African American Social Standings - 1744 Words

This research paper will discuss the African American social standing in America throughout history. It will discuss the highs and lows and the pros an cons of the progression and also the different periods that African Americans lived through since they were brought to America. The progression of African Americans in America began with a practice called slavery. Slavery is the state of a person who is the chattel of another. It began in 1441 when Portuguese men kidnapped 12 black Africans from Cabo Blanco and moved them to Portugal. This opened the door to slavery in the Americas. A British statesman stated that Slavery is a weed that grows on every soil. The first African Americans slaves in America were brought to Jamestown,†¦show more content†¦The period was used to rebuild the south and patch-up the relationship between the North and South. Along with rebuilding and patching up relationships, the North sent teachers to the south to educated the African American ex slav es who had became newly members of the society. The teachers taught ex slaves reading, writing an arithmetic. The Reconstruction Act called for a new Constitution to be established in each state. It also gave Freedmen the right to participate in voting. The 14th Amendment was also passed and ratified during the Reconstruction period. The 14th Amendment granted full citizenship to all people born or naturalized In the United States of America . Many of the laws passed during this period were set in place to protect the rights of former slaves, such as allowing blacks to vote an giving them many of the same rights as whites and protecting things dear to them such as property and money. During this period many advancements in society were made by African Americans, such as the Self-Leveling Table created by Charles William Allen , the corn planter check rower by Ralph W. Alexander and the spark plug by Edmond Berger these are only three of the more than 200 inventions/advancements m ade by African Americans during the reconstruction period. These African Americans, lead professions even when high limitations were placed upon them. (Aretha, David pg. 61) Advancements like these opened the door and let people know that African Americans wereShow MoreRelated African American Social Standings Essay1748 Words   |  7 Pageswill discuss the African American social standing in America throughout history. It will discuss the highs and lows and the pros and cons of the progression and also the different periods that African Americans lived through since they were brought to America.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The progression of African Americans in America began with a practice called slavery. Slavery is the state of a person who is the chattel of another. It began in 1441 when Portuguese men kidnapped 12 black Africans from Cabo BlancoRead MoreEssay on Reparations For African Slavery1203 Words   |  5 Pagesand deprive African Americans of their liberties and enslaved them. Since then, the United States has attempted to repair this mistake through reparations. The legal reparations of the United States have unsuccessfully redressed individual and social injustices by failing to alleviate the pain caused to the African American community. The Harm caused by Slavery still continues to be suffered by the community through this day. African Americans have always been devalued in the American Legal SystemRead MoreThe And Invisible Man By Toni Morrison And Ralph Ellison1726 Words   |  7 Pages The Un-American Race Throughout history, the African American race has battled great social injustices. From slavery to freedom, being property to owning property, African Americans have fought their way to be a part of equal justice. For many black individuals, their identity was non-existent, stripped away, leaving them powerless due to white power. Race, class, and economic standing are all social issues that are prominent in both Beloved and Invisible Man. Toni Morrison and Ralph Ellison areRead MoreSociology in Everyday Life Essay911 Words   |  4 PagesSociology in Every Life One central and important study of sociology is the study of everyday social life. Everyday life and sociology are definitely two distinct terms and situations, but they hold a close relationship. While sociology studies human interaction, everyday life consists of everyday human interaction. Everyday life is filled by human beings interacting with one another, institutions, ideas, and emotions. Sociology studies the interactions with all of these and shows how mere interactionRead More Racism Essay1343 Words   |  6 Pageschange came about. The social system elevated entire categories of people above others, providing one segment of the population with a disproportionate share of money, power and schooling. To a considerable degree, the class system in the United States rewards individual talent and effort. But, our class system also retains elements of a caste system; Ascribed status greatly influences what we become later in life. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Nothing affects social standings in the United StatesRead MoreSocietal Classes Of The 1960s : Separate Or Equal?1191 Words   |  5 Pagescharacter, or maybe a person’s heritage that justified where they stood in the American social classification system. Although these components were thought of, they were not the two standard determining factors. Social standing was reflected upon a person’s financial success, and unfortunately, other â€Å"traditional† ideals like the color of one’s skin. The economic classes established the hierarchy of society and this standing determined the opportunities available to the individuals, and furthermoreRead MoreMissing Pieces Of A Utopian Puzzle Essay1439 Words   |  6 PagesMissing Pieces of a Utopian Puzzle Looking Backward, written by Edward Bellamy in 1888, highlights the trials and tribulations that make up the social and economic systems of nineteenth-century society by writing an optimistic utopian type novel. On the surface, the novel is the story of time traveler Julian West, a young conservative Bostonian who was hypnotized in the late 19th century and awakens to a completely restructured society set in the year 2000. In lengthy conversations with Doctor LeeteRead MoreEssay on Social Stratification in the African American Community1000 Words   |  4 PagesSocial Stratification in the African American community has changed over the years. Social stratification is defined as a rigid subdivision of a society into a hierarchy of layers, differentiated on the basis of power, prestige, and wealth according to Webster’s dictionary. David Newman in Sociology Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life describes stratification as a ranking system for groups of people that per petuates unequal rewards and life chances in society. From slavery to the presentRead MoreTales of Simple Essay examples1080 Words   |  5 Pagesthese tales, Hughes uses symbolism to express his feelings and views on African American history through the character Jesse B. Semple. In literary terms, the word â€Å"symbolism† is defined as being a person, object or event that suggests more than its literal meaning. In Langston Hughes’ â€Å"Tales of Simple†, the author uses the main character’s name, feet and view on a type of Jazz music to symbolize the life of an African American and the effect of slavery, discrimination and racism on blacks. One ofRead MoreThe Marrow of Tradition Essay1475 Words   |  6 Pageswas central to the American dream. It was the unstated promise that no matter where you started, you had the chance to grow and proceed beyond your initial starting point. In the years following the Civil War, the promise began to fade. People of all races strived to gain the representation, acknowledgement and place in this society. To their great devastation, this hope quickly dwindled. Social rules were set out by the white folk, and nobody could rise above their social standing unless they were