Arican American Histry
African American’s
HIS204: American History Since 1865
Thomas Roka
28JAN13
African American’s faced some of the worst and cruel punishments in United States history. When one thinks of African Americans they think of slavery, however there were several other elements to the demise of African American men and women. Moreover, African American’s were mistreated in almost every way possible. However, through sacrifice, willpower and determination, African American’s managed to accomplish many milestones throughout the 20th and 21’st centuries, leading to much of the success that we see today. There were several African American activists who put their lives in harm’s way on a daily basis in order to achieve equality throughout the nation. From major sporting accomplishments (Jesse Owens) to the election of the first African American president (Barrack Obama), blacks have accomplished much success in their mission to gain respect and equality. Although early in the 1900’s many of the accomplishments would be considered minimal to folks outside of the African American race, to the African American’s the accomplishments were considered major milestones. In the paragraphs to come I will examine key milestones that African American’s achieved, analyzing the importance of each and explain how such events may have contributed to developments in the later decades. Specifically, I will explore events including: The Niagara Movement, The Harlem Renaissance, Jesse Owens wining four gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Berlin (1936), Brown vs. Board of Education (1954), many of the core accomplishments during the Civil Rights Movement, and the United States election of 2008. One of the first historical accomplishments achieved by African American’s in order to achieve their rights to equality was The Niagara Movement of 1905. Founded by W.E.B. DuBois and William Monroe Trotter, the movement was aimed at demanding equal rights to free born Americans. “From the marginally
HIS204: American History Since 1865
Thomas Roka
28JAN13
African American’s faced some of the worst and cruel punishments in United States history. When one thinks of African Americans they think of slavery, however there were several other elements to the demise of African American men and women. Moreover, African American’s were mistreated in almost every way possible. However, through sacrifice, willpower and determination, African American’s managed to accomplish many milestones throughout the 20th and 21’st centuries, leading to much of the success that we see today. There were several African American activists who put their lives in harm’s way on a daily basis in order to achieve equality throughout the nation. From major sporting accomplishments (Jesse Owens) to the election of the first African American president (Barrack Obama), blacks have accomplished much success in their mission to gain respect and equality. Although early in the 1900’s many of the accomplishments would be considered minimal to folks outside of the African American race, to the African American’s the accomplishments were considered major milestones. In the paragraphs to come I will examine key milestones that African American’s achieved, analyzing the importance of each and explain how such events may have contributed to developments in the later decades. Specifically, I will explore events including: The Niagara Movement, The Harlem Renaissance, Jesse Owens wining four gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Berlin (1936), Brown vs. Board of Education (1954), many of the core accomplishments during the Civil Rights Movement, and the United States election of 2008. One of the first historical accomplishments achieved by African American’s in order to achieve their rights to equality was The Niagara Movement of 1905. Founded by W.E.B. DuBois and William Monroe Trotter, the movement was aimed at demanding equal rights to free born Americans. “From the marginally
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