History of Racism in America

Essay by car1a26High School, 10th grade May 2006

download word file, 3 pages 0.0

Black and White. Two completely opposite colors. But even if they are entirely opposite in that sense, is it possible that they can be identical in other ways? Well, they are both colors aren't they? Both of them can be seen to the healthy human eye, and are part of the color family. But, humans are the same. Both black and whites are visible, and are part of the human race family. So why do some people think that they should be categorized completely as opposites?

People argued that black and white people were totally differing in enough areas that they should be completely separated! Up until 1940, America was a segregated society, meaning the different races were to be separated in every day life. Although whites were dominant in America, black people immigrated to America by choice, to escape famine, trying to find a new way of life, or came as slaves.

They lived in rural poverty in the south, and their vote was discounted. They were not allowed to sit next to whites, drink out of the same fountains, live by, play with, or compete with whites, nor were they allowed socialize at night clubs. This seemed like no way to live a life, so they finally spoke up for some support on preventing discrimination, and the Civil Rights Movement was born.

The much-loved, much-protected baby of the blacks called the Civil Rights Movement, was all they cared about after 1940, and was all they fought for. They fought for the right that discrimination in public places should be illegal, and amongst this, one of the most celebrated public speakers of all time, arose. His name was Martin Luther King Jr. and his words could have not meant more to the African-American community. "I have a dream...