African Americans, unlike other ethnicities, were uprooted from their homes in Africa and forced into a life of slavery. The movement of over 12 million African Americans occurred for the most part from the 16th to the 19th century. While many of these African Americans were sent to North America, others were sent to South America and the islands in that region. The trip from Africa to the Americas was deemed “The Middle Passage”. This journey lasted about 3 months and resulted in about 2 millions deaths as passengers were under horrendous conditions. These African Americans, forced into a life of slavery, originally worked on plantations, over time however, slaves were needed in the cotton industry. The cotton industry and slavery became even more prevalent. This increase in the demand of cotton resulted in slaves being separated from their families and sent to other areas to work. As slaves were separated from their loved ones, more and more of these African immigrants forced into slavery attempted to run away, especially to Northern states where freedom was more prominent.
Being born in this country was a privilege in that I did not have to deal with the same hardships that other ethnicities, particularly African Americans, had to deal with when immigrating to this country. Unlike immigrants, I was “home” from the moment I was born. I did not have to go through the struggles of learning a new language, adapting to a new environment, and leaving behind all I knew, because all I know is America. Although I was fortunate enough to not deal with the adversity immigrants face, I watched my father deal with hardships as he acclimated to the American society and culture and was faced with racism. My father was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. At the age of 17, to avoid the revolution occurring in his country, he moved to America, attended college and became a citizen as he made a life for himself. I’ve heard and watched as my father faced judgments based on where he was born so I am not blind to the hardships that are inflicted on those who were not born in America. Being half Iranian and partially German and Irish, I am proud of my heritage and ethnicity.
Unfortunately, the troubles of the African American race did not end after slavery ended. African Americans still struggle in America even in the twenty-first century as they face racial discrimination. In some ways, African Americans were never truly welcomed into America. They were forced against their will into a foreign land and have never been accepted as a result. Stereotypes, an idea applied to a wide range of people based on their commonalities, and prejudices, an idea based on no research or knowledge are inflicted upon immigrants far too often. Unfortunately, many people have stereotypes and prejudices about other ethnicities, including African Americans. Some people judge African Americans based on a belief based on opinion and falsity that all African Americans commit crimes, are impoverished, are uneducated, and other many untrue assumptions. Many, if not all of these ideas are negative and have stayed relatively same over the history of African Americans living in America. Society does not condemn these misconceptions and as a result, many believe them to be true and act upon these misconceptions, resulting in racist actions or discrimination. As a result, African Americans have struggled in society through the workplace, being denied jobs, and being treated unfairly in public by racists for example.
While many believe racism has decreased over the decades, racism has just morphed so that it is portrayed differently throughout society. To combat racism, as a society, we must condemn racial discrimination and work to create an equal and fair society that values every individual, regardless of our differences.m
Marcus Garvey once said “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Twenty-first century America, a melting pot of race, religion, gender, sexual identity and backgrounds, was not always the diverse nation it currently is now. This quote seems fitting when studying how America became so diverse as the immigration of ethnic groups flocking to the “New World” began centuries ago. One group in particular has been the focal point of history due to the hardships incurred among their entrance to the United States of America. African Americans, forcefully removed from their homes and shipped to America in less than ideal conditions, have not had the same entrance into the United States that other ethnic groups were able to have.
African Americans, unlike other ethnicities, were uprooted from their homes in Africa and forced into a life of slavery. The movement of over 12 million African Americans occurred for the most part from the 16th to the 19th century. While many of these African Americans were sent to North America, others were sent to South America and the islands in that region. The trip from Africa to the Americas was deemed “The Middle Passage”. This journey lasted about 3 months and resulted in about 2 millions deaths as passengers were under horrendous conditions. These African Americans, forced into a life of slavery, originally worked on plantations, over time however, slaves were needed in the cotton industry. The cotton industry and slavery became even more prevalent. This increase in the demand of cotton resulted in slaves being separated from their families and sent to other areas to work. As slaves were separated from their loved ones, more and more of these African immigrants forced into slavery attempted to run away, especially to Northern states where freedom was more prominent.
Being born in this country was a privilege in that I did not have to deal with the same hardships that other ethnicities, particularly African Americans, had to deal with when immigrating to this country. Unlike immigrants, I was “home” from the moment I was born. I did not have to go through the struggles of learning a new language, adapting to a new environment, and leaving behind all I knew, because all I know is America. Although I was fortunate enough to not deal with the adversity immigrants face, I watched my father deal with hardships as he acclimated to the American society and culture and was faced with racism. My father was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. At the age of 17, to avoid the revolution occurring in his country, he moved to America, attended college and became a citizen as he made a life for himself. I’ve heard and watched as my father faced judgments based on where he was born so I am not blind to the hardships that are inflicted on those who were not born in America. Being half Iranian and partially German and Irish, I am proud of my heritage and ethnicity.
