America has long been thought of as the land of opportunity. Thousands of people from various countries emigrate to America each year, but why? North America is a place where individuals can safely escape famine, as well as religious and political persecution; however, not everyone was considered equal. The ethos that the “American Opportunity” establishes an idea that any individual can achieve true prosperity and success. Al Sharpton once said, “America can’t work for only some people and become a dream for all people. It has to work for everyone. And even though everyone might not end up at the same place, if everyone starts with the same beginning, then that’s the dream fulfilled. We all don’t have the same abilities, but we should have This new land allowed for individuals to escape war, disease, famine, and poverty from their homelands while also providing a comfortable lifestyle (Ouellette 17). The American Colonies were overseen by the British from 1606 to 1776 and by the time the Americans declared independence “most of the people living in the colonies were of British descent” (Ouellette 18). People from Germany, France, Ireland, and many other countries slowly began to migrate to the United States because of promised prosperity. The United States of America held its first census in 1790, however these records have been deemed inaccurate. The 1850 through 1940 censuses did not accurately represent the amount of citizens or immigrants living in the U.S., and approximately six percent of the population was not properly counted for (Everett, Anne Lee). Since the 1850s, immigration has mainly been on the rise, and by 2014 only 13.3 percent of the United States population were immigrants. This number may seem insignificant compared to the millions of people who already call the United States home; however, 35 million immigrants greatly contributes to the workforce, regardless if they are here legally or not. On May 1, 2006 immigrants who have come to the U.S. in order to create better lives for their families took the day off work to protest congressional code H.R 4437. This code calls Black activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X led the movement through the use of boycotts, marches, protests, and sit-ins. Soon, African Americans would not be ignored. During this time women were also beginning the Women’s Suffrage movement in order to gain the same rights and opportunities as the men who ran the nation. Often times blacks and women would team up in protests and marches in order to drive their point of equality even further. The Civil Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, sex or national origin, was finally passed in 1964. Title VII, which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and sex, was later added to the bill to ensure equal opportunity in the workforce, as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to strengthen the voting provisions in the Civil Rights Act. These acts opened up advanced opportunities in education and careers; however they still did not seem to grant the full favorable circumstances that the law 's claim to provide. Today, a black baby born in the United States stands half the change of completing high school next to a white baby born in the same place and same time; twice as much chance of becoming unemployed; one-seventh as much chance of earning $10,000 a year; and a 7 year
America is a land filled with immigrants coming from different corners of the worlds, all in hopes of finding a better life in the country. However, No one had an easy transition from his or her home country to this foreign land. Not every race thrived the same way—some were luckier than others, while some have faced enormous obstacles in settling down and being part of the American society. Many people have suffered
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It was the “Crowning Legislative” achievements of Civil Rights movement. Before the Act of 1964, 57% of
The United States has always been viewed as a land of opportunity, where one could achieve anything they put their mind to, no matter who they are. Freedom and economic stability are the factors that make our country appealing. People are hopeful that the opportunities the country holds will help them achieve the American dream. This dream consists of achieving financial success, but time has proven that the American dream is a rare occurrence. Unfortunately, ambition, hard work, nor perseverance are enough to be successful in America. No individual is guaranteed success or destined for failure, but it is apparent that women, people of color, and those born into poverty will face greater obstacles than others,
Kennedy’s Civil Rights Act, which called for the fair treatment of all races, changed the tone of the Civil Rights Movement. This doesn’t mean that everyone automatically started to change the way they thought about African Americans, but people started to come together and realize that change needed to happen soon. 5 months after Kennedy first announced the bill, he was shot in Dallas, Texas. It wasn’t until 8 months after Kennedy's assassination that Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill into effect on July 2, 1964. The bill was passed through congress with a 290-130 vote. (History Channel 2010) After the bill was passed, more action was taken to assure equal rights for African Americans. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was created to prevent discrimination and unfair treatment with African American voters. (Library of Congress) The 1964 Civil Rights Act sent a message loud and clear: no longer was discrimination or racism going to be tolerated. In fact, many people thought that change needed to happen soon, as a 1964 Gallup poll suggests. 58% approved of the bill while only 31% did not. 10% were undecided (Public Broadcasting Service 2015). Not only did those who were black support the bill, but many white national leaders started to support the ideas of the act. The bill became the national pathway to equal rights. However, not all were ready to move towards change. Following the signing of the bill, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were both assassinated.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed soon after the milestone March on Washington. In the largest march ever held in the United States, people of all races and colors gathered together to show legislature that racism would no longer be acceptable in society. Title VII, the section which deals with discrimination in the workforce is one small part of the larger piece of legislation. Title VII, of the Civil Rights Act, quickly became the most important arbiter of rights under the new law (Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, 2001). The workforce has drastically changed since the passage of the act. Women and minorities are engaged in employment now more than ever. With the passage of Title VII, the door was opened to prohibiting job discrimination and creating fairness in employment (Bennett-Alexander & Hartman, 2001). Soon after, protection against discrimination based on age and disability was provided.
