Discrimination on Blacks Essay

Thesis Statement: Many Americans cherish their country as a place of opportunities, but African Americans have experienced horrible things and have not been given the chance white Americans have, as others in this country. African Americans were freed from slavery by the 13th amendment of the constitution and the 14th amendment and let them be free but that did not mean they were given the same opportunities as other white people. But still in the 1960’s they were discriminated against because of the color of their skin. This means they were not allowed to go to the same school, movie theaters, restrooms, public facilities. Before the Civil War blacks were not allowed to read and write. Their white owners felt that if they became educated they would not want to be slaves. After slaves were freed in America the government had to decide how to share resources with blacks, In regard to education it was decided that African Americans had the right to an education however it was decided separate but equal was fine. This meant that schools were designed so black and white people were served but in separate areas or different locations. The problem was blacks and whites were not given the same buildings or resources, African Americans got much less. White’s believed that blacks were incapable of learning at an advanced level. In the 1960’s, 15 percent of African Americans had no schooling, and 48 percent had never gone beyond the fifth grade. The reason behind this was because African Americans were treated so horrible. They were called niggers, black monkeys and filthy trash. African Americans also get threats how if they came across town where whites were they would be burned or killed. The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States between 1876 and 1965. The Jim Crow law was to segregate African Americans and whites for the reason that blacks would not be in contact with the whites. One of the civil rights activists was Rosa Parks who was a African American who faced horrible discrimination. December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in a colored section for a white passenger because she felt that she should get equal rights. Another activist was Martin Luther King Jr. In 1963 on the Washington March Martin Luther King Jr. made a â€Å"I have a dream speech† where he talked about racial problems and discrimination.