Introduction
The African-American community’s experience in America is a controversial subject that attracts more questions than answers. This experience is partially complicated by its origin from the infamous transatlantic slave trade that saw Africans forcefully moved from their homeland to the Americas to work on plantations under deplorable conditions (Corbett et al., 2021). However, with the abolition of the slave trade in the mid-19th century, African Americans gradually integrated into American society despite the challenges that arose along the way. The African American experience in the US has improved between 1929 and the present, marked by better integration into American society, improved access to essential services such as healthcare and education, and increased visibility and recognition.
Discussion
The darkest days of the African-American experience in America were the days of segregation. During this period, African Americans were treated as second-class citizens and could not interact with their white counterparts. For instance, they had separate schools and curricula for the African-American community. Significant legislation policies deliberately excluded African-American interests and only catered to whites. An example of such legislation is the New Deal under President Roosevelt, which initially did not cushion domestic workers and farm hands who were predominantly African Americans from the impacts of the Great Depression. (Corbett et al., 2021, p. 715). However, following the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 60s, the African-American community was better integrated into society, reducing the gap between them and whites (Corbett et al., 2021, p.798). Ideally, the Black Americans felt more American than mere enslaved people as it was under the previous dispensation.
Further, African Americans had improved access to essential services and rights restricted to whites before the Civil Rights Movement. They could attend the same schools and learn the same curriculum as whites (Corbett et al., 2021, p.793). This breakthrough gave them an equal chance at life as the dominant whites. African Americans were also allowed to access healthcare services and pursue employment opportunities as more institutions were now willing to include them in their workforce. More importantly, African Americans were granted more human rights and treated as Americans, not second-class citizens. They had more influence and participation in the political discourse of the country.
African Americans have enjoyed increased visibility and recognition by both the government and the whites. Acknowledging their presence was a step in the right direction to minimize discrimination and encourage inclusion in American society. The Blacks had access to better economic opportunities that directly correlated to the improved access to education and employment championed by the Civil Rights Movement and affected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Corbett et al., 2021, p.860). African-American culture, such as Hip-Hop music, became a mainstream American media mainstay in the 1980s and was enjoyed by youths from all races. Acknowledging the existence of the African-American community is the ultimate yardstick for the progress made in integrating them into American society. Today, the African-American voice is strong and matters.
Conclusion
There has been considerable progress made by the African-American community in the US over the years. From the dark days of segregation through the Civil Rights movement in the mid-20th century, African Americans have achieved milestones to place them as equal contributors to American society. Progress has been made through better integration into society, improved access to essential services, and acknowledgment from other races, especially whites. The journey to integrate minority communities into the American culture is not over yet; however, the country is headed in the right direction.
Reference
Corbett, P. S., Janseen, V., Lund, J., Pfannestiel, T., Vickery, P., & Waskiewicz, S. (2021). US History OpenStax.
