Category: African American history

The federal government is the most significant factor in improving the lives of African Americans not only politically but also socially. The long-term effects of Reconstruction before and after it played a huge role in advancing the civil rights of blacks and in part significant in improving the lives of African Americans.

Reconstruction was described as the rebuild of the South, but it also gave African Americans political power in the South. one main reason while the Reconstruction period was successful and helped benefit African Americans in the long term, was due to the successful creation of the 13th 14th and 15th Amendments. The 13th Amendments in 1865 stated “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall be duly convicted, shall exist within the US, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”, meaning slavery was therefore made illegal. The 14th Amendments made “all person born or naturalized in the United States citizens of the country” this gave citizenship African Americans it also invalidated those who said blacks could not be citizens like Dred Scott v Sanford. Finally, the 15th Amendment gave African Americans the right to vote if they were also in in the US. This amendment helped better African Americans lives and gave them attempts to improve their lives and added the second Civil Rights Act in 1875 that banned segregation in public, but not in schools. This overall made Reconstruction very significant as it gave African Americans chances to improve their lives, but it also forced the southern state to embrace the abolishment of slavery.

It’s important to note that, Reconstruction in the south had some loophole as they frequently enacted Black Codes that discriminated against former slaves in employment, voting, and education regressing their initial progress. Jim crow laws was also used as a racial enforced way to discriminate against African Americans. Furthermore, the 14th Amendment outlawed Black Codes but was only ratified by one southern state therefore limiting its purpose to increase equal protection of its laws.

Also, the enforcement acts passed between 1870 and 1871 was a law to free all slaves and to mainly protect African Americans from violence carried out by the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups. The KKK would go out and kill African Americans that voted for the wrong, this posed a massive threat to all people of color.

Overall, the Reconstruction period had its advantages for African American lives and was a foundation or catalyst that was built on by the federal government. However, it is not as significant as it didn’t make any major changes in the south especially as African Americans briefly gained political power and they attempt to gain more freedom and equality was overshadowed by white violence on blacks.

Throughout our United State history, there were many people that were significant in the rise of Black Power which created the foundation for the ideas of Black Power. When we talk Black Power let us talk about Malcolm X who was significant in the rise of Black Power in many ways. So who is Malcolm X? well Malcolm X was born in 1925, in Omaha, he is an African American leader in the civil rights movement, minister and supporter of black nationalism. There was one essay called “Learning to Read” by Malcolm X is an excerpt from the autobiography of Malcolm X written in 1965. His primary purpose in this essay tells the audience how he self-education whilst in prison and he also educates all of the people an important portion of his life in this essay. His tone and mood change often throughout the essay ‘Learning to Read.’ While the feelings are vaguely perceived, a transition of his own feelings, which correlates to the starting, middle, and conclusion of the chapter, triggers his tone and mood. Not only does the essay illustrate his lack of reading skills while in prison, but it also describes the importance of reading to him today. In “learning to read” essay Malcolm X used four-element which is the purpose for writing this essay, message, audience, and voice that he wants to share with the reader

First, one of the purposes of Malcolm X’s essay is to readers how he studied reading and writing in prison. While he was in the prison he explained to the reader how learning to write and read is important today to him. When a detailed evaluation is made, he exclaims that reading is as important to the lives of readers as it was to him, helping to influence one’s values and beliefs. Without the opportunity to read, which is a foundation for intelligence and understanding, creating your own ethical beliefs is extremely difficult. In his essay on lines 13 and 14 it states that “In my slow, painstaking, ragged handwriting, I copied into my tablet everything printed on that first page, down to the punctuation marks. I believe it took me a day. Then, aloud, I read back, to myself, everything I’d written on the tablet. Over and over, aloud, to myself, I read my own handwriting.” This conveys that reading becomes his favorite thing to do. I totally agree with Malcolm X’s claim and his opinion on reading and writing. I really like this paragraph, as it demonstrates Malcolm X’s commitment and his genuine ability to know. The reader might see him transferring the pages of a dictionary to his tablet every day, and he wouldn’t get sick of it. I’ve always believed that reading and writing are very important. Reading is central to the functioning of today’s culture. There are also people who can’t comprehend sufficiently to grasp the directions on a bottle of medication. That’s terrifying thinking, particularly for their kids. I also believe that learning and being able to read and write is a critical asset to pursue a decent career. Many well-paid workers involve reading as part of their work efficiency. There are papers and notes that need to be reviewed and addressed. Bad reading abilities raise the amount of time it takes to learn and respond in the workplace. An individual is constrained in what they can do without the ability to read and understand.

