The Fight Against Racism

II The fight against racism:

1. Laws and events:

To fight against racism was very useful in advancing Afro-Americans place in today’s American society.

        After the Civil War begin the reconstruction period between 1865 and 1877 in the south of United States. Northern military ruled the territory and institutions were suspended. To recover, three amendments who limits government’s power were imposed:

• The 13 amendment, in 1865, for the abolition of slavery
• The 14 amendment, validated in 1868, allows Afro-Americans to become part of citizens
• The 15 amendment, purposed in 1870, give the right of vote to any people of any race but only male

But during the crisis in 1929, discrimination of black people came back with unemployment and precariousness. Roosevelt set special rules to guarantee more equality in recruitments methods.

        1960’s were Martin Luther King years who organized and ruled walks (Washington’s walk in 1963 for example, gathered 250 000 people) for the right of vote, minorities employment and other elementary civic rights.

Then next, follow the abolition of Jim Crow’s rules by the Civil Right in 1964.

        President Kennedy were the first to use the words “affirmative action”. So the point is that despite the rules about equality, black people remained victims of segregation and discrimination. In 60’s, priority jobs and quotas that ensures a minimum of minorities at work, school or in politic were set. But the latter was considered as an obstacle to free competition and was condemned by the Supreme Court.

1. Organizations:

There was two organization who takes part actively to fight against racism. First, the oldest and most influential NAACP, and the second, the UNIA.

• The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People aimed to guarantee

educative, social, economic and rights equality for all citizens while eliminating hatred and racial discriminations. We can fin 4 departments in this organizations:

• Legal: to defend minorities in case of discrimination
• Washington office: charged of government lobbying
• Educative: try to enhance public education at a local scale
• Health: to develop access to care in minorities        

• The Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League was

founded by Marcus Garvey, in 1914 in Jamaica, use as its slogan: “One god! One goal! One destiny!”. Its aim is to help African people to integrate. Its have plenty of satellite offices (1100 sections in 40 countries in 1920) but stay US-based till these days. Main priorities are to improve black’s way of life anywhere, African independence and allows Afro-Americans to go back in Africa.

UNIA state that red, black and green are their representative colors:

• Red for the blood who gather all people with African ancestors
• Black for the black nation
• Green for the abundance of Africa nature

• Black power is a political concept gathering many politic, cultural and social

movements led by active Afro-Americans between 60-70’s. It seeks to report the most radical elements, their goals and means of action.

III Conclusion:

        Economic crisis also affected the states of America. With a difficult economy and rising unemployment, the Afro-Americans were strongly hit and all this makes racism grow. But to fight against racism makes things change about the way for improvements in Afro-Americans’ standing, and now we can see well-known Afro-American people in the political arena for example. Which has historically (and exclusively) been dominated by “white”. Unfortunately, in spite of the rules who protect black people in the United States, we still can find racism and discrimination.

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