Freedom On My Mind Sparknotes
Freedom on my Mind recounts the struggles and accomplishments of African-Americans in their quest for civil rights, education integration, cultural acceptance, political participation, and economic freedom in America. The authors eloquently narrated events, figures and data through which readers can relive the experiences of the people who have helped shape the future of American society.
Freedom on my Mind features some of the most important events that encapsulated the African American experiences and accomplishments in the last century. Every chapter of the book tells the untold, sometimes forgotten stories of a people who have contributed to the larger American story, which is a story of progress, economic empowerment, equality, courage, …show more content…
and justice for all as it was stated by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence that, “all human beings are created equal, and are endowed by their creator with a number of inalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The letters, newspaper articles, reports, paintings, poetry and brief bibliographies make this textbook a mini reference encyclopedia of African-American history for the past century.
In the opening chapter, the authors recaptured the Reconstruction-Era, which was the period following the Civil War when blacks in the South had just been freed. However, these blacks were socially, politically and economically marginalized. In fact, while blacks in the North had enjoyed some freedom, they, also faced similar social, political and economic oppression. Further, the book ostentatiously described the negative effects of D.W. Griffith’s movie, the Birth of a Nation on the newly freed slaves and propagated the theory that the white men had a duty to protect white women against black men. The authors ended the first chapter of the book, arguing that the end of slavery was “revolutionary” and black people “remade” themselves, by acquiring an education, job skills, built their families and communities. However, the laws that emancipated black people from slavery did not set the foundation for economic prosperity or to propel the newly freed black people into fully independent and contributing members of the America society. The authors provided a balanced argument, but one important event was not included in the chapter. In my opinion, the Compromise of 1877, which removed federal troops from the South, set the stage for the Jim Crow laws (Black Codes) enacted by southern states and the racism perpetuated against blacks for the next hundred years.
The next chapter emphasized the life and culture of black people in the South soon after “white rule” was restored (p.432). This chapter particular provides significant amount information on the disenfranchisement, civil rights violations and the deterioration of the living conditions of black people, primarily due to the implementation of Jim Crow laws that forbade the interaction of the two races. Consequently, the first generation of freedom fighters emerged. The authors argued the central role the network of black activists played on gathering support for the antilynching campaign. A number of organizations were created by women, notably the National Association of Colored Women. Another organization that became central in the fight for freedom in America, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), was also created during that period. The viewpoints of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were also articulated in this chapter. Du Bois flat out rejected Washington’s “accommodationism” argument, which he referred to as “civil inferiority” (p.460). The authors contented that the Du Bois’ racial uplift ideologies mirrored those of Washington’s. I believed Du Bois and Washington did not share the same philosophy with respect to black people being fully integrated into the American society. Washington’s accommodationism viewpoint largely resembled apartheid – no one people can achieve any possible success when accommodating the oppressors. No one could ever achieve economic freedom when they are constantly being attacked by another group. Washington’s overall work was paramount for the advancement of black people. However, asking a people to remain submissive in a country they helped to build was a dereliction of duty.
The chapters that addressed the New Negro and the movement dubbed “The Double V campaign,” in which the authors argued the significant contribution of the arts in the African-American experience and African-Americans being called to take arms in the defense of America and the world. During this period, the National Negro Congress was founded in Chicago. The organization’s president, A. Philip Randolph was very instrumental in “interracial labor organizing and action” and organizing the March on Washington (p. 521).
The authors used a number of court cases throughout the book that solidified the Civil Rights Movement and demonstrated how filing and winning court cases using the U.S.
Constitution as one of the most powerful tool to fight racism against black was by far one of the greatest attributes of the Civil Rights Movement. The class lawsuits brought by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and other organizations against different factions of the white establishment unequivocally knocked out the strongest teeth of social and economic injustices against minorities. Chief among these cases was Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. The case was brought in an attempt to “strike at the entire system of segregation” and it was argued on the basis that segregation violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (p. 612). The lawyers who argued the case contend that the Supreme Court’s decision in the Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 violated the constitution. (p. 433). Other important cases were Shelley v. Kraemer, Browder v. Gayle, Morgan v. Virginia, Smith v. Allwright, Pearson v. Murray, and Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada. The plan developed by Charles Hamilton Houston and Thurgood Marshall to desegregate schools challenged the core principle of school segregation and the systematic racism that continued to proliferate American society (pp.
522-523).
In the final Chapter, the authors concluded that African-American’s for equality in America faces new challenges with the emergence of the “New Right.” African-Americans continue to face racism and rejections despite gaining political power and the expansion of a middle class. The authors contended that, “the rise of a black America was more diverse than ever before” and “ American political system had slowly but surely adapted to the new realities that multiplied the number of black elected officials and laid the political foundation” for president Obama to be elected (p. 749). These facts are undisputable; however, the political system has been for a number of years implementing school policies that favor charter schools, which will in fact increase or establish classism while extending the education and economic gaps of African-American. Moreover, African-Americans are more likely to be living in poverty, have no health insurance, and being incarcerated a higher rate than the rest of the population. The legislations of the Reagan administration and subsequent Republican administrations such as the war on drugs and economic policies that favored the wealthy have had a devastating effect on the lives of African-Americans.
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s through 1970s is often remembered for the marches, demonstrations and two milestone legislations that forever change America. Freedom on my Mind offers a broad overview of the period, which among other things, accentuates on the court cases that solidified the quest for freedom by African-Americans in America.