There was also one purpose that Malcolm x delivered to the reader of his essay which is the hardships he has faced and showed how he used that hardship as an opportunity. like he said in his excerpt paragraph 9 states that “my reading of books, months passed without my even thinking about being imprisoned. In fact, up to then, I never had been so truly free in my life.” This convey that to the reader that reading a book is not feeling like a prison for him. While in Norfolk prison the way he learned is he took out a dictionary, tablets, and pencils from the Norfolk Prison Colony School. Following months of crash course memorization of the vocabulary, books continue to expose facts, words, and context. When his new understanding evolved from reading any book he could get his hands on, so did his disdain for the whitened society in which he existed. When is to Africa American Malcolm X is become one the most well known African American national speaker for the Nation of Islam as well as minister of African American a man who is human rights activist. I believe that in this excerpt Malcolm X is trying to speak to African Americans who have experience as he does but not only to African Americans, for all people who are looking for inspiration. He tells the audience by his own personal hardship as an African American who does not have enough education by inspiring his audience to succeed despite any setbacks. The purpose of this article was to remind readers of how Malcolm X learned to read and write, and of his deep enthusiasm for education. There is a discussion about how the white man has committed bad things to non-whites, and Malcolm X has expressed his tragic frustration with the white man because of his past. Generally, Malcolm X reflects on how the experience has offered him an opportunity to know better than other people would possibly expect to understand.

In Conclusion, This reading is about Malcolm X obtaining inspiration to learn how to read and write through his time in prison, and the other mysteries of the world he learns about by reading. The theme is Malcolm X’s love for learning, and what he learns is what drives him to fight for a non-white man. The story takes place in Charlestown Prison and Norfolk Prison Colony, where Malcolm X was incarcerated between 1946 and 1953. The characters used in the reading are Bimbi, an inmate who influenced Malcolm X to know, Elijah Muhammad, many writers, whites, and non-whites. Malcolm X wrote ‘Learning to Read’ with the intention of reminding his readers of the struggles he endured and his inspirational path towards being literate. The group whom Malcolm X is seeking to appeal to is mainly mostly black men who have witnessed experiences close to what he tries to encourage. I feel that this article is intended for those searching for motivation.

The main point in ‘Learning to Read’ is that no matter what challenges life can reach you, you will conquer them to become literate and do what you want. While he was jailed, Malcolm didn’t let that stand in his way of studying how to read and write properly. He says that many people will think “I went to school far beyond the eighth grade. This impression is due entirely to my prison studies” (line 8). There were one of the quotes that I believed that very important on paragraph 1 it states that, “In the street, I had been the most articulate hustler out there.But now, trying to write simple English, I not only wasn’t articulate, I wasn’t even functional.” this quote to be interesting as it reveals what kind of guy Malcolm X was. It can be seen from this quotation that he was a well speaking, well known guy on the streets among many. So, in addition, and regard to my quotation, which I believe is the most important, recognizing your weaknesses and understanding your strengths will build up your motivation and the road to achievements just as Malcolm X did

Monique Rizer wrote, “in my experience, there is no better motivation to finish college and to appreciate the full experience than a child whose future depends on your decisions. I had to continue to give him a better life and to set an example for him to follow” (588). Similarly, Malcolm X claims, “education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Both Rizer and Malcolm X had motivations to become educated, but how they arrived at those educations were different. Rizer had her son and the thought of giving him a better future, and for Malcolm X, it was his desire to write to Elijah Muhammad. Monique Rizer’s education could be seen as “traditional” while Malcolm X’s could be considered “non-traditional.” Both Monique Rizer and Malcolm X experienced education differently, but despite how they gained it, they would both argue “education is the passport to the future.” Education isn’t only what is taught and learned in school, it’s also lived experience. In order to be educated, you must have traditional and non-traditional education because both create different skills necessary for living a successful life.

Traditional education focuses on what is taught in school from kindergarten completely through college graduates. It includes subjects taught by teachers such as Math, English, Science, and History. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is an example of someone who has had a traditional education and lived a successful life. His schooling led him to achieving a PhD. Dr. King stated, that ‘the function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.’ Dr. King’s statement teaches us that not only is intelligence important but so is character and that character is built through life experiences. It is important for people who are traditionally educated to also understand non-traditional education and its importance.

Non-traditional or informal education is considered to be self-taught. Self-taught education is teaching one’s self using sources such as books, articles, news, life experiences, etc. Malcolm X’s education would be an example of non-traditional education. Malcolm X taught himself how to speak, read and write properly while in jail for 7 years. He felt that in order to communicate with Elijah Muhammad, the man he admired and looked up to, he would have to teach himself to write properly and that’s exactly what he did. Malcolm X’s self-taught education led him to be an influential man on hundreds of thousands of people in America. Although many don’t see it as ideal, non-traditional education does not mean someone is not educated, they are just educated differently then most others are taught.

