American History

The issue on slavery has long been the cause of contention amongst different groups of people especially during the African American Civil Rights Movement. It was during the 17th century when the British colonizers brought the first Africans at Virginia, North America and that instigated the vast expansion of slavery in the Americas. For a very long time, from this period up to the present, African Americans have fought hard for their freedom and for social equality. Slavery brought along with it grave conditions to the African Americans. These people faced discrimination and injustice that led numerous states to secession and people to the numerous rebellions (e.g. The 1676 Bacons Rebellion, New York Slave Revolt of 1712, The 1739 Stono Rebellion, and The 1831 Nat Turners Rebellion). Many have lost their lives in pursuit of the radical transformation in the society.

Amidst the struggles and rebellion of the oppressed African Americans, feted and important figures emerged from them. The collective effort of these people was seen and bore fruit their voices echoed and then heard at the halls of the policy-making bodies. Significant events in the history of African Americans fight for freedom since 1863 include the following focal points The Emancipation Proclamation (1863), Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream (1963), and Barack Obamas Acceptance Speech (2008).

Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
The Emancipation Proclamation issued on January 1, 1863 by the then U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declared that all slaves in the ten states who have declared their secession from The Union shall be free (1863). These states include Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. The Proclamation could also have been aimed to address the progression of the American Civil War. In line with this, the Proclamation was to protect The Union and carry on with its obligations.

The Proclamation did not free all slaves. Border states that were against the Union and the southern states that were already controlled by the Union were exempted from the Proclamation. Nonetheless, it had granted freedom to over three million slaves in the ten states formerly members of the Confederate States of America (CSA). Slavery was brought to end when the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1865.  

Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream Speech (1963)
On August 28, 1963, at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the I Have a Dream speech was addressed to over two hundred thousand people who were supporters of the Civil Rights Movement. King used anaphora, metaphors, and allusions to give emphasis and show credibility in his speech. He gave a historical background of the condition of the African Americans in the American society since the Emancipation Proclamation. A hundred years had passed and the African Americans are still suffering from the discrimination in the very society where they were declared free. Freedom was not yet completely at hand. King cited what his dreams were and two of them are the following

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

Racial equality and impartiality were his ambition for them and for the coming generation. He strongly believes that that day will come.

Barack Obamas Acceptance Speech (2008)
After winning the Presidential race for the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama gave his victory speech at a rally in Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois on the 5th November 2008. In his speech, he gave his warm thanks to all the people who have appointed him in his current position he gave compliment to the efforts of Senator McCain, his competitor and then he gave a brief overview of the problems that the current administration is facing two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century (2008).

He looked back into the past, into the political bigotry and tyranny of the times. Looking into the time when people were discriminated by their sex and color. President Obama set the 106 years old Ann Nixon Cooper as a good example of someone who has came from a long way and then found hope. And when she saw it, she grabbed it. She stood up and made her voice heard through her ballot.

Changes in Racial Equality Since 1863
In the aforementioned declarations given by three distinguished people during the critical times in the timeline of trying to end up discrimination and injustice towards African Americans, struggles and progress were seen. Efforts made by these three people have created an impact towards the state of mind and conditions of the African Americans who were the foremost people affected in these series of events. There had been tremendous changes that have happened since 1863. The current standing of African Americans in the social and political facet has been better since.  The current president of the United States is Barack H. Obama, the first African American to hold the position. Although there has been growth in the number of African Americans taking part in the government, education, and employment, there still is insufficiency in the number of representatives in these institutions.

The fight for racial equality has come a long way and it continues as long as there are voices that havent been heard. Having Ann Nixon Coopers voice heard was embracing victory that was longed for for centuries. This victory shall serve as hope for the present and the future generations of the society. It shall encourage people to dream just like how Martin Luther King did. Voices were heard and dreams came true and it is now time to exclaim, Free at last Free at last Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.