The African-American history is intricately linked with the practice of slavery in America. It is also one of the greatest chapters in the history of humanity — the manner in which it began and the stage where it is now is as informative about the hypocrisy in human behavior as it is about its perseverance.

1. A Journey of Struggle and Inspiration, The African-American History
The African-American history is intricately linked with the practice of slavery in America. It is also
one of the greatest chapters in the history of humanity — the manner in which it began and the
stage where it is now is as informative about the hypocrisy in human behavior as it is about its
perseverance.
Yes, there was a time when even human beings were considered nothing more than possessions —
possessions which were used and abused just like inanimate objects. In the new land of America, the
new settlers from Britain wanted untiring and uncomplaining hands to work in their farms. During
the same period, in the 17th
century, there existed a ready slave market in Africa and the Caribbean,
marketswhichbecame the sourcesforslavesinAmerica.
Year 1619, a 20 member group of indentured slaves disembark at Virginia from a Dutch Ship, thus
writing the first page of African-American history. Interestingly, a the-then report identifies this set
of people as“cargo” fromthe ship.
Slaves who were required to work for their masters for a pre-designated number of years before
being set free were known as indentured slaves. However, in reality indentured slaves used to be
soldfromone ownerto another,withfreedomremaininganeverelusive dream.
The year 1641 saw the legalization of Slavery in Massachusetts, a move which was replicated in
other American states and followed by the introduction of even more inhuman laws, one of which
recognizedasslavesthe childrenof slave parents.
By the 1700s, the population of slaves had grown to around 25,000 — a factor which gave rise to a
distinct set of traditions followed by the slave population. In terms of art, dance, and literature, the
slave populationbegandevelopingaunique cultural system, drawingfromtheirrootsinAfrica.
The year 1739 saw the first slave revolt; it witnessed numerous killings among the white population,
which also retaliated by brutally killing the participants of the revolt. However, the spirit of
resistance did not die with the quelling of the revolt. This time it surfaced in the form of a poem by
Lucy Terry. Named as Bar’s Fight, the poem provides an account of an attack on her village by an
American Indian horde. The first published written work, however, was by Phillis Wheatley. It was
published in the year 1773. In the year 1852, came the much acclaimed Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet
Beecher Stowe’s, considered to be a driving force behind the American Civil war that was fought on
the issue of abolitionof slavery.
In between all this, there were other major events that marked themselves on the calendar. The first
black church was founded in Virginia, NorthAmerica in 1758 — a sure sign of amalgamation with the
American way of life, although in a much restricted manner. America fought for Independence
against Britain and won the war, with many black soldiers fighting alongside American forces.
However, these black soldiers were never given the freedom that they were promised during the
war. Theywere pulledbacktoslavery.
Two of the most significant events in the African-American history are the American Civil War and
the Civil Rights movement. Central to the theme of both these events was the welfare of the black
population.

2. The AmericanCivil Warwas foughtonthe simmeringissue of slavery.
America in 1860 comprised of 34 states, out of which 11 states were opposed to the newly
appointed President, Abraham Lincoln’s decision to disallow slavery in the western territories
(Western territories were acquired lands that were under American governance but were not yet
Americanstates).
The said 11 states, also known as the South, were on one side, and the rest, known as the Union or
the North, were on another. The South declared secession from the American Union and ignited the
war by attacking a Union controlled fort in South Carolina. Response ensued and the war began; it
ragedfor 4 longyears.
It is worth appreciating that the incumbent government readily fought an internal war to uphold its
decision to not allow slavery in the western territories. This resolve is one of the reasons why the
African-American history is such a revelation about human behavior. Once it seems avaricious and
hypocritical andthenitalsoexhibitsthe finestinrighteousnessandbravery.
In the war, over 190,000 blacks fought on the side of the Union, and thereby significantly tilted the
balance inthe Union’sfavor.
The war ended with the subjugation of the South. The practice of slavery ended and a phase of
reconstruction began. Legally, slavery was no longer a part of America’s system, but socially it
continued to exist in the shape of discrimination. One of the reasons why discrimination could not
be wipedoutalongwithslaveryhassomethingtodowith“the lostcause.”
In an attempt to paint the war participants and leaders from the South in a more valiant light, the
lost cause propaganda was initiated. Slavery as the reason behind the war was discarded, and its
place was given to “cultural differences” and “class conflict.” Secession was also largely legitimized.
With these acceptable reasons, it was easy to unite the losing side, the South with the winner, the
North. Sadly, support to slavery, which was the primary belief of the South, never got the
condemnationthatitoughtto have got.
The American Civil Rights Movement from 1954-68 was an unfinished agenda from the American
War of Independence,postwhich3importantamendmentswere made inthe constitution:
• The 13th Amendment:Putanendto the practice of slavery.
• The 14th Amendment:AccordedcitizenshiptoAfrican-Americans.
• The 15th Amendment:Provided rightof votingtoAfrican-Americanmales.
These amendments were huge steps forward; however, the supporters of slavery were all along
planning to push the blacks even backward. They unleased their anger in the form of racial
discrimination and segregation. Radical anti-black organizations like the Ku Klux Klan began violently
trampling on the rights of black people. Starting from 1890, southern states also began striping the
votingrightsof the blacks.
At the receiving were the blacks, and therefore, the opposition also had to come from the blacks.
Theyfoughtback aggressively,butnotviolently.

3. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was formed, and it began
fighting back through lawsuits and legislations. In a crippling blow to the policy of segregation in
1909, on a petition by NAACP, the Supreme Court ordered against the operation of school systems
basedon segregationof blackandwhite children.
A major change in black resistance came when litigation and political lobbying began to be replaced
with mass movements against discrimination. Important leaders from these mass movements were
Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr, and others. These leaders were instrumental in taking their
message to a wider audience, both within the south and outside it, and even to the world outside
America.
The movement was noticed by the outer world. America, with its image as a world crusader for
equality and freedom, was at a loss to explain the subjugation of its black population. It was one of
the factors that led the government to accede to the demands from its black community and
leaders.
America stands on the foundation of freedom and equality, and one of the active constituents of this
foundation is the African-American population. They have as much responsibility in protecting of
idealsof Americaasanybodyelse.
With time, the black population has assimilated with the identity of America, but discrimination has
not vanishedaltogether.
Eventoday,the struggle continues,butgladly, the zeal toovercome alsocontinues,unabated.