Unfortunately, the troubles of the African American race did not end after slavery ended. African Americans still struggle in America even in the twenty-first century as they face racial discrimination. In some ways, African Americans were never truly welcomed into America. They were forced against their will into a
foreign land and have
never been accepted as a result. Stereotypes, an idea applied to a wide range of people based on their commonalities, and prejudices, an idea based on no research or knowledge are inflicted upon immigrants far too often. Unfortunately, many people have stereotypes and prejudices about other ethnicities, including African Americans. Some people judge African Americans based on a belief based on opinion and falsity that all African Americans commit crimes, are impoverished, are uneducated, and other many untrue assumptions. Many, if not all of these ideas are negative and have stayed relatively same over the history of African Americans living in America. Society does not condemn these misconceptions and as a result, many believe them to be true and act upon these misconceptions, resulting in racist actions or discrimination. As a result, African Americans have struggled in society through the workplace, being denied jobs, and being treated unfairly in public by racists for example.
While many believe racism has decreased over the decades, racism has just morphed so that it is portrayed differently throughout society. To combat racism, as a society, we must condemn racial discrimination and work to create an equal and fair society that values every individual, regardless of our differences.m
Marcus Garvey once said “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Twenty-first century America, a melting pot of race, religion, gender, sexual identity and backgrounds, was not always the diverse nation it currently is now. This quote seems fitting when studying how America became so diverse as the immigration of ethnic groups flocking to the “New World” began centuries ago. One group in particular has been the focal point of history due to the hardships incurred among their entrance to the United States of America. African Americans, forcefully removed from their homes and shipped to America in less than ideal conditions, have not had the same entrance into the United States that other ethnic groups were able to have.
African Americans, unlike other ethnicities, were uprooted from their homes in Africa and forced into a life of slavery. The movement of over 12 million African Americans occurred for the most part from the 16th to the 19th century. While many of these African Americans were sent to North America, others were sent to South America and the islands in that region. The trip from Africa to the Americas was deemed “The Middle Passage”. This journey lasted about 3 months and resulted in about 2 millions deaths as passengers were under horrendous conditions. These African Americans, forced into a life of slavery, originally worked on plantations, over time however, slaves were needed in the cotton industry. The cotton industry and slavery became even more prevalent. This increase in the demand of cotton resulted in slaves being separated from their families and sent to other areas to work. As slaves were separated from their loved ones, more and more of these African immigrants forced into slavery attempted to run away, especially to Northern states where freedom was more prominent.
Being born in this country was a privilege in that I did not have to deal with the same hardships that other ethnicities, particularly African Americans, had to deal with when immigrating to this country. Unlike immigrants, I was “home” from the moment I was born. I did not have to go through the struggles of learning a new language, adapting to a new environment, and leaving behind all I knew, because all I know is America. Although I was fortunate enough to not deal with the adversity immigrants face, I watched my father deal with hardships as he acclimated to the American society and culture and was faced with racism. My father was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. At the age of 17, to avoid the revolution occurring in his country, he moved to America, attended college and became a citizen as he made a life for himself. I’ve heard and watched as my father faced judgments based on where he was born so I am not blind to the hardships that are inflicted on those who were not born in America. Being half Iranian and partially German and Irish, I am proud of my heritage and ethnicity.
Unfortunately, the troubles of the African American race did not end after slavery ended. African Americans still struggle in America even in the twenty-first century as they face racial discrimination. In some ways, African Americans were never truly welcomed into America. They were forced against their will into a foreign land and have never been accepted as a result. Stereotypes, an idea applied to a wide range of people based on their commonalities, and prejudices, an idea based on no research or knowledge are inflicted upon immigrants far too often. Unfortunately, many people have stereotypes and prejudices about other ethnicities, including African Americans. Some people judge African Americans based on a belief based on opinion and falsity that all African Americans commit crimes, are impoverished, are uneducated, and other many untrue assumptions. Many, if not all of these ideas are negative and have stayed relatively same over the history of African Americans living in America. Society does not condemn these misconceptions and as a result, many believe them to be true and act upon these misconceptions, resulting in racist actions or discrimination. As a result, African Americans have struggled in society through the workplace, being denied jobs, and being treated unfairly in public by racists for example.
While many believe racism has decreased over the decades, racism has just morphed so that it is portrayed differently throughout society. To combat racism, as a society, we must condemn racial discrimination and work to create an equal and fair society that values every individual, regardless of our differences.m