The African
-American Race for Respect and Equality Amongst Ourselves
and Other Races: Can We Hold Hands and Run
Together?
"African brought to North America as slaves were a small minority,
probably fewer than six percent, of some twelve million men, women, and
children shoved in the decks of ships lying off Africa's Atlantic shores
between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. Although they shared the
humiliation and brutality of slavery, in the New World, they came from diverse
backgrounds in a continent as different as from north to south and from the
coast to its vast interior, as were the Americans themselves. As African-
Americans they came to bear the common burdens of racial prejudice, burdens
even heavier than the subjugation to masters and mistresses effectively
unrestrained by law. However, they also created an infinite variety of new
lives for themselves out of local circumstances." (Upon These Shores, W.R
Scott & W.G Shade, p.21).
African-Americans have endured unbearable circumstances from slavery, to
freedom, to apartheid, to civil rights, to now. Where are we now? Are we
considered equal? Do we get the same opportunities as other races? Is racism in
our head? Are we (African-Americans) our own worst enemy? Should we change our
way of thinking to incorporating the thought of there being only one race, the
human race? Can we accept that we are Americans and have rights to this country
that we help build?
As
African -Americans that have been part of the United States for the centuries,
we have helped to build this country. The fact that we helped to build this
nation does not take away who we are as a people. We as people seem to forget
that we are prideful, intelligent and beautiful beings that can accomplish
anything when our minds are set to achieve a task or goal. African -Americans
should not be limited to stigmas or stereotypes that define us.
Some
believe that we lost our culture and roots to slavery but I disagree. Culture
is in our music, art, language food and expressions. Church on Sundays, Sunday
dinner (soul food), the tradition of hard work and taking care of family is
part of our culture. As we learn more about our ancestors, we should have a
deeper understanding and appreciation for the struggles they went through, for
without those struggles where would we be. Some would argue that we still experience
racism as well as social and economic class division.
On the
socio-economic level, resources and programs need to be implemented to help
those in the low income urban areas. The programs would have to be utilized to
insure that they are not removed. When programs are taken out of those
neighborhoods, it is due to the fact that they are not utilized to full
potential. If the government sees programs aren't being used, the programs are cut.
Racism
still exists to present day in the way how we treat each other as African
-Americans as well as how other races treat us. Whenever an African-American
does anything proper or is successful they are coined as "acting
white" or "selling out". Positive accomplishments should not be
only associated with being white. Wearing weaves or relaxing (straightening
hair) should not be stigmatized as not wanting to wear your natural hair
(acceptance of being black) The shade of a person’s skin whether light or dark
does not make someone more African- American or black. Until we deal with the
issues of loving and accepting ourselves,
other races won't take us seriously. We must uplift each
other and work together as a nation to completely erase racism on every level.
References
Foote, T.W, and (2004) Black and White Manhattan: The
History of Radical Formation in
Colonial New York City .New York: Oxford University Press. p.334
Graglia, L.A (1999) Race Policy in Three American Cities, Independent
Review, Vol. 4(1) p.119
William, S.R & William S.G, (2000) Upon these shores:
themes in the African-American experience, 1600 to the present. New York
Routledge
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