Essay African American Issues Slavery and Continuing Racism

There are many issues that African Americans face in today’s society, many of which I had not realized until after taking Africana Studies. Some issues dwell on the horrific past of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, which not only is history, but also is part of African American heritage (Karenga, 2010). African Americans frequently experience many perilous problems, such as dire economic situations and feelings of hostility from the cultural mainstream in America (Kaufman, 1971). The cultural collision between African Americans and whites continues to create several problems in society. African Americans are susceptible to racial discrimination, a reality that ultimately shapes the way of life for African Americans (Hine, et. al.,†¦show more content†¦The reasoning used by the pro-slavery movement to justify the practice of slavery astounds me. Africans were manipulated into selling their own people into slavery by devious acts of the Europeans, including the ratio nale that Christianity justifies the institution of slavery. Even after the progress achieved in the 19th and 20th centuries, such as the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement, African Americans still currently experience racism in the United States (Dawidowicz, 1978). The economic status of the African American population has greatly improved over the past years; however, there still remains a large wage gap between blacks and whites that has persisted significantly. For example, blacks in the state of Mississippi—the state with the largest percentage of African Americans—earn only about 69% of what whites earn (Frederickson, 1977). Much of these gaps in wage earnings/household income can be attributed to the racial differences in education and occupation. Refining educational attainment and contact with higher-paying professions would do much to close these gaps. Living in southern West Virginia, almost every school was the same. I never knew that schools were given money in proportion to the income tax of the area. I believe that if parents would be allowed to send their child to the school of their choice, many more educational opportunities would arise. Not only will this create a betterShow MoreRelatedRace Issues from 1877 to Present991 Words   |  4 Pages2011 Race issues from 1877 to present There are five themes that persist throughout American history. The five themes are mission, manifest destiny, industrialization, imperialism, and race. Racism has been an issue throughout American history. Only in recent years has the problem been resolved, but even now there is still some issues. Some private groups are still against some races. 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