At the beginning of American history, people hoped that this new country would bring a better new life, a country where everyone would have equal rights and the freedom to live as they wanted to. The Declaration of Independence made this hope a reality and brought equality and freedom to American society.
Though it was thought to be the end of inequality, certain people continued to be considered lower based off of culture or appearance, particularly African Americans. For centuries they were sold as slaves and excluded from the freedom and equality which white people had. Even after slavery was put to an end, laws of segregation continued into the 1950's. Many protested and Martin Luther king Junior was a main figure who helped protest peacefully and end segregation. In his letter to Birmingham, he makes the point that the only reason they protest these laws is because they are unjust laws which lead people to do immoral things. Finally, in 1954 segregation in schools was outlawed, and a decade later, the civil rights act was passed which allowed blacks to vote.
In the Book titled The Secret Life of Bees, Lily, a 14 year-old girl, lives during this period. Near the end chapter one, Rosaline, a black lady who works for her family, cares for Lily more that her father and takes Lily to town on her birthday. While their Rosaline is teased by three white men. Rosaline tries to stand up for herself, but is hurt by one of the men and is arrested. Through this event, we see that even though the Civil Rights Act had been passed, whites still felt superior to blacks back then and blacks had to still fight and stand up for their rights. This also connects to King's letter because the laws of segregation had caused whites to be against blacks, and led white to do immoral and unjust things to them.
Today, Black people have every right a white person has. They are treated justly and almost no one would even suspect in past years that black people were regarded as less than whites. Sometimes I wonder what the people of the past would think if they came to the future and saw that black and white people weren't segregated anymore, or even if they saw the relationship between Lily and Rosaline. Would they be surprised? Would they change their attitude? What difference would it make? We will never know, but I know that the black people would be proud to see that after so many years of struggling to gain freedom that finally white and black people could come together peacefully.
Great post. The post was exceptional! it's great that you added rhtorical questions which spark the minds of those that wish to think more about this topic.
ReplyDeleteNice blog, Natalie! It's very true that African Americans have been treated unjustly over the last 100 years and beyond, and they have the rights that white people have, but I do believe segregation still occurs. It is mostly by choice, and there still are tensions between races. Other than that, it's a very well written blog post. What do you think people of the past would think if they saw today's society?
ReplyDeleteI very much agree with the other comments but i still believe discrimination still exists in america. it isn't a law anymore but it happens anyways. Also,I thought your blog was well written and shows inept knowledge of the topic
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job on your blog. You have a lot of good connections with the world and the book The Secrete Life of Bees. You have a lot of good examples of just and unjust laws. Very well organized blog.
ReplyDeleteThis post has very good connnects of how America has changed from the 60's. This blog wraps all of the concepts for past present and the novel.
ReplyDeleteThis post was very good. I liked how you related everything we have learned back to the book we are reading. You said that now all black and white people have the same rights and are treated the same? Don't you think there are differnt sterotypes that still go on to this day,about black people?
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