Further, to be included in the building of the “perfect union,” African-Americans unwaveringly fought for their rights, challenging both the national and state governments, people and institutions who infringed upon their rights. This book is a rich repertoire of facts through which students and individuals seeking to enhance their knowledge on African-American history can relive the events that reshape The United States of America forever.
Freedom on my Mind features some of the most important events that encapsulated the African American experiences and accomplishments in the last century. Every chapter of the book tells the untold, sometimes forgotten stories of a people who have contributed to the larger American story, which is a story of progress, economic empowerment, equality, courage, …show more content…
and justice for all as it was stated by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence that, “all human beings are created equal, and are endowed by their creator with a number of inalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The letters, newspaper articles, reports, paintings, poetry and brief bibliographies make this textbook a mini reference encyclopedia of African-American history for the past century.
In the opening chapter, the authors recaptured the Reconstruction-Era, which was the period following the Civil War when blacks in the South had just been freed. However, these blacks were socially, politically and economically marginalized. In fact, while blacks in the North had enjoyed some freedom, they, also faced similar social, political and economic oppression. Further, the book ostentatiously described the negative effects of D.W. Griffith’s movie, the Birth of a Nation on the newly freed slaves and propagated the theory that the white men had a duty to protect white women against black men. The authors ended the first chapter of the book, arguing that the end of slavery was “revolutionary” and black people “remade” themselves, by acquiring an education, job skills, built their families and communities. However, the laws that emancipated black people from slavery did not set the foundation for economic prosperity or to propel the newly freed black people into fully independent and contributing members of the America society. The authors provided a balanced argument, but one important event was not included in the chapter. In my opinion, the Compromise of 1877, which removed federal troops from the South, set the stage for the Jim Crow laws (Black Codes) enacted by southern states and the racism perpetuated against blacks for the next hundred years.
The next chapter emphasized the life and culture of black people in the South soon after “white rule” was restored (p.432). This chapter particular provides significant amount information on the disenfranchisement, civil rights violations and the deterioration of the living conditions of black people, primarily due to the implementation of Jim Crow laws that forbade the interaction of the two races. Consequently, the first generation of freedom fighters emerged. The authors argued the central role the network of black activists played on gathering support for the antilynching campaign. A number of organizations were created by women, notably the National Association of Colored Women. Another organization that became central in the fight for freedom in America, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), was also created during that period. The viewpoints of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were also articulated in this chapter. Du Bois flat out rejected Washington’s “accommodationism” argument, which he referred to as “civil inferiority” (p.460). The authors contented that the Du Bois’ racial uplift ideologies mirrored those of Washington’s. I believed Du Bois and Washington did not share the same philosophy with respect to black people being fully integrated into the American society. Washington’s accommodationism viewpoint largely resembled apartheid – no one people can achieve any possible success when accommodating the oppressors. No one could ever achieve economic freedom when they are constantly being attacked by another group. Washington’s overall work was paramount for the advancement of black people. However, asking a people to remain submissive in a country they helped to build was a dereliction of duty.
The chapters that addressed the New Negro and the movement dubbed “The Double V campaign,” in which the authors argued the significant contribution of the arts in the African-American experience and African-Americans being called to take arms in the defense of America and the world. During this period, the National Negro Congress was founded in Chicago. The organization’s president, A. Philip Randolph was very instrumental in “interracial labor organizing and action” and organizing the March on Washington (p. 521).
The authors used a number of court cases throughout the book that solidified the Civil Rights Movement and demonstrated how filing and winning court cases using the U.S.
Constitution as one of the most powerful tool to fight racism against black was by far one of the greatest attributes of the Civil Rights Movement. The class lawsuits brought by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and other organizations against different factions of the white establishment unequivocally knocked out the strongest teeth of social and economic injustices against minorities. Chief among these cases was Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. The case was brought in an attempt to “strike at the entire system of segregation” and it was argued on the basis that segregation violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (p. 612). The lawyers who argued the case contend that the Supreme Court’s decision in the Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 violated the constitution. (p. 433). Other important cases were Shelley v. Kraemer, Browder v. Gayle, Morgan v. Virginia, Smith v. Allwright, Pearson v. Murray, and Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada. The plan developed by Charles Hamilton Houston and Thurgood Marshall to desegregate schools challenged the core principle of school segregation and the systematic racism that continued to proliferate American society (pp.
522-523).
In the final Chapter, the authors concluded that African-American’s for equality in America faces new challenges with the emergence of the “New Right.” African-Americans continue to face racism and rejections despite gaining political power and the expansion of a middle class. The authors contended that, “the rise of a black America was more diverse than ever before” and “ American political system had slowly but surely adapted to the new realities that multiplied the number of black elected officials and laid the political foundation” for president Obama to be elected (p. 749). These facts are undisputable; however, the political system has been for a number of years implementing school policies that favor charter schools, which will in fact increase or establish classism while extending the education and economic gaps of African-American. Moreover, African-Americans are more likely to be living in poverty, have no health insurance, and being incarcerated a higher rate than the rest of the population. The legislations of the Reagan administration and subsequent Republican administrations such as the war on drugs and economic policies that favored the wealthy have had a devastating effect on the lives of African-Americans.
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s through 1970s is often remembered for the marches, demonstrations and two milestone legislations that forever change America. Freedom on my Mind offers a broad overview of the period, which among other things, accentuates on the court cases that solidified the quest for freedom by African-Americans in America.
Further, to be included in the building of the “perfect union,” African-Americans unwaveringly fought for their rights, challenging both the national and state governments, people and institutions who infringed upon their rights. This book is a rich repertoire of facts through which students and individuals seeking to enhance their knowledge on African-American history can relive the events that reshape The United States of America forever.