This chapter emphasizes the long and continuous struggle of African Americans from the 400 years of slavery to the civil rights era and the ongoing impact of systemic racial barriers, which our sitting president is attempting to make us relive. It highlights how oppression persisted well beyond slavery, to the point that The Negro Motorist Green Book was created to help black travelers to navigate through the segregation era of America. The chapter also discusses the resistance to the advancement of African Americans, whether through revolts during slavery or the civil rights protest. African Americans were often met with hostility and violence, and even to this very day, racial inequality remains an issue, particularly in areas like race & justice, education, inclusive economy, health and well-being, next-generation leadership, as well as advocacy, and litigation.

Relating this to the image, I see a storefront-like structure with what appears to be a cognac-colored wooden bench and a matching desk with a cash register evoking a historical setting, possibly resembling a space where African Americans navigated segregation. If this is a business, it could symbolize black entrepreneurship, resilience, or restricted access due to segregation laws. The Hunter-green exterior and muted interior colors may reflect an era where black businesses operated under challenging conditions, or the image could represent a space that could have served as a refuge or a reminder of exclusion, as all of these challenges are described in this chapter, even today economic disparities and racial segregation in business districts mirror the struggle from the past, reinforcing the idea that while progress has been made, true equality remains a work in progress.

Also, the concept of sundown towns caught my attention. These were towns where non-white people were not allowed to live in them. If black people were in these towns after dark, they would be in danger. These towns existed all over the country and they lasted well into the 20th century.

Because of the injustice and oppression, African Americans began to fight for their rights. During World War II and the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans fought for equal rights and stood up to discrimination. Some leaders, like Booker T. Washington, believed that black people should focus on getting an education to gain respect and equality. Later, other movements emerged, like Black Lives Matter, which believed in taking stronger action to demand equal treatment and combat racism.

These facts really make me think about how the history of slavery and racism in the United States still affects our society today. The fight for equality for African Americans was long and difficult, which makes everyone think about this issue.

A section of the chapter that stood out to me was the Olympic athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who dressed to protest. Their bravery to protest for a very good reason on such a public stand is admirable. Their actions were heavily criticized then just like Colin Kaepernick in 2016. Although it's extremely saddening that protests must be made at such a large scale for people to pay attention to the cruelties black Americans have faced for ages. As well that when black Americans and allies take a stand, Black Lives Matter movement, they are contradicted in such a way to be made to seem selfish. The protesting and rioting of black communities was reduced to criminally mischievous youth or stigmatized stereotyping, rather than acknowledging the true deep rooted problems. The All Lives Matter movement, while being a valid point, was started to simply discredit and take the attention away from the Black Lives Matter movement. This is a reoccurring protest that black Americans have to keep facing as they have rising expectations in equality and diminishing racism.