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This photo shows Harriet Tubman on the left, holding a pan, pictured next to 6 people she helped escape through the Underground Railroad. This is a really powerful image because it shows people, young and old, all leaving for a better life away from oppression and pursuing a life of freedom. This photo speaks to this groups' courage to attempt to escape their captors and to fight for equality despite the odds.

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The movie Sinners is a really interesting take on a few different topics we have discussed in class. First, it's set in 1932, during the height of segregation, when two Black Men are very powerful, yet they still face many challenges brought on by White Americans. Additionally, we see a lot about soul music and how that way of life can transcend our world in a sense, and the movie connects this by talking about how it has been used to connect with ancestors from the past and future.

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I chose the Green Book because it highlights many of the issues faced by African Americans in the Deep South. This movie encapsulates the issue of segregation during that time. It also highlights the irony of having a black pianist at a restaurant but not allowing them to eat there. It puts many of those insane ideals to the test as the characters navigate the South on Dr. Shirley's tour.

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HIM is a really interesting movie to me for many reasons. The movie showcases a black man doing whatever he can to achieve fame, which I think is a metaphor in this case to talk about equality. He practically assaults himself to get better at football. I think the drive showcased in this movie and the willingness to do whatever he feels he has to, is a common thread within the African American community.

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Fences is a movie that discusses many different aspects of African American life, not the least of which is family dynamics. This movie talks about the struggle of families who have suffered through segregation and who have lost hope in the American Dream because of it. Troy (the father) had dreams to be a baseball player, but even though he was one of the best, he was never allowed to play due to segregation laws. Now that his son wants to be a baseball player, Troy doesn't want to expose his son to the world, even though it has improved significantly since his time.

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Fences Trailer 2 (2016) - Paramount Pictures

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DEVOTION is a movie about the first African American naval aviator in the US armed forces. It is a movie about bridging the gap between races, and it talks a lot about the challenges Jesse faces in his journey to become the first black naval aviator. It is also a story about courage, not only from the job of fighting in the Korean War, but also to leave the safety of his family life and to make a name for himself in a place that did not appreciate him for who his and what he brought to the table.

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This photo is from the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, showing Jesse Owens (center) getting the Gold Medal for the Long Jump competition. On the right, we see a german competitor showing the Nazi Salute, which is a blatant white supremacist move. It shows that even though Jesse did better than the white German athlete, he is still being put down, and it shows the systemic racism throughout the 1930s.

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The Tuskegee Experiment was a long-term experiment headed up by the US Government, which had hundreds of black men in Macon County, Alabama, unwillingly subjected to syphilis and denied treatment for 40 years. They used different forms of coercion to keep the men in the dark and refused to treat them. This went on until 1972, when it was reported by a journalist,t and many of those who were responsible quietly resigned before they could be charged for their crimes.

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The Appalling Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment

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African Americans served a variety of roles in World War 2, from the famed Tuskegee Airmen to cooks and many others. Even though their efforts were crucial to the war's outcome, they were still treated as 2nd class citizens and not given many of the tools white combat units were given. For example, the Tuskegee Airmen were given less desirable aircraft or much older aircraft that the white soldiers did not want anymore. Despite this, they were a highly decorated unit that had a significant impact on the war.

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World War II: Black American History #31

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This talk show style interview of Malcolm X talks a lot about the current affairs (of that time) with his ideology and the ideology of some of the other African American social leaders. He talks about his disagreements with Martin Luther King Jr. and about his thoughts on segregation. I thought this was an important thing to show because of how he is portrayed in the media as somebody who is very violent and aggressive, and mainly to show that he isn't. In fact, he talks about how he doesn't encourage anyone to commit acts of violence against white people, but only to do whatever it takes to preserve life and liberty.

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Malcolm X on Front Page Challenge, 1965: CBC Archives | CBC

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Denzel Washington talks about Color Vs. Culture

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Denzel Washington talks about Color Vs. Culture

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In this clip, actor Denzel Washington responds to a question regarding whether a white director could make the movie he was in as good as a black director. His response, that it wasn't about color as much as it was about culture, really spoke to me. I think that's one of the problems shown in society today. Many people are too hung up on color and the differences between black and white, when they should be focused on the culture and how we can all incorporate and share our cultures with one another, so we all have a better understanding of our world.

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CNI on Instagram: "Denzel Washington Shares TIMELESS Wisdom On Culture Over Color.

🎬 Get Denzel Washington’s best-selling book “A Hand to Guide Me” here 👉 https://amzn.to/3jSN7HW

In this powerful and inspiring interview, legendary actor Denzel Washington delivers one of his most talked-about motivational speeches. While promoting the film Fences, Denzel opens up about the importance of representation in Hollywood, sharing why having a Black director was vital for the movie’s authenticity.

With his signature intensity and wisdom, Denzel speaks a timeless truth:
👉 “It’s not about color—it’s about culture.”

This video features highlights from the best of Denzel’s interviews, iconic scenes, and life-changing motivational moments that showcase why he's not just a phenomenal actor, but a true voice of inspiration.

📽️ Watch the full Denzel Washington interview and discover the mindset behind his greatness.
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ayf8Iny9Eg"

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64K likes, 296 comments - cniclassic on May 2, 2025: "Denzel Washington Shares TIMELESS Wisdom On Culture Over Color.

🎬 Get Denzel Washington’s best-selling book “A Hand to Guide Me” here 👉 https://amzn.to/3jSN7HW

In this powerful and inspiring interview, legendary actor Denzel Washington delivers one of his most talked-about motivational speeches. While promoting the film Fences, Denzel opens up about the importance of representation in Hollywood, sharing why having a Black director was vital for the movie’s authenticity.

With his signature intensity and wisdom, Denzel speaks a timeless truth:
👉 “It’s not about color—it’s about culture.”

This video features highlights from the best of Denzel’s interviews, iconic scenes, and life-changing motivational moments that showcase why he's not just a phenomenal actor, but a true voice of inspiration.

📽️ Watch the full Denzel Washington interview and discover the mindset behind his greatness.
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ayf8Iny9Eg". 

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CNI (@cniclassic)

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This video talks about how the NAACP works to combat racism and increase equality for Black Americans. This is a really important organization, and I really like what the NAACP has been doing to promote equality in the US. From wealth disparity, to housing to voting rights, the NAACP has been the foremost organization fighting to help make things fairer.