During the course of America's lifetime, million upon millions of people left their homes and families in other countries and traveled to America in the hope of securing a better life -- the American Dream. What they often found was an unwillingness on the part of those already established in America to share society's benefits with them. For many segments of our American society, people substituted a reliance on family, or friends, or even faith alone, to secure these benefits for themselves and their children that was denied them by those possessing economic and political power.
America is not the illustrated land of opportunity to all. The statement provided that, a land giving opportunity to all is judgmental for many concerning reasons. For one, America is known as a country where people of various races are informed of great dreams that seem reachable, but the chances of an immigrant moving to America and starting a new life are slim. Throughout American history, the opportunity to create something has always been difficult and will sincerely remain that way no matter the sacrifices a person must give up on in their life.
As Americans we are raised to believe that every individual has a chance to succeed; that is to succeed financially and economically, but not an equal chance. Ultimately, at...
America is said to be the land of opportunities, freedom and equality for all. People began migrating to America since over 70 years ago in search of a better life. In earlier times Europeans migrated to the New World/America with the desire of making something better of themselves. Some people migrated to obtain land, and some migrated for an opportunity to live a more prosperous life. In the last ten years immigration to American has been composed of mainly Mexican immigrants. Many people for decades have seen America as a wonderful country that offers everything one needs. Since American is perceived as such utopia those people suffering of poverty, corruption, and/or violence in their country have a desire to move to America and establish a new life here. The United States (USA) today is composed of over 11 million illegal immigrants from all over the world, but mainly Mexico.
America, “The Land of the Free”, “The Home of the Brave”, “The Melting Pot”, “The Land of Milk and Honey”, “The Land Across the Pond”, “The Western World”, “Uncle Sam”, and most importantly “The Land of Opportunity”. America is still “The Land of Opportunity” because there is much more freedom in America than most other countries. There are no caste systems to limit what someone who is in America can do. Additionally an American’s destiny is created by his/her own choices, not the choices of his/her family or peers. America is a country founded by immigrants for immigrants, and although the Land of Opportunity has suffered an economic crisis in the last decade, it still maintains its reputation for being the greatest country in the world. The United States is still “The Land of Opportunity” because there are no caste systems, one’s destiny is made by his/her choices, and American freedoms are a part of everyday life.
Board of Education, the Civil Rights Act also had a profound effect on schools. There had only been incremental efforts to desegregate public schools and universities until this time. Desegregation was accomplished by busing, redistricting, and creating magnet schools. “Chief Council for NAACP Thurgood Marshall argued before the court that separate school systems for blacks and whites were inherently unequal, and thus violated the “equal protection clause” of the fourteenth amendment” (Brown). Various actions from four African-American college students who sat down at a racially segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina led to a statewide boycott of segregation within schools. From 1964 to 1968 the figures of African-American students who attended schools in the South had risen to thirty-two percent. By the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 it would also landmark equal job opportunities. President Lyndon Johnson ordered federal contractors to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated equally during employment no matter race, color, religion, or sex. The Civil Rights Act was a pavement for the Voting Rights Act, which prohibited literacy test and other discriminatory voting practices. This act aimed to overcome legal barriers that prevented African-Americans from exercising their right to vote. The act widened the franchise significantly and is considered to be the most far-reaching pieces of
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbid businesses connected with interstate commerce to discriminate when choosing its employees. If these businesses did not conform to the act, they would lose funds that were granted to them from the government. Another act that was passed to secure the equality of blacks was the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This act, which was readopted and modified in 1970, 1975, and 1982, contained a plan to eliminate devices for voting discrimination and gave the Department of Justice more power in enforcing equal rights. In another attempt for equal rights, the Equal Employment ...
The Civil Rights movement in the 1960s is a struggle, majority in the South, by African Americans to achieve civil rights equal to those of the whites, including housing, education, and employment, as well the right to vote, have access to public facilities, and the right to be free of racial discrimination. The federal government generally stayed out of the civil rights struggle until 1964, when President Johnson pushed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through congress prohibiting discrimination and promised equal opportunities in the workplace for all. The year after this happened the Voting Rights Act eliminated poll taxes and other restraints now allowing blacks to vote. These laws were not solving the problems African Americans were facing.
“There is an equal chance of opportunities for every American, but it is up to them whether or not they take advantage” (Randhawa). In 1931, James Truslow Adams, an American writer and historian, introduced the idea of the American Dream, where each individual, whether it be a citizen or immigrant, would have the equal chance to chase their dreams to the best of their ability. In the beginning, each individual perceived America as the land of opportunities, specifically to make money and get a better education. But ever since the 1960’s rolled around, the idea of wealth was to put to the side and the idea of correct social order was the main focus. The American Dream in the 1960’s compared to now has changed drastically, considering the fact
In 1964 a change was brought about by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title seven of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was to enforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the Attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and education, to extend the commission on civil rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes (The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). This Act changed they way women and people of different ethnic backgrounds voted for public office, worked in major organizations, and how they proceeded with other major daily activities. This gave the people more rights when it came down to applying for jobs or voting in schools or different organizations. This put everyone at the same level. No race, gender or ethnic power was higher ranking then the other.