Struggles Black People Face
Introduction
It must be noted that the history and the struggles of the black people did not start with their enslavement besides ending with their present subordination. Of note is that there were different and flourishing civilizations in Africa before the arrival of European and Arab slave trades. In America, a period of reconstruction during which the slaves developed communities existed. However, in 1950s and 60s, scores of African nations and individuals waged national struggles of liberations that led them into wining the sovereignty against imperialist forces (Manning, 1). In this regard, they began the arduous procedure of developing egalitarian nations. Nevertheless, before their liberation, they faced many struggles among them racism, slavery, oppression. There was evidence of struggles of the minority, women, the poor and generally the black people in the society. It must be noted that many of their struggles revolved around welfare, attempts to put up unconventional models and practices in the face of a state system that was considered at best irrelevant and at worse contested what people needed and wanted(Manning, 1). As a result, this paper discusses in detail the struggles of the black people in their efforts of fighting for social justice and equality, and the most notable icons who led civil rights movement in efforts of liberating the blacks in the society, key among them Rosa Parks, Elizabeth Freeman, and Richard Allen.
Rose Parks
The examination of the struggles and lives of great women and men who contributed enormously to liberation of the black people is alarming and inspiring. Together with other civil activists, Rosa Parks demanded for equal rights, justice, freedoms, prospects and protection. The civil right activist used different ideologies and tactics (Gore & Theoharis, 131). Rosa Parks believed that all human beings are equal in a society where black and white Americans were treated differently. Rosa grew up in a society where black people had to follow unjust laws and as a result, she felt the need to alter those laws consequently making life worth living for the black people.
Rosa lived in Alabama where segregation laws applied. The laws kept the white and the black people apart. Particularly Rosa Parks is remembered for her fight for equality. In 1955, Rosa took a bus seat that was designated as a colored people seat in Alabama. After all the white people’s seat filled up, some white Americans were left standing thereby making the driver to demand that Rosa move back to create room for the white passengers. While three black people sitting on the same row with Rosa stood, Rosa disobeyed the driver subsequently disobeying and disrespecting the segregation regulations. The driver had to put Rosa off the bus and she was arrested. In fact, she was taken to jail for disobeying and disrespecting the white people and the segregation laws.
Rosa’s story in the black struggle is more intricate, interesting and empowering. She was an activist and a common citizen who as reaction to her arrest turned her activities into a civil right movement (Gore & Theoharis, 131). It must be noted that Parks spent numerous years making voter registration for black people. She also sought justice against cases of legal malfeasance and white brutality. She also took efforts of advising the chapter of the youth prior to her historical bus incidence. In fact, the December 1955 bus stand incidence was not her first time to refuse to offer her seat to the whites who were considered superior beings in the society. She and several other black Montgomerians had as well gone through some other bus evictions or arrested for refusal, and her defiance action towards segregation regulations that governed the black people in the society (Gore & Theoharis, 133). Restrained black American admittance to public accommodations and services triggered a set of civil right movement. The protests brought attention of inequalities to the American and gradually thrived in overturning the regulations of discrimination.
Apparently Rosa and Raymond, her husband were members of NAACP ( National Association for the Advancement of Colored people for several years but with time they decided that they needed to change America and make it a society that respects all people regardless of their color, culture and origin. They did this through defying segregation rules. It is imperative to note that when she was arrested and taken to jail for defying the segregation rules, NAACP representatives got her out of jail through paying her bail. From this moment, the NAACP realized that Rosa’s arrest was a wake up call and took it as a strategy that they required to publicize the desire to overturn the segregation bylaws (Gore & Theoharis, 134). The representatives of NAACP as a result organized a bus boycott which was meant to encourage all black people to discontinue using city buses. The bus boycott was very productive given that over 70% of bus drivers were of black origin. Consequently, the efforts of the blacks in trying to overturn segregation bylaws were effective in the sense that the Supreme court in Alabama actually overturned the segregation rules linked to bus services. This achievement consequently empowered activist groups in different places to create and participate in prescribed protests in opposition and rejection of all segregation bylaws (Gore & Theoharis, 134). More significantly, the results of the bus boycott triggered the formation of national civil rights Act that acted to defend the privileges and rights of all people in the American society. Precisely, in her effort to protect the black people, Rosa faced discrimination and social inequality, public humiliation, arrests and injustices.