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How the NAACP Fights Racial Discrimination | History

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The Transatlantic Slave Trade is one of the most important topics to talk about when we discuss African American history, because it sets a lot of the precedents that slavery and segregation were based on. It's important to realize this wasn't a short timeframe; this was happening; it went on for 400 years. Not only did this set up precedents for what was to come in the shorter term, but it also denied African Americans the possibility to kickstart generational well-being for that time as well. This is partly why the wealth disparity is so high, and why there is an implicit bias of having stereotypes form of African Americans as people that many White Americans did not want to be associated with or interact with.

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The Atlantic slave trade: What too few textbooks told you - Anthony Hazard

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MLK Jr. Talks about the legacy of slavery

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MLK Jr. Talks about the legacy of slavery

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I really do like what MLK Jr. has to say about the legacy of slavery. He highlights the problems associated with the Emancipation Proclamation and how it didn't just magically fix things. There were still many issues to deal with, and I think there are still things we have to work on today. It also showcases the plight of the African American situation, where other groups, especially immigrants who came willingly, were given better treatment than those who were enslaved for over 200 years. The irony of that still haunts us to this day, where we are trying to help many African American Communities where they haven't been able to establish the same type of economic baseline that White people have.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr discuss the Legacy of Slavery

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The Legacy Museum is a grim reminder of the early African American Experience in the US and is a testament to all of those who have suffered. It's really important to keep these memories alive so we can show the faults of humanity, so that we can never recreate them. I thought this video was important to show because it talks about a physical place of learning where you can go and see so many different parts of the Black experience and you can get a better grasp than if you were to be watching the video itself or read a book about it.

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Adultification is a big problem in the US because it places unintended responsibility on Black children, which can result in bad situations. Many problems arise from people being deemed as a lot older than they are, such as a 12 or 13-year-old Black boy who is playing with a stick being interpreted as an 18-year-old man with a gun. While it seems absurd, it is a common reality that only has bad endings.

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I thought this video was really interesting because it talks about how many people have to invent a way of dealing with their emotions. For many people put in disadvantageous positions and society refusing to help them, they can often turn to destructive means of letting their emotions out. These guys instead formed a group that runs around New York City, and they do Calisthenics to motivate others to work out, as well as them sharing their stories on camera and how they have overcome challenges in their lives.

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Training In The STREETS! (NYC Calisthenics)

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Mass Incarceration is something that was a foreign concept to me before this class. I think what this video does better than talking about it is give me perspective and a visual on how widespread and corrupt the system is. This video puts everything on display and makes me feel very connected to the issue, rather than just having numbers alone thrown out at me. It also gives a lot of explanation of the effects of mass incarceration, which puts everything into perspective for somebody not familiar with the reasons for the status quo.

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How the New Deal left out African Americans

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How the New Deal left out African Americans

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The New Deal was promised to be this grand bill that would help all Americans, but it really only helped those who were White. I don't think this is super widely known, and I wanted to share it because I think it's important to realize that there was still a white supremacist movement at the top levels of the government, even from the president, which meant that African Americans couldn't have any benefits from the New Deal. They had also lived through the Great Depression, but White Americans were given ways to bounce back. It allowed many people to buy cars and houses, but African Americans did not receive any of those things.

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How the New Deal Left Out African-Americans

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This clip showcases President Donald Trump answering a question about why Black Americans are still being killed by police, and instead of answering the question in any meaningful way, he decides to say "so are White People". I am pretty terrified at this response because this is coming from the President of the United States, who is supposed to be representing all Americans, but the way he dodges this question makes me believe that he truly does not care about African Americans whatsoever. He then goes on to say that White people get shot by police more, which just further directs the attention away from the original question. This is classic disregardance, which shows the President's apathy towards the issue, which is very unsettling.

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Asked why Black Americans are killed by police, Trump responds, "So are White people"

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Floyd Mayweather talks about being African American vs American

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Floyd Mayweather talks about being African American vs American

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I really like what Mayweather says here about his time at the Olympics. The ideology that we are all under the blanket of "American" should mean that we are all together. It's clear that he doesn't want to be known as an African American, but as an American, which I think is a great thing. When referring to yourself as a Black American or an African American, you are distinguishing yourself from an American. While it is more specific and societally okay for that, it still does reinforce the idea that you are separate, and if we want to eliminate inequality, we should talk as if we are one.

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Floyd: Why I don’t call myself African American 🎯

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This website is a dedicated source related to Black Americans' mental health and well-being, and anyone can call the National Suicide Hotline at 988. This is really important because we talk a lot about family dynamics and upbringing, and I think it's important to realize that many parts of African American history are still relevant today and carry generational trauma. People who suffer from mental health challenges often don't want to speak up, so having a website dedicated to African Americans to learn how others like them have overcome those struggles will help a lot.

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The suicide rate among Black youth has been found to be increasing faster than any other racial/ethnic group. Black adults living below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress than those with more financial security. Additionally, members of the Black community face structural racism, leading to barriers to access for the care and treatment they need. Only one in three Black adults who need mental health care receive it.

How To Take Care Of Yourself

If you're struggling, you can call or chat with the Lifeline. We're available 24/7 and confidential. There are crisis counselors available to listen and support you without judgment.

Make a safety plan: Have a step-by-step plan ready for if/when you feel depressed, suicidal, or in crisis, so you can start at step one and continue through the steps until you feel safe. Creating a safety plan can include listing your coping strategies, identifying the people in your life that may support you through a crisis, and more.

Limit your news consumption. The constant replay of news stories about traumatic events can increase stress and anxiety. Try to reduce the amount of news you watch, read or listen to, and engage in relaxing activities instead.

How To Help

Ask and listen: Be an active part of your loved ones' support systems and check-in with them often. If they show any warning signs for suicide, be direct. Tell them it's OK to talk about suicidal feelings. Practice active listening techniques and let them talk without judgment.

Know the facts: Due to cultural stigma, lack of culturally competent providers, distrust of medical providers due to historical abuse, cost or a lack of insurance, and/or limited options in their area, Black adults and youth often struggle to get access to the mental health care they may need.

Get them help and take care of yourself: Don't be afraid to get your loved one the help they might need. Support them in identifying others to talk to that may understand how they feel - family members, friends, co-workers, and faith or spiritual leaders. The Lifeline is always here to talk or chat, both for crisis intervention and to support friends and loved ones.

Resources for Black Mental Health

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The suicide rate among Black youth has been found to be increasing faster than any other racial/ethnic group. Black adults living below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress than those with more financial security.

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The Center for Black Health & Equity provides a lot of resources for Black Americans. They provide many different outlets, such as HIV and AIDS treatment, as well as advocating for equity-centered policies and education of those policies. These programs are really important because they help empower the African American community to be civically engaged and to create change within their communities, which, as we know, can lead to much broader changes across the board.