Having an education, whether it be traditional, non-traditional or a combination of both is important because it can lead you to live a successful life. Traditional and non-traditional education are both equally important while trying to gain knowledge but to be successful one does not need to have both traditional and non-traditional education. However, a combination of the two would contribute to a more complete understanding of life.

The Impact Baseball Has Had on American

The idea of Football being America’s pastime is false. The misconception of how baseball has affected American history and helped Americans From the Civil War to Civil Rights and all points in between and beyond, the game of baseball supports and reflects many aspects of American life. Baseball is America’s pastime because of the effects it had in the Civil War, civil rights, The world wars as well as the great depression. Baseball has also helped foreign economies such as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. The impact that baseball had on civil rights was so great it was a turning point in the history of all sports.

Baseball invented and made professional

A game called ‘baseball’ had developed in England by the early 18th century, and it continued to be called ‘baseball’ until after 1800. In 1846, the Knickerbockers played the first official game of baseball against a team of cricket players, beginning a new, uniquely American tradition. which is credited as the first official game of baseball. The impact of their efforts continues to be felt today. The Cincinnati Baseball Club, also known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was the first known openly professional team in 1869 and played its first game against an opposing club on May 4, 1869. This started the professional baseball trend which has been a key contributor to American history. The first intercollegiate baseball game took place in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on July 1, 1859, between Amherst College and Williams College. The creation of the game of baseball as well as its becoming a professional, And collegiate sport started trends that still to this day have impacts on Americans. Without those historical events the color barrier wouldn’t have been broken when it was, one of America’s first professional sports Americans started to go out and watch in their spare time. Baseball wouldn’t have been able to help the economy get out of the great depression. The game of baseball wouldn’t have been able to help people during WW1, or WW2 be able to focus on something other than the war.

Baseball’s impact on the Civil rights movement

The desegregation of baseball foreshadowed other landmark achievements of the Civil Rights movement. On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson at the age of 28 years old stepped onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers while doing so Jackie broke the color barrier of a sport that had been segregated for 50 years. When Jackie joined Brooklyn he not only paved the way for others to follow but helped set a president for everyone. If a professional sports team can begin changing their ways, what’s stopping others from trying? Hank Aaron was the first Black star of a professional team in the South when the Braves left Milwaukee for Atlanta in 1966, and his dignity in the face of relentless abuse during his pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record paved the way for greater racial tolerance. Aaron was a longtime supporter of civil rights organizations such as the NAACP. He co-founded with his wife, the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation to help children develop their potential. Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson were not only some of the greatest baseball players of all time but most importantly they helped pave the way for Black baseball players to chase their dreams. In doing so they helped not only the game of baseball but all other sports and activities that segregated preventing blacks from chasing their dreams.

The title of ”What A Black Man Wants’ tells me that the Black man is trying to address something he wants, so that they may feel equal to the next. Maybe better-paying jobs, finer homes, equal rights, and finer opportunities. I think that the subject of this story is Frederick D being the voice of reason for the black man and the community to address what they want. Douglass is probably letting us know what their desire is. I hope to learn what Frederick Douglass’s Speech was about. What is it that black man wants and were they able to get what they wanted?

Frederick Douglass wanted his audience to know about his wishes and perspectives he has about human rights and he was confident about it. In his speech, he used ‘All I ask for and I want ‘ so that his listeners wouldn’t miss any details in the speech so that what he desires is embedded in his listener’s minds and hopefully one of his listeners gets a desire for a change. Although Frederick uses a sentiment approach in his speech, his tone is what’s working. FrederFrederick intends to ensure equal treatment including Civil rights for black people. He mentions what he wants. He backs it up with his sentiment perspectives and uses sentence organization throughout his entire speech so his listeners won’t miss any details. In Frederick Douglass’s speech, he publicly says ‘I don’t agree with this’ while he is addressing the objected premature negro rights to suffrage. Frederick also addresses his sentiment against other conflicts.

Douglass gave his speech in the course of the postwar time to show his perspectives and points though blacks just got freedom, they still didn’t have any equal right to anything that others did. And the civil rights gave their freedom no meaning. Frederick ruled his listeners with his sentiment approach along with his strong-willed attitude changing from vexation and answering many of his inquiries throughout his speech, to show that he was serious. This speech is a good demonstration of fighting for equal rights with the conviction of saving men. Frederick Douglass understood the proper role of the administration was to protect the people’s rights and give them equality before the law. Fredrick was a relentless advocate for rights whether it was blacks, African Americans, Immigrants, and women. Douglass’s speech was not just for African Americans. But to all those who believe men and women can’t master their rights and fates.

