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In the late 18th century, the thirteen developing American colonies declared their independence from the tyrannical Britain. The Americans were tired of being slaves of oppressive rulers; they united together, as one nation and people to fight Britain. Race wasn't a matter for this young army. Everyone was fighting together for a common purpose, a common cause- for "liberty and justice for all."
How ironic this is in the grand scheme. Not long after our country had achieved victory in its revolutionary war, we were already becoming hypocrites. The land of freedom, justice, and liberty was relying more and more on slave labor for its economy. Some African Americans, who had fought just as hard to achieve freedom as the Englo-Americans had, were now enslaved by their very brothers. Slaves were also brought over from Africa, primarily, to work in the farm fields. They were sold as items and property. They lived in horrid, brutal conditions. They fed scraps and became severely undernourished.
Was this freedom? Was this justice? Was this liberty? No person in their right mind could justify such treatment with respect to the principles America was formed on. Englo-Americans lives had become much easier to live because of this new form of labor. However, this was the same type of mentality England had had before America turned against them. America had worked hard to rake in the money for lazy England. Now, the white people of America were lazy, because they had slaves to bring in money for them. The parallelity of the paradoxes is astounding.
However, in America, some of humanity began coming to its senses. Some states in the northern tier of the country didn't allow slavery. They would allow slaves to escape their plantations and become free within their boundaries. The North could afford to do this, because its economy was based largely upon industry. The South, however, believed in the antiphesis of the North's mentality: slavery needed to exist. Without slavery, the farms could never make nearly the amount of money they needed to to maintain economic balance.
Because of these differences, America began a war within itself. It is widely accepted that the North won this Civil War. However, I strongly disagree with this statement. Statistically, sure... the North won. I believe that the war had just begun.
The next move in achieving freedom for African Americans occurred in the Emancipation Proclamation. President Abraham Lincoln delivered this landmark speech, which stated that "all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion of the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom." These words are so inspirational and thoughtful, but they are simple words. More needed to be done.
And more was done. Three amendments were added to the Constitution, in time: the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth. The thirteenth amendment made slavery illegal. Amendment Fourteen established due process, equality for all under the laws of America. The fifteenth amendment gave all races voting rights.
A court case from 1954 called "Brown vs. Board of Education" was also a landmark moment for African Americans and minorities. Basically, Linda Brown was turned away from a white school in Topeka Kansas because she was black. The judge in this case ruled that was unconstitutional for the school to do and she had equal rights with all other students too.
These are just some landmarks of the African American trail to getting equal rights with all. However, even more commendable than these one-time events are the people who gave much of their lives to establishing equal rights for all humans: Booker T. Washington, Malcolm X, Frederic Douglas, Martin Luther King Jr... the list continues. These men made many differences over many times, unlike the aforementioned one-time events. They are some of the true heroes of this movement.
Another important thought to bear in mind is that this movement is not finished. In fact, today, there is still resistance to equality like there was in the south of the 1800's. The Ku Klux Klan is very vocal and violent in expressing hatred of minorities. Neo-nazi groups have risen up in an effort to frighten minorities into leaving this country. Various businesses have been brought to court over racist charges over the past ten years.
As I mentioned before: this movement is still progressing in society. No one event will erase all racism. The Civil War was supposed to do that. The Emancipation Proclamation was supposed to do that. Brown vs. Topeka was supposed to have done that. Instead, however, these events all brought the goal an inch closer. Our society needs to continue to make small, but consistent strides in working towards equality. It won't happen in a day. It won't happen in a week. It may not even occur in our lifetimes. But if we stay consistent and continue to inch forth, we can progress together, as whites and minorities alike, towards a higher respect for each other.
-Matt Cavanaugh
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