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The Center for Black Health & Equity is a national nonprofit organization that facilitates public health programs and services that benefit communities.

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The Department of Commerce's AAEP (African American Employment Program) is a great use of government funding that assists Black Americans in getting good government-funded jobs, as well as increasing diversity in the workplace. The goal of this is to have the federal workforce be intentionally diverse, in order to keep adding new perspectives to solve today's problems. It also has the added effect of helping out local economies and communities by having the unemployment rate much lower and more people coming in to buy and sell goods.

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The Department of Commerce strives to create a culture that encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness that enables employees to participate to their fullest potential.The African American Employment Program (AAEP) enhances the Department's efforts to comply with the mandates of Executive Order 13583, Establishing a Coordinated Government-wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce, and Executive Order 11478, Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal Government.

The AAEP develops, plans, and implements strategies that enable the Department to recruit, hire, promote, and retain a more diverse, qualified workforce. In addition, the AAEP helps the Department address potential discriminatory and/or inequitable practices in hiring and employment and works to eliminate barriers to full participation for AAEP in the workplace.

Program Manager: Monique Dismuke

African American History Month

February is designated as African American History Month or Black History Month to commemorate the rich and varied contributions of African Americans to the culture and history of the United States and the world. Negro History Week was initiated in 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard Ph.D., who 11 years earlier founded the Association for the Study of Afro- American Life and History. In those early days, the words Afro and Black were seldom used. It was Dr. Woodson's hope that through this special observance, all Americans would be reminded of their ethnic roots, and that "togetherness" in the United States racial groups would develop out of a mutual respect. Dr. Woodson chose February to recognize Negro History Week because it contains the birthdays of two iconic figures in African American history, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

In 1976, Negro History week was expanded to include the entire month of February and became known as "Black History Month", also known today as "African American History Month." From its initiation, African-American History Month has evolved to incorporate the views and expressions of many ethnic and social groups, not just African Americans.

Each February, the Department plans activities designed to provide cultural awareness, debunk stereotypes, and recognize the contributions and achievements of African Americans represented in our workforce.

News
2023 Black History Events: U.S. Department of Commerce Presents Guest Speaker - Zaheer Ali U.S. Department of Commerce Presents The Homage Exhibition Guidance and Regulation Executive Order 13583, Establishing a Coordinated Government-wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce, August 18, 2011 Executive Order 11478, Equal employment opportunity in the Federal Government
29 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 1614.102(b)(4), Federal implementation of the Civil Rights Act

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The Alzheimer's Association has created a webpage specifically for talking about African American Alzheimer's. I found out through this website that Black Americans have twice the likelihood of getting Alzheimer's in their lives, which I did not know before. It also provides education for symptoms to look out for and for people to contact for further information, which I think is really important for those who may know somebody who is dealing with it, and they don't know who to contact or what to do.

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Among Black Americans ages 70 and older, 21.3% are living with Alzheimer's. Learn what the Alzheimer's Association is doing to address disparities and provide care and support for African Americans living with Alzheimer's or another dementia.

Quick facts

While older Black Americans are twice as likely as older Whites to have Alzheimer's or another dementia, research hasn't yet identified the cause. Higher rates of cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) disease may play a role. Some studies indicate that after correcting for overall health and socioeconomic status, these differences disappear.

Only 20% of Black Americans say that they have no barriers to excellent health care and support for Alzheimer's or other dementias.

For more information, please see the Association's Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures special report onRace, Ethnicity and Alzheimer's in America (PDF).

Perceptions of clinical trials

A history of exclusion from medical trials and a lasting history of discrimination from the medical establishment, including but not limited to the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study, contribute to high levels of mistrust of clinical trials among Black Americans. Nearly two-thirds of Black Americans (62%) believe that medical research is biased against people of color.

The most common reasons Black Americans do not want to participate in a clinical trial are:

The fear of being a guinea pig, which 69% of African Americans name as a concern.

Black Americans are also far more likely than other racial groups to be concerned about getting sick from treatment, with 45% describing this as a reason.

However, Black Americans are the least likely group to report cost as a concern, with only 24% saying cost and time are reasons not to participate.

Other studies identified reasons such as not expecting to benefit from participating in research and not being given enough information about research studies. Many of these findings persist across socioeconomic groups. In another study, Black Americans rated study risks, the requirement of a study partner, study procedures, the ratio of drug to placebo, and study location as important factors in the decision of whether to enroll.

In this webinar discussion, hosted by Beverly Berry from the Alzheimer's Association, three expert panelists discuss how to build trust and remove barriers to greater Black participation in research. It features the Rev. Dr. Ruben Warren, former director of the National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care; the Rev Dr. Ann Marie Bentsi-Addison, senior director of faith-based initiatives at NYC Health + Hospitals; and the Rev. Dr. Miriam J. Burnett, medical director for the International Health Commission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Serving the community

At the Alzheimer's Association, we believe that diverse perspectives are critical to achieving health equity - meaning that all communities have a fair and just opportunity for early diagnosis and access to risk reduction and quality care. The Association is committed to engaging underrepresented and underserved communities and responding with resources and education to address the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer's and dementia.

Learn About the Play

The Alzheimer's Association actively serves the African American community by providing culturally appropriate services and working to reduce health disparities. You can do something to help by becoming an Association volunteer. Make a difference in your community by delivering support and education, raising funds, advocating for Alzheimer's and more.

New IDEAS is a new clinical study from the Alzheimer's Association and the American College of Radiology on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. At least 4,000 of the planned 7,000 New IDEAS participants will be Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino. Historically, Black and Hispanic people haven't been represented fully in Alzheimer's and dementia clinical studies. This study seeks to ensure that the results apply to all racial and ethnic groups.

If you are unable to participate in New IDEAS, you can still help advance Alzheimer's research. Alzheimer's Association TrialMatch is a free and private tool that connects individuals living with Alzheimer's, caregivers and healthy volunteers to clinical trials. Search open studies or sign up to receive email alerts of new studies through TrialMatch.

The Association's Northern California and Northern Nevada chapters of the Alzheimer's Association created the videos Black Men and Dementia and Black Women and Dementia: Two Sides of the Story.

Dr. Robert W. Turner II is an author, researcher and former NFL player. He describes the impact of dementia on his family and on Black Americans, his work as lead researcher for the Brain Health & Aging Study and how the Alzheimer's Association's partnerships are helping to advance research.