Elizabeth Freeman
Elizabeth Freeman was born in 1742 from enslaved black parents of African origin (Adams & Pleck, 1). Elizabeth was sold in slavery in Massachusetts when she was barely six months old along with her sister. She served in Massachusetts until she was almost forty years. She was one of the first slaves in Massachusetts who dared to file a freedom case and won in 1780 constitution. Her suit led to the ruling that slavery was unlawful. It is said that in one incidence, her mistress attempted to hit Elizabeth’s sister with a hot kitchen shovel. Elizabeth was not happy with her mistress behavior leading her to intervene. However, the mistress hit her instead thereby prompting her anger. Furiously, Elizabeth moved out of the house and vowed not to ever come back. Her mistress tried to petition to the regulations for Elizabeth’s return an aspect that made her to seek an anti-slavery lawyer to assist her in suing for her sovereignty (Adams & Pleck, 2).
With her knowledge regarding the state constitution and the Bill of Rights that she acquired from listening to wealthy men, she realized that if indeed all people regardless of their skin color were born equal and free, the law should as well apply to her case. She along with another slave named Brom were assisted to file the case, a case that was filed in the county court. Interestingly, the jury made a judgment that favored Elizabeth and her colleague. This was a historic ruling that led to freeing of the first African Americans slaves under the 1780 Massachusetts constitution. More so, their mistress was ordered to give a certain amount of money as compensation and cost of the case (Adams & Pleck, 3).
Elizabeth is recognized for her freedom suit that actually assisted in ending African American slavery in city of Massachusetts. Notwithstanding her illiteracy, she considered all human beings as equal through displaying a powerful feeling and respect for self. Particularly, in her quest for social justice and equality, Elizabeth was left with a deep wound that she regularly left uncovered in order to give proof of harsh treatment of black slaves. It is important to note that Elizabeth was initially known as Bett but received the name, “Elizabeth Freeman “after the successful ruling in the case, Bett and Brom Vs. Ashley, which set the above-board guide that led to termination of slavery in her city. In 1829 Elizabeth passed from olden times into memory as well as from Revolution Patriot to a notable and admirable figure for antebellum abolitionism(Adams & Pleck, 1) .
Richard Allen
Richard Allen was born in 1760. He was an educator, writer, a minister and more significantly, the establisher of the AME (African Methodist Episcopal) (Newman, 5) . This was the first ever independent denomination of the black people in America. Allen held the thought that slavery was a sin and those who held slaves were sinners. He resented the segregation of the blacks by the white congregants in prayer and worship. When Allen and his fellow black people left St-George in order to form an independent worship for the blacks, he was met with opposition from the church of the whites besides other established blacks of the white community. Allen did not relent but went ahead to form a FAS (free African Society) (Newman, 5). This non-denominational shared aid community helped new migrants and fugitive slaves. Richard ran his missions over insults directed to black men in Christian churches. Nevertheless, he remembered that in ancient times, white and Negro Methodists had worshiped God jointly on their knees, visited each other and shared love feasts. On the contrary, the society no longer practiced such activities or love towards one another regardless of skin color. Apparently, the sudden rise of the Negro worshippers in the Christian churches triggered the insults. The Negros were required to wait until the whites had taken the body and blood of Jesus in the church (Newman, 6).
Richard had purchased his freedom and that of his family. He fought slavery through his preaching and he criticized racists. He was a strong believer who was very positive about a better future for the black people in the white society. He particularly stood as one of the black representatives who came from Revolution shadow where he played a major role in the fight for the rights and roles of black people in America. He encouraged the black people to display their ability for free roles through molding industry, thrift and frugality virtues (Newman, 7). He helped the less fortunate in the society besides helping the blacks comprehend that they were not inferior to the whites. Precisely, Allen Richard as a preacher who was more concerned on the social wellbeing of the blacks in the American society received stiff opposition from the whites.
Conclusion
The change that is experienced in the society today with respect to racism, discriminations, oppression, slavery and segregation was realized through hard struggles and humiliation. The black people struggle for social justice and equality took place with the growth of the world. However, the major icons that helped in this fight faced a lot of suffering and the sovereignty of the black in the society came with so much suffering. It is hard to demonstrate the emotions and the feelings of civil rights activists and freedom fighters. Particularly, slavery was among the most inhuman and terrible action to be instilled on the black people. However, the efforts of key figures among them Richard Allen, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and Elizabeth Freeman among others brought in a notable and desirable change in the society
Work Cited
Adams Catherine, Pleck, Elizabeth, “ Love of freedom: Black women in colonial and revolutionary New England”, Oxford: Oxford University Press, Dec 18, 2009.
Gore, Dayo, Theoharis, Jeane, “Want to start a revolution?: Radical women in the black freedom struggle”, New York: NYU Press, Dec 1, 2009.
Manning, Patrick, “ The African Diaspora: A history through culture”, Columbia: Columbia University Press, 2010.
Newman, Richard, “ Freedom’s prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the black founding fathers”, New York: NYU Press, Mar 1, 2008.