When Douglass addresses his audience, he does not separate his words with blacks and whites he uses words like ‘friends’ and ‘our’ when talking about his race’s wants and desires. his words describe blacks and whites as a whole. showing his audience that regardless of the prejudice. Frederick believes that everyone is a family

The Impact Baseball Has Had on American

The idea of Football being America’s pastime is false. The misconception of how baseball has affected American history and helped Americans From the Civil War to Civil Rights and all points in between and beyond, the game of baseball supports and reflects many aspects of American life. Baseball is America’s pastime because of the effects it had in the Civil War, civil rights, The world wars as well as the great depression. Baseball has also helped foreign economies such as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico. The impact that baseball had on civil rights was so great it was a turning point in the history of all sports.

Baseball invented and made professional

A game called ‘baseball’ had developed in England by the early 18th century, and it continued to be called ‘baseball’ until after 1800. In 1846, the Knickerbockers played the first official game of baseball against a team of cricket players, beginning a new, uniquely American tradition. which is credited as the first official game of baseball. The impact of their efforts continues to be felt today. The Cincinnati Baseball Club, also known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was the first known openly professional team in 1869 and played its first game against an opposing club on May 4, 1869. This started the professional baseball trend which has been a key contributor to American history. The first intercollegiate baseball game took place in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on July 1, 1859, between Amherst College and Williams College. The creation of the game of baseball as well as its becoming a professional, And collegiate sport started trends that still to this day have impacts on Americans. Without those historical events the color barrier wouldn’t have been broken when it was, one of America’s first professional sports Americans started to go out and watch in their spare time. Baseball wouldn’t have been able to help the economy get out of the great depression. The game of baseball wouldn’t have been able to help people during WW1, or WW2 be able to focus on something other than the war.

Baseball’s impact on the Civil rights movement

The desegregation of baseball foreshadowed other landmark achievements of the Civil Rights movement. On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson at the age of 28 years old stepped onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers while doing so Jackie broke the color barrier of a sport that had been segregated for 50 years. When Jackie joined Brooklyn he not only paved the way for others to follow but helped set a president for everyone. If a professional sports team can begin changing their ways, what’s stopping others from trying? Hank Aaron was the first Black star of a professional team in the South when the Braves left Milwaukee for Atlanta in 1966, and his dignity in the face of relentless abuse during his pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record paved the way for greater racial tolerance. Aaron was a longtime supporter of civil rights organizations such as the NAACP. He co-founded with his wife, the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation to help children develop their potential. Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson were not only some of the greatest baseball players of all time but most importantly they helped pave the way for Black baseball players to chase their dreams. In doing so they helped not only the game of baseball but all other sports and activities that segregated preventing blacks from chasing their dreams.

The title of ”What A Black Man Wants’ tells me that the Black man is trying to address something he wants, so that they may feel equal to the next. Maybe better-paying jobs, finer homes, equal rights, and finer opportunities. I think that the subject of this story is Frederick D being the voice of reason for the black man and the community to address what they want. Douglass is probably letting us know what their desire is. I hope to learn what Frederick Douglass’s Speech was about. What is it that black man wants and were they able to get what they wanted?

Frederick Douglass wanted his audience to know about his wishes and perspectives he has about human rights and he was confident about it. In his speech, he used ‘All I ask for and I want ‘ so that his listeners wouldn’t miss any details in the speech so that what he desires is embedded in his listener’s minds and hopefully one of his listeners gets a desire for a change. Although Frederick uses a sentiment approach in his speech, his tone is what’s working. FrederFrederick intends to ensure equal treatment including Civil rights for black people. He mentions what he wants. He backs it up with his sentiment perspectives and uses sentence organization throughout his entire speech so his listeners won’t miss any details. In Frederick Douglass’s speech, he publicly says ‘I don’t agree with this’ while he is addressing the objected premature negro rights to suffrage. Frederick also addresses his sentiment against other conflicts.

Douglass gave his speech in the course of the postwar time to show his perspectives and points though blacks just got freedom, they still didn’t have any equal right to anything that others did. And the civil rights gave their freedom no meaning. Frederick ruled his listeners with his sentiment approach along with his strong-willed attitude changing from vexation and answering many of his inquiries throughout his speech, to show that he was serious. This speech is a good demonstration of fighting for equal rights with the conviction of saving men. Frederick Douglass understood the proper role of the administration was to protect the people’s rights and give them equality before the law. Fredrick was a relentless advocate for rights whether it was blacks, African Americans, Immigrants, and women. Douglass’s speech was not just for African Americans. But to all those who believe men and women can’t master their rights and fates.

When Douglass addresses his audience, he does not separate his words with blacks and whites he uses words like ‘friends’ and ‘our’ when talking about his race’s wants and desires. his words describe blacks and whites as a whole. showing his audience that regardless of the prejudice. Frederick believes that everyone is a family