Association partnerships

The Alzheimer's Association actively partners to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Alzheimer's prevention and treatment. Its partners dedicating to serving the Black community include:

Learn more about our partners and partnerships as part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Help is available

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another dementia, you are not alone. The Alzheimer's Association is the trusted resource for reliable information, education, referral and support to millions of people affected by the disease.

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Among Black Americans ages 70 and older, 21.3% are living with Alzheimer's. Learn what the Alzheimer's Association is doing to address disparities and provide care and support for African Americans living with Alzheimer's or another dementia. While older Black Americans are twice as likely as older Whites to have Alzheimer's or another dementia, research hasn't yet identified the cause.

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This website talks about how the Wealth Gap between White and Black Americans was formed. This information is key to knowing why things are the way they are and how we can avoid these problems from happening again. It's also just as important to have the knowledge ,so we aren't just letting all of this happen while most white people either don't know or don't acknowledge this as an issue.

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The already large racial wealth gap between white and black American households grew even wider after the Great Recession. Targeted policies are necessary to reverse this deepening divide.

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National Park Service preserving important places of Civil Rights 

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National Park Service preserving important places of Civil Rights 

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I thought this was a really important website to discuss because of what's happened over the last 10 or so years with people wanting to remove old Civil War statues and monuments. While it's important to protect people's well-being by not having statues of Confederate generals in city squares, buildings such as these are the birthplaces of the soul and are at the forefront of the civil rights movement. They can't just be destroyed to build apartment complexes because they should be preserved so it can live as a reminder of the progress we've made as a society.

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You are viewing ARCHIVED content published online before January 20, 2025. Please note that this content is NOT UPDATED, and links may not work. For current information, visit https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/index.htm.

The Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, the office of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the first African American-owned radio station, on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia.
Charles Lawrence, Lord Aeck Sargent

News Release Date: May 25, 2023

Contact: NewsMedia@nps.gov

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service (NPS) awarded $21 million today to 37 projects in 16 states as part of the Historic Preservation Fund's African American Civil Rights grant program, which funds preservation projects and efforts of sites tied to the struggle of African Americans to gain equal rights.

"The National Park Service is proud to award this grant funding to our state and local government, and nonprofit partners to help them recognize places and stories related to the African American experience," said NPS Director Chuck Sams. "Since 2016, the African American Civil Rights program has provided over $100 million to document, protect, and celebrate the places, people and stories of one of the greatest struggles in American history."

This year's grants will support the preservation of sites like the Ashby Theatre, St. Paul United Methodist Church and the Americus Colored Hospital.

Atlanta's Ashby Theatre opened in 1934 offering African Americans a state-of-the art experience and welcomed them through the front door to watch movies on the main level. Herman Perry, a successful African American entrepreneur who founded Citizens Trust Bank, which is among the largest African American-owned financial institutions in the country today, built the theater. Grant funds will support removal of hazardous material, building assessments, stabilization, and exterior improvements.

During the Birmingham demonstrations in 1963 against racial segregation, St. Paul hosted mass meetings and held training sessions in nonviolent civil disobedience for the young demonstrators who participated in the Children's Crusade marches. Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, who established the Southern Christian Leadership Conference along with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was pastor of the church. The grant funding will improve mechanical and plumbing systems. The applicant is providing $26,000 in matching funds.

The Americus Colored Hospital in Georgia provided high-quality, full-service health care to African Americans from 1923 to 1953 and was a facility where black medical professionals could train, practice, and serve. With a significant population of health professionals, Americus had a thriving African American middle class. In the 1960s, the building became one of two Freedom Centers to help people register to vote. This grant will fund installation of new electrical and HVAC systems and provide interior repairs.

Congress appropriated funding for the African American Civil Rights Grant Program in fiscal year 2022 through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). The HPF uses revenue from federal oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf to assist with a broad range of preservation projects and mitigate the loss of nonrenewable resources by funding the preservation of other irreplaceable resources without expending tax dollars. Established in 1977 and authorized at $150 million per year through 2023, the HPF has provided more than $2 billion in historic preservation grants to states, Tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations.

Administered by the NPS, Congress may appropriate HPF funds to support a variety of historic preservation projects to help preserve the nation's cultural resources. For fiscal year 2023, $24 million will be available for African American Civil Rights grants in the summer of 2023.

For more information about NPS historic preservation programs and grants, please visit nps.gov/stlpg/.

Awards

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 424 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

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National Park Service awards $21 million to help preserve African American civil rights history   - Office of Communications (U.S. National Park Service)

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You are viewing ARCHIVED content published online before January 20, 2025. Please note that this content is NOT UPDATED, and links may not work. For current information, visit https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/index.htm.

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I thought this website was really important to talk about because many people don't acknowledge the stresses of being African American in our days' society. Not only are there the stresses of being targeted by the police or by other students, but the past has a profound effect on how somebody has been brought up, and the stresses of the past get passed down through generational trauma. This website is hoping to deal with that by giving resources and information talking about the stresses of being African American and encourages older folks to go see a healthcare professional to talk about those stresses.

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How race-related stress impacts older African Americans

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Service providers in the aging and health-care fields need greater awareness, education, and training to address race-related stress in African American older adults.

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African American Involvement in the Civil War

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African American Involvement in the Civil War

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I found this website to be really intriguing because it talks about a bunch of the different facets where African Americans were involved in the Civil War. Not only were there just slave laborers in the South, but there were also Union soldiers fighting to take down Southern slave owners. While they weren't considered US Army, they did serve valiantly and were able to make an impact on the civil war which ultimately helped bring an end to slavery as a whole in the United States.

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African Americans were freemen, freedmen, slaves, soldiers, sailors, laborers, and slaveowners during the Civil War. As a historian, I must be objective and discuss the facts based on my research. Some of our history may be different from how it has been previously taught and some of it is not very pretty.

In 1860, both the North and the South believed in slavery and white supremacy. Although many northerners talked about keeping the federal territories free land, they wanted those territories free for white men to work and not compete against slavery. The two parts of the country had two very different labor systems and slavery was the economic system of the South. Its four million slaves were valued between three and four billion dollars, in 1860.

The South seceded from the United States because they felt that their slave property was going to be taken away. When reading the secession documents, the primary reason for secession was to protect their slave property and expand slavery.

There were two broad categories of enslaved people at that time, agricultural slaves, and urban slaves. Most of us are familiar with agricultural slavery, the system of slavery on the farms and plantations. On the plantations, there were house servants and field hands, the house servants were usually better cared for, while field hands suffered more cruelty. Some slaveowners treated their slaves very well, some treated their slaves very cruelly and some were in between the extremes. Black slaveowners generally owned their own family members in order to keep their families together.

