African American history

Why Ethnic Based Studies are Essential “Afrocentrism is not about sympathy or insult; it is about the proper presentation of factual information in multicultural society” (Molefi Asante). African American Studies and other Ethnic based disciplines will help education in this country. Opposing to Schlesinger’s “The Disunity of America” individuals who arrived from different nations to the “new world” did not melt into one new race. Wealth, the amount of land, and most importantly race…

The Soul of Black Folk written by W.E.B. Du Bois is a groundbreaking work in the African American literature. In addition, it is also a American classic. In this book Du Bois outlines that “the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem that lies with the color line.” His outlooks on life hidden behind the veil of race and also the idea of “double-consciousness, just the idea of looking at one’s self through the eyes of others.” Becoming touchstones to think about the idea of race in…

stop defined a moment in history for city of Los Angles called the Watts riots. Throughout the week long riot, 34 African American lives were lost and the city was left in scrambles. After the riots, a professor by the name of Dr. Maulana Karenga had a solution to the challenges in the African American community. His solution involved researching African harvest celebrations. Dr. Maulana combined the Zulu and Ashanti harvest celebrations to form the African American Holiday celebration…

Freedom exhibition. The reason why, is because this is where the first roots of African-Americans were planted. This exhibition shows the story of slavery and freedom in the history of America. It begins in the 15th century, along Africa and Europe, coming all the way over to the United States. This exhibition ends with the civil war, and the reconstruction of a nation. I was very shocked to see in how much the African-American struggled, from their inception to the Caribbean/Americas, til even…

Jim Crow laws alive. Throughout the book Michelle Alexander explains the history behind Jim Crow laws and the American criminal justice system as they relate to each other. Alexander uses detailed history and hard facts to support her thesis that the Mass incarceration of African Americans is the governments way of reforming Jim Crow laws to fit todays time. The reason why this topic of Mass incarceration of African Americans is such an important topic to address is to preserve the future of…

Langston Hughes was an African American writer born in the early 20th century. He became a well-known and important author by discussing themes concerning race and politics from a young age in various genres, for example poetry. In a varying degree of colloquial language and a jazz inspired rhythm, Hughes conveyed his messages to his audience through a lifetime long career of writing that began around the time he published the poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” which in this essay will be…

Zora Neale Hurston served an influential role during this time period. It is important to understand the significance of this era in history and how African American people were able to develop and adapt their own ideals, morals, and customs through creativity and art. Therefore, the focus of the exhibition is on the African American search for identity in the post-slavery period and the creation and self-expression through art during the Harlem Renaissance. As a novelist, anthropologist, and…

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s was the beginning of a long and difficult battle to understand the challenges throughout history to remove racism and improve economic conditions of African Americans. To continue progress for the future, it is important to research and understand why the Movement began, how history played a role with both set-backs and victories in the following decades and how society can take action to become truly multi-cultural and multi-racial. After reading the…

Years seem to pass by and the same issue just keep on occurring. The issue of the mistreatment and brutality among African Americans, especially targeting young African American men. Fruitvale Station, a movie released in 2013 viewed, once again, viewed the brutality upon African American men. Throughout history, the media has put a lens on African American Brutality, this exploration became popular to America during the Civil Rights Movement. There were many incidents of brutality before the…

a movement, that held massive nonviolent protest for racial discrimination and segregation upon African Americans during the 1950’s and 60’s. African Americans were treated unequal as well as alienated from the whites. During this era African Americans struggle to gain equal rights especially in the southern states which was beginning to become a major problem. As stated in Vision of America: A History of The United States,” Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as a major leader, alongside a…