudia Rankine reveals many stories of mistreatment due to one’s race, she’s able to capture racism in everyday American life. Rankine explores the widespread view that blacks are routinely targeted by law enforcement .Rankine purposefully includes a range of poems allowing the reader to connect to recent events like Trayvon Martin to ordinary daily situations .Rankine does and exceptional job at illustrating what it feels like to be a black citizen. Rankine presents several moments in where people are constantly facing racism, in particular dark skinned people. You are not the guy but you fit the description. An innocent guy is able to envision that he will get pulled over.
It is also evident that some individuals in the black community have established this image for themselves, which led to the police becoming their worst enemy. This is relevantly shown through different litigations that have occurred or are still occurring today. Due to the fact that there has been a lot of discrimination against the African American community over the years, changes should be brought in the justice system where cases involving individuals from these communities could be handled very delicately. Some issues that will provide insight on how government officials have shown their racism towards black individuals and how these issues could have been resolved include the critical race litigation of R.D.S and of Trayvon Martin, and contradictory to that will be the South African case of Mido Macia which evidently caught Canadian officials attention (CBC News, 2013) and portrayed their affection towards the Afri... ... middle of paper ... ...ws.yahoo.com/george-zimmerman-free-man-032100021.html. Schneider, M. (2013).
The Civil Rights Movement brought many accomplishments to African Americans such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. The key issues that African Americans fought for were voting rights, integration and racial equality. They were tired of the discrimination and humiliation they received as a result of the segregation laws imposed on them. “State laws mandated racial separation in schools, parks, playgrounds, restaurants, hotels, public transportation, theaters, restrooms and so on” (Blumberg 40). Lawsuits had been tried to gain rights such as the unsuccessful Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 and the successful Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.
In this essay we will discuss the Jim Crow Laws and Segregation. Segregation was horrible experience for African American. During the era of segregation blacks were considered a lower class of people. When you look at history behind Jim Crow Laws and Segregation the were trying times for African American. African American had to struggles that was not present in the Caucasian race, regarding segregation.
Although Alexander, for the most part, is speaking on the African American struggle, she also mentions the struggle of poor white American victims as well. Our American Experience class is simply about the experiences of Americans and different cultural societies. Michelle Alexander reveals the harsh realities of American society. The oppressiveness of blacks, stereotyping, imprisonment, a disproportionate justice system, the war on drugs, infinite sentences, Jim Crow laws, inferiority, racial caste systems, manipulated laws, these are all societal issues that have been reoccurring for centuries within American society. All in all The New Jim Crow was, is and will be the American Experience for many more African Americans (male and females) if this issue is not tackled
This paper attempts to explore the historical conditions that laid the foundation for the modern black urban ghetto. Racism and segregation have a long history in America. For most of America’s history, black Americans have been denied fundamental rights that include the right own property and the right to vote. Until the 1920s, racial discrimination was largely considered a product of the backward practices of an economically and socially antiquated South. Because of their powerful rhetoric, important political connections, and financial support, northern whites had often been important activists in early fights for racial equality.