Field hands generally worked in the fields from sunrise to sunset and were generally watched by their slaveowners and or overseers. House servants were much closer to the families who owned them and in many cases were very loyal to their masters' families. In some cases, the house servants were related to these families.

Slaves and free Blacks were often classified by their percentage of white blood. For example, mulattos are half-white, quadroons are one-fourth Black, and octoroons are one-eighth Black. The enslaved people in these categories were more valuable than those of pure African descent.

Urban slaves had much more freedom, as they lived and worked in the cities and towns. Although some plantation slaves had become craftsmen, most of the urban slaves were craftsmen and tradesmen. These slaves were rented by their slaveholders to others, usually for a year at a time. They worked in factories, stores, hotels, warehouses, in houses and for tradesmen. In some cases, these enslaved people would earn money for themselves, if they worked more hours or were more productive than their rental contract requirements. They were able to work with free Blacks and were able to learn the customs of white Americans.

There was a coalition of people, Black and white, Northerners and Southerners that formed a society to colonize free Blacks in Africa. The American Colonization Society (ACS) was able to keep this mixture of people together because the various factions had different reasons for wanting to achieve the goals of this society. They founded Liberia and by 1867, they had assisted approximately 13,000 Blacks to move to Liberia. Some of the ACS really wanted to help Blacks and thought that they would fare better in Africa than America, but the slaveholders thought free Blacks were a detriment to slavery and wanted them removed from this country. The ACS survived from 1816 until it formally dissolved in 1964. In fact, even President Abraham Lincoln believed that this would be a solution to the problem of Blacks being freed during the Civil War. He found out that this was not the solution to the problem after a failed colonization attempt in the Caribbean in 1864.

Abolitionists, a very vocal minority of the North, who were anti-slavery activists, pushed for the United States to end slavery. After the John Brown Harper's Ferry raid of 1859, Southerners thought that the majority of Northerners were abolitionists, so when moderate Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860, they felt that their slave property would be taken away.

In the pre-1800 North, free Blacks had nominal rights of citizenship; in some places, they could vote, serve on juries and work in skilled trades. As the need to justify slavery grew stronger and racism started to solidify, most of the northern states took away some of those rights. When the northwestern states came into being, Blacks suffered more severe treatment. In Ohio, Blacks could not live there without a certificate proving their free status. Illinois had harsh restrictions on Blacks entering the state and Indiana tried barring them altogether. There was mob violence against Blacks from the 1820s up to 1850, especially in Philadelphia where the worst and most frequent mob violence occurred. City officials refused to protect Blacks and blamed African Americans for their "uppity" behavior.

Free African Americans in the North and the South faced racism. White people, no matter how poor, knew that there were classes of people under them - namely Blacks and Native Americans. Most white Americans defended slavery as the natural condition of Blacks in this country. Most immigrants in the North did not want to compete with African Americans for jobs because their wages would be lowered. This created animosity between Blacks and immigrants, especially the Irish - who killed many Blacks in the draft riots in New York City in 1863.

African Americans and their white allies in the North, created Black schools, churches, and orphanages. They also created mutual aid societies to provide financial assistance to Blacks. The Underground Railroad aided many escaped enslaved people from the South to the North, who were able to get support from the abolitionists.

In the North, most white people thought about Blacks in the same way as people of the South. The many immigrants that entered the country for a better life, considered Blacks as their rivals for low paying jobs. Many of the northwestern states and the free territories did not want slavery in their areas. Not because they wanted freedom for Blacks, but they wanted to have free areas for white men, and exclude Blacks in those states and territories, altogether. Blacks would drive down the wages for free white men. Illinois and Kansas represent two such states.

However, Blacks still wanted to fight for the Union army in the Civil War! Many wanted to prove their manhood, some wanted to prove their equality to white men, and many wanted to fight for the freedom of their people.

The North began to change its mind about Black soldiers in 1862, when in July Congress passed the Second Confiscation and Militia Acts, allowing the army to use Blacks to serve with the army in any duties required. Some generals used this act to form the first Black regiments. President Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in September 1862 to take effect on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation allowed Blacks to serve in the army of the United States as soldiers. In May 1863, the Bureau of Colored Troops was formed, and all of the Black regiments were called United States Colored Troops.

More than 200,000 Black men serve in the United States Army and Navy. The USCT fought in 450 battle engagements and suffered more than 38,000 deaths. Significant battles were Nashville, Fort Fisher, Wilmington, Wilson's Wharf, New Market Heights (Chaffin's Farm), Fort Wagner, Battle of the Crater, and Appomattox.

I want to make a special point here, the Emancipation Proclamation did not free all of the slaves in the country, although many people even today believe that it did. It only freed slaves in the Southern states still in rebellion against the United States. So, the Border States and territory already captured by the Union army still had slavery. The 13 th Amendment freed all the slaves in the country in 1865.

Some important African American people during the Civil War era were:

Frederick Douglass was the son of a slave and a white man; since his mother was a slave - he was a slave. He became the most important African American of the Civil War era. He was both an urban and agricultural slave, who was treated fairly well in the city but cruelly on the plantation. Douglass learned to read and write, he learned a trade and escaped to freedom. He became an abolitionist lecturer, an author, a publisher, a recruiter for the United States Colored Troops, a marshal for the District of Columbia, and an ambassador to both Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He criticized President Lincoln and then became a friend of the President.

Harriet Tubman, at 13 years old was struck in the head by an overseer; she had seizures or sleeping spells for the rest of her life. She is called "Moses," and led many fellow slaves to freedom (100-300). During the Civil War, she served with the Union army as a scout, spy, nurse, cook, and laundress. She led Union raids in South Carolina, freeing slaves in those areas while assisting the USCT infantry.

William Wells Brown was born into slavery on November 6, 1814, to a slave named Elizabeth and a white planter, George W. Higgins. He escaped in Ohio and added the adopted name of Wells Brown - the name of a Quaker friend who helped him. He became a conductor for the Underground Railroad, lecturer on the antislavery circuit in the United States and Europe, and a historian. He wrote his autobiography, which was a bestseller second only to Frederick Douglass' autobiography. He also wrote The Negro in the American Rebellion (1867) which is recognized as the first book about Black soldiers in the Civil War.

