Casting Beyond Boundaries

During the 2008 US Presidential Elections, Barack Obama was elected to the Presidential Post backed by a majority of votes from White Americans (43%). This is cited by many as a step up in race relations.

Period of Slavery

Slowly, as the white population settled and flourished in America, slavery rooted itself in the US. The period from 1619 to 1865 especially, witnessed a tremendously racist America grossly harassing the African-American populace. After the Civil War, several draconian laws were drafted by the government which severely prejudiced the black community. It was a sort of wicked competition amongst the states on inflicting misery against their own population. The latter half of the 18th century witnessed a big upheaval in America, against the British. The issues of human rights and independence began to gain ground and hamper the British policies, a lot of civil rights for the African-Americans were considered. Many were even freed, but the status of blacks never improved, especially, once the Americans gained an upper hand in their quest for independence. Towards the end of the 19th century, the attacks against the black community and even on the whites associated with their cause increased. Since the elections of 1868, the Democrats who openly advocated prejudice against the blacks, used violence, corruption, and intimidation to stop them from voting. The group indulged in brutally murdering the black community, and anyone socially advocating their cause was the real situation, but one which was suppressed and in the Southern states, the Colfax and Coushatta massacres in 1873 and 1874, were just some of the many brutal assaults launched against the African-Americans. For every 3 whites killed in the fight, 40-50 blacks were killed. This was popularized as atrocity against whites, until the 20th century, when historians finally unearthed the true story.

Agony

The period from 1890 to 1940 is known as the Jim Crow era in the history of prejudice against the African-Americans. Millions were brutalized, killed and frightened to death for voting and taking formal education, during these years. The concept of 'lynching', where the whites openly 'punished' the black population, was a rampant practice. White people would publicly hang black people for petty reasons, all over the country. The 'America's Black Holocaust Museum' in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has a collection of photographs and other evidences of the plight of African-American populace, over the years. The first half of the 20th century also witnessed migration of the African-American population from the disturbed Southern states to the North and the Midwest. The search for a better and a peaceful lifestyle, compelled millions to take this migratory step. Many African-Americans fought for the US cause in World War I and World War II. Their exemplary service led to the desegregation of the US Armed Forces in July 1948.

Relief

The African-American cause received great fillip during the American Civil Rights Movement. It was at the threshold of this movement, that Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech from the steps of the grand Lincoln Memorial. Political and economic rights were soon granted to the blacks. In 2000, there were 8,936 black office holders in the United States. According to Forbes magazine, Oprah Winfrey was the richest African-American of the 20th century.