Elizabeth Keckley was the daughter of a slave and her white owner, she was considered a "privileged slave," learning to read and write despite the fact that it was illegal for slaves to do so. She became a dressmaker, bought her freedom, and moved to Washington, D. C. In Washington, she made a dress for Mrs. Robert E. Lee; this sparked a rapid growth for her business. She made dresses for Mrs. Jefferson Davis and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, becoming a loyal friend to Mary Todd Lincoln. Keckley also founded the Contraband Relief Association, an association that helped slaves freed during the Civil War.

Charlotte Forten Grimke was born into a wealthy Black abolitionist family in Philadelphia, PA,. She was a well-educated writer and poet, who went to Sea Island South Carolina to teach the liberated slaves to read and write. She later married the mulatto half-brother of the famous abolitionists Grimke sisters.

Sgt. Christian Fleetwood served in the 4th USCT. On September 29th during the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, he caught the American flag before it hit the ground, after the color bearer was shot down. He continued to carry the flag and rallied his men. His bravery earned him the Medal of Honor.

Sgt. William Carney served in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. On July 18, 1863, at the Battle of Fort Wagner, he earned the Medal of Honor for saving the American flag, despite being severely wounded. He carried the flag all the way to the entrance of the fort before he retreated.

Sergeant Nimrod Burke of the 23rd USCT, started the war as a civilian teamster and scout for the 36th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in April 1861. In 1864, he enlisted in the 23rd United States Colored Troops. He was one of many Black men who served with the Union army in another capacity, then served with the United States Colored Troops.

African Americans were more than enslaved people during the Civil War. Many became productive citizens, including Congressmen, a senator, a governor, business owners, tradesmen and tradeswomen, soldiers, sailors, reporters, and historians. Research African American history in libraries and museums, to find out the contributions made during and after the Civil War.

Further Reading

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African Americans were freemen, freedmen, slaves, soldiers, sailors, laborers, and slaveowners during the Civil War. As a historian, I must be objective and...

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Reparations are an interesting topic for me. I think a lot about people who say that African Americans are owed for lost wages and many other things, and this website gives a good perspective on it. It's a part of the NAACP parent website, and it agrees that each person should be given reparations equivalent to 40 acres and a mule.

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WHEREAS, African Americans have been enslaved in the United States from 1619 to 1865 and people of African descent have been murdered, brutalized, made victims of genocide, sexually assaulted and economically depressed based on race in the United States from 1619 through the civil rights movement. Evidence of this systemic racism are still present today. The United States government must atone for the actions in the name of the United States government against Black people in the United States; and

WHEREAS, there is legal precedent for reparations and numerous prior recommendations for reparations. The Policy of "40 acres and a mule," was Union General William T. Sherman's Special Field Order No. 15, issued January 16, 1865, provided for the massive land redistribution actually was the result of a discussion that Sherman, the Secretary of War, and 20 leaders of the Black Community. Section one of the order states: "The islands from Charleston. South Carolina, the abandoned rice fields along the rivers for thirty miles back from the sea, and the country bordering the St. Johns River, Florida, are reserved and set apart for the settlement of the Negroes [sic] now made freely the acts of war and the proclamation of the President of the United States." Section two specifies that these new communities, moreover, would be governed entirely by black people themselves: " . .. on the islands, and in the settlements hereafter to be established, no white person whatever. unless military officers and soldiers detailed for duty, will be permitted to reside; and the sole and exclusive management of affairs will be left to the freed people themselves ... By the laws of war, and orders of the President of the United States, the negro [sic] is free and must be dealt with as such." Finally, section three specifies the allocation of land: "... each family shall have a plot of not more than (40) acres of tillable ground, and when it borders on some water channel, with not more than 800 feet water front, in the possession of which land the military authorities will afford them protection, until such time as they can protect themselves, or until Congress shall regulate their title."

With this Order, 400,000 acres of land -"a strip of coastline stretching from Charleston, South Carolina, to the St. John's River in Florida including Georgia's Sea Islands and the mainland thirty miles in from the coast," as Barton Myers reports - would be redistributed to the newly freed slaves. President Andrew Johnson overturned the order in the fall of 1865, and, "returned the land along the South Carolina, Georgia and Florida coasts to the planters who had originally owned it"- to the very people who had declared war on the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, the next push for reparations took place at the turn of the century. Several black organizations lobbied Congress to provide pensions for former slaves and their children. One bill introduced into the U.S. Senate in 1894 would have granted direct payments of up to $500 to all ex-slaves plus monthly pensions ranging from $4 to $15. This, and several similar bills, died in congressional committees. The pension movement itself faded away with the onset of World War I; and

WHEREAS, during the 1960s, some black leaders revived the idea of reparations. In 1969, James Forman (then head of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) proclaimed a "Black Manifesto." It demanded $500 million from American churches and synagogues for their role in perpetuating slavery before the Civil War. Black Nationalist organizations, such as the Black Panther Party and Black Muslims, also demanded reparations; and

WHEREAS, in the 1980s, a new call arose for black reparations. It was stimulated by two other movements that successfully secured payments from the U.S. government. The Supreme Court in 1980 ordered the federal government to pay eight Sioux Indian tribes $122 million to compensate for the illegal seizure of tribal lands in 1977. Then in 1988, Congress approved the payment of $1.25 billion to 60,000 Japanese-American citizens who had been interned in prison camps during World War II; and

WHEREAS, in April 1989, Council Member Ray Jenkins guided through the Detroit City Council a resolution. It called for a $40 billion federal education fund for black college and trade school students. About the same time, a conference of black state legislators meeting in New Orleans backed the idea of a federally financed education fund for descendants of slaves. Shortly afterward, Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) drafted a bill calling for the establishment of a congressional commission to study the impact of slavery on African-Americans; and

WHEREAS, reparations are a financial recompense for African-Americans whose ancestors were slaves and lived through the Jim Crow era. The enslavement and overall persecution of Black people in the United States has enriched the United States and created disparities in income, wealth and education between blacks and whites. The current-day legacy of slavery and Jim Crow, and that action is needed to reduce these differences. As Tahcsi-Coates says in a recent Atlantic Magazine article "The Case for Reparations": "What I'm talking about is more than recompense for past injustices - more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe. What I'm talking about is a national reckoning that would lead to spiritual renewal"; and

WHEREAS, in the first order, the NAACP should support reparations for Black people in the United States. We need a race-centered economic empowerment package for African Americans that builds generational wealth and accounts for not only slavery but the decades upon decades of economic pillaging. Colorlines, a publication run by Race Forward. reported that "the U.S. government spends bill ions subsidizing fanning in America, yet Black farmers today receive only one-third to one-sixth of that... and the Southern Rural Development Initiative found that less than I percent of agriculture subsidy payments between 2001 and 2003 went to Blacks, Native Americans and Asian Americans." Worse inequality has only grown since the Great Depression wiped out any gains black people made in the post-civil rights era. Today, without intervention, it would take an African-American household 228 years to build the same amount of wealth as our white counterparts. Second, in determining what form reparations should take, the United States government should be required to atone in the following way:

Reparations would involve a national apology, rights to the cannabis industry, financial payment, social service benefits, and land grants to every descendant of an enslaved African American and Black person a descendant of those living in the United States including during American slavery until the Jim Crow era. 1965. Because slavery involved kidnapping, barbarism, and the stripping of language, culture and heritage, many Black people are unaware of their specific African heritage and which country in fact their ancestors were stolen from. The forged documentation, lack of documentation or non-existent documentation, from birth certificates to slave manifest, be it resolved that eligibility for these reparations requires the following: people that were born in the United States or naturalized citizens that have noted their Black heritage on the census, identify as Black on their birth certificate and/or have documentation of enslaved parentage in the United States, documentation of parentage residing in the United States prior to and during the Jim Crow era, and currently identify as Black American or African American. Identification of African-American heritage is both a biological and physical representation of being African-American on a daily basis.

Land grant of 40 acres: Each family of 3 or more individuals (parents & children) shall be granted 40 acres of tillable land. No taxes to be paid on the property for 5 years from the date the land is first bequeathed by the government. If taxes are not paid on the land or land is taken for any other reason (criminal seizure), those of African descent are to be given the first right of refusal and opportunity to purchase the land. Publication of land availability must be in place for one year from the date of tax lien is issued on the property. If after one year, no person of African descent (eligible based on the same criteria listed for reparation eligibility), then the land may be sold to an individual of Non-African descent.

Social Services: Due to the disparity in life expectancy, that the descendants of enslaved people should be eligible earlier for receipt of benefits from Social Security, access to Medicare and other old age programs including store discounts, after participating in the workforce. The age for inclusion in these benefits distributions should be lowered by the difference in the life expectancy for African Americans as set within accepted insurance mortality tables. That the county including the Congress of the Unites States is aware of these discrepancies in mortality is evidenced by movements initiated during the George Bush, Jr. administration whereas the move to privatize social security was debated, part of the justification for the move was presented as an effort to make the system "benefit" African Americans in wealth creation by having African Americans in particular and all Americans "own" their wealth rather than dying and having less or nothing to leave to their descendants.

WHEREAS, there needs to be a national reckoning, new policies and structures and systemic structural changes, the NAACP submits reparations are the first step in repairing the devastation inflicted by slavery and racial discrimination. Ultimately when the Black community as a whole is excelling the country excels.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirms and stands in favor of financial reparations to African Americans and those of African Descent in the United States that are descendants of the slavery and the Jim Crow Era.

Get the full, detailed list of 2019 Resolutions.

Download Now

Reparations would involve a national apology, rights to the cannabis industry, financial payment, social service benefits, and land grants to every descendant of an enslaved African American and Black person a descendant of those living in the United States including during American slavery until the Jim Crow era. 1965. Because slavery involved kidnapping, barbarism, and the stripping of language, culture and heritage, many Black people are unaware of their specific African heritage and which country in fact their ancestors were stolen from. The forged documentation, lack of documentation or non-existent documentation, from birth certificates to slave manifest, be it resolved that eligibility for these reparations requires the following: people that were born in the United States or naturalized citizens that have noted their Black heritage on the census, identify as Black on their birth certificate and/or have documentation of enslaved parentage in the United States, documentation of parentage residing in the United States prior to and during the Jim Crow era, and currently identify as Black American or African American. Identification of African-American heritage is both a biological and physical representation of being African-American on a daily basis.

Land grant of 40 acres: Each family of 3 or more individuals (parents & children) shall be granted 40 acres of tillable land. No taxes to be paid on the property for 5 years from the date the land is first bequeathed by the government. If taxes are not paid on the land or land is taken for any other reason (criminal seizure), those of African descent are to be given the first right of refusal and opportunity to purchase the land. Publication of land availability must be in place for one year from the date of tax lien is issued on the property. If after one year, no person of African descent (eligible based on the same criteria listed for reparation eligibility), then the land may be sold to an individual of Non-African descent.

Social Services: Due to the disparity in life expectancy, that the descendants of enslaved people should be eligible earlier for receipt of benefits from Social Security, access to Medicare and other old age programs including store discounts, after participating in the workforce. The age for inclusion in these benefits distributions should be lowered by the difference in the life expectancy for African Americans as set within accepted insurance mortality tables. That the county including the Congress of the Unites States is aware of these discrepancies in mortality is evidenced by movements initiated during the George Bush, Jr. administration whereas the move to privatize social security was debated, part of the justification for the move was presented as an effort to make the system "benefit" African Americans in wealth creation by having African Americans in particular and all Americans "own" their wealth rather than dying and having less or nothing to leave to their descendants.

Get the full, detailed list of 2019 Resolutions.

Download Now

Reparations would involve a national apology, rights to the cannabis industry, financial payment, social service benefits, and land grants to every descendant of an enslaved African American and Black person a descendant of those living in the United States including during American slavery until the Jim Crow era. 1965. Because slavery involved kidnapping, barbarism, and the stripping of language, culture and heritage, many Black people are unaware of their specific African heritage and which country in fact their ancestors were stolen from. The forged documentation, lack of documentation or non-existent documentation, from birth certificates to slave manifest, be it resolved that eligibility for these reparations requires the following: people that were born in the United States or naturalized citizens that have noted their Black heritage on the census, identify as Black on their birth certificate and/or have documentation of enslaved parentage in the United States, documentation of parentage residing in the United States prior to and during the Jim Crow era, and currently identify as Black American or African American. Identification of African-American heritage is both a biological and physical representation of being African-American on a daily basis.

Land grant of 40 acres: Each family of 3 or more individuals (parents & children) shall be granted 40 acres of tillable land. No taxes to be paid on the property for 5 years from the date the land is first bequeathed by the government. If taxes are not paid on the land or land is taken for any other reason (criminal seizure), those of African descent are to be given the first right of refusal and opportunity to purchase the land. Publication of land availability must be in place for one year from the date of tax lien is issued on the property. If after one year, no person of African descent (eligible based on the same criteria listed for reparation eligibility), then the land may be sold to an individual of Non-African descent.

Social Services: Due to the disparity in life expectancy, that the descendants of enslaved people should be eligible earlier for receipt of benefits from Social Security, access to Medicare and other old age programs including store discounts, after participating in the workforce. The age for inclusion in these benefits distributions should be lowered by the difference in the life expectancy for African Americans as set within accepted insurance mortality tables. That the county including the Congress of the Unites States is aware of these discrepancies in mortality is evidenced by movements initiated during the George Bush, Jr. administration whereas the move to privatize social security was debated, part of the justification for the move was presented as an effort to make the system "benefit" African Americans in wealth creation by having African Americans in particular and all Americans "own" their wealth rather than dying and having less or nothing to leave to their descendants.

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The NAACP reaffirms and stands in favor of financial reparations to African Americans and those of African Descent in the United States that are descendants of the slavery and the Jim Crow Era.

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This case study on African American lands was really interesting to me because it gives a lot of information that was previously unknown to me. I think it's important to be exposed to harsh truths, such as the fact that African Americans have been robbed for centuries, and there should be a lot more land owned by them. This website talks about an organization called the Land Trust Alliance who helps preserve land for African Americans, as well as to help them reclaim what was stolen many years ago.

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I found this graph interesting because it highlights something we talked about in class and gives more in-depth ideas as to what's going on. One thing I found really interesting was that there were more people in the zero or negative category than in the next two categories combined, basically. It also has an inverse effect for White people, where the highest amount of them are stacked on the wealthier side. The generational wealth accumulated is fully on display here and shows partly why slavery has damaged people to this day.

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Disconnected youth (those not going to school or work) are disproportionately higher in Black Americans than their white counterparts. This is very distressing because there are many problems associated with not going to school, especially. Lower literacy rates, as well as an increased risk for unwanted pregnancies and poverty, are all accompanied by not going to school. With this in mind, it is imperative to establish why these kids aren't going to school or work and figure out what society can do to assist in getting them back on track.

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This graph showcases the vast differences in whether a defendant is getting bail or staying in jail. As you can see, there is a significant disparity in whether somebody will get released, depending on their race. It is not reliant on their race, obviously, but it seems to have some sort of influence on how they are perceived and whether or not they can be released on recognisance.

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While American Indians have a higher amount of poverty, they are a much smaller sample size than African Americans, who follow closely behind. They are much more likely to face poverty than white people, likely because of generational wealth starting hundreds of years ago. This is a problem because, by this metric, about 1.7 million black Americans are living in poverty, due to the situation white people put them in.

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This graph showcases the lack of perspective we have in our schooling system. If 80% of our teachers are white and teaching to a population of 51% not white, there is a disparity where we are not getting all sides of the picture. We need diversity in teaching in order to get multiple perspectives on topics, as well as to have many different types of role models for kids to look up to.

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This graphic shows that school districts get a lot less funding when serving more students of color. This is likely mostly due to the fact that areas with more students of color are more likely to be in areas with less wealth than mostly white areas. Something like this is important to keep track of because we don't want this to turn into another "separate but equal" type of education where schools start to want to have less diversity in order to get more funding.

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This graph really puzzled me at first. I think that the care given to black women is subpar leading up to the birth, as well as the fact that there isn't as much access to healthcare for black women in general, which may lead to there being underlying issues that go unnoticed until pregnancy. Nevertheless, the fact that black women die a significant amount more means that we need to be working on the healthcare system to make it more accessible to black women in general, but also ensure that their pregnancies won't face the same complications.

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I found this statistic really interesting because it highlights something that I think about a lot. There is a huge number of people who believe that any black person outside of a gas station is a drug dealer. While this is just one generic scenario, people I know and talk to daily are so stuck in the stereotypical way of thinking that they automatically assume that anyone who is doing something they consider shady (standing, walking, or basically doing anything they've seen on a cop TV show or movie) that they must be selling drugs or be a gang member. I have no doubt in my mind that many cops do the same thing. This, along with frequent adultification of young black men, leads to many arrests, which are not justified and have no probable cause.

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This statistic talks about how black applicants are almost twice as likely to be denied for mortgage loans. I think a lot of this is just straight implicit bias and not a reflection of the people themselves. This inequality inhibits African Americans to establish any generational wealth which can hurt their families for years to come.

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This graph represents a very biased image of how we view violence directed at different groups in our society. We have a disproportionate number of people saying that white on black violence is justified, regardless of the situation, compared to people being against black on white or black on black violence. I think this is an interesting statistic because it speaks to the idea that we value keeping white people on the right side of the law without caring about giving other groups the same benefit.

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This photo showcases African Americans in the health industry protesting for equity in their fields. This is important because even though we've made progress, and these people have gotten their PHds in this industry, they still have to fight for equality. It's important to note that people still face challenges, and even in our modern world there is a lot of inequality.

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In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, people gathered to protest in order to preserve justice against police brutality. Historically protesting has been met with resistance. Thankfully due to the prospect of mass media there's been a lot of media coverage, and glorification of protests. Following this an executive order was signed from former President Biden, which updated the use of force requirements, and "no knock" entry policies for all local state and federal agencies.

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This photo is an important piece of history which communicates how individual acts of civil disobedience can communicate a message to a broader audience. Between Rosa Parks, MLK Jr., Hariet Tubman, and others they use their own actions to inflict resistance against unjust practices. Because of their efforts, a broader group of people took a leap of faith and initiated their own acts of civil disobedience for a larger change to take place.

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Segregation is a very important part of American History, not only was it enforced socially, but also systematically. Making the plight of the African American situation much more difficult. This was reinforced by policies such as Brown v Board of Education, and Plessey v Ferguson, which made it completely legal to discriminate against Black Americans. These old practices are still a grim reminder of a time when society got it wrong.

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The Brown v Board Education ruling declared that separate but equal policies are unconstitutional. This ignited another shift towards equality, epecially in the deep South. It laid the groundwork for integration in schools across the nation.

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The Black Panther Party was one of the foremost organizations, which organized to help during the Civil rights movement. They were known for their passion and for their commitment to to the art of equality no matter the cost. This group was the most action driven organization, which led to many violent breakouts with the police.

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After the Brown v Board of Education ruling, there was now a legal precedent that school could be integrated. But when they finally were, there was a lot of resistance from angry white southerners. Because of this, the government escorted their first student using the National Guard, in order to make people comply with the order.

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In 2008, the first African American president, Obama, was sworn into office. This was a very extraordinary event in our lifetime, because it is another step towards equality by having our nation's top leader as a member of the African American community. It's important to have president's who are not just from one background, because it allows us to have different policies, and more true equality.

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Systemic Racism and The Legacy of Slavery

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Systemic Racism and The Legacy of Slavery

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Systemic Racism and the Legacy of Slavery