African Americans during Reconstruction...week 3

During Reconstruction there were many policies that worked against the rights of African Americans for example, there were black codes. These “laws” former slaves were limited to a variety of special regulations and restrictions on their freedom. This meant that these codes were trying to separate races in public places and facilities. Black separated from whites, such as bus stop water fountains and even buses. Something that now a days it doesn’t happen as often. Another policy that was working against the rights of African Americans separate but equal this was very similar if not the same as black codes. People thought we can separate the blacks from the white and make sure both have the same things needed and we can call that “separate but equal.” At the time it seemed that it was working and blacks couldn’t do much about it, they were a minority that wasn’t supported by many people. Even though there were separate buses they had the same amount of seats, doors and windows the white bus was so much cleaner then the black bus. Therefore it wasn’t separate and equal.

Thanks to the 14^th amendment separate but equal was against the law, which meant that no public discrimination was allowed but private discrimination was allowed. That meant that private businesses were able to discriminate against blacks, such as refusing service and other such things. But once again this was a violation of the 14^th amendment because it clearly states, “no state shall make or enforce a law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens.” That clearly states that these private businesses had to have a state permit to be in service so that show that they weren’t able to discriminate against blacks.

African Americans faced a lot of discrimination made by the “Ku Klux Klan” these people were a terrorist organization. They were basically bullies they hatted black people and made their lives a living hell. Looking back into time I can’t believe people had the courage to do such things they would burn black people’s homes, steal from them and do really hurtful things. Someone the members from the KKK would even kill and rape woman. Reading about this makes me really sad and mad because these KKK members were all white and they didn’t take a moment to stop and think that the women that they were rapping or killing were the ones helping them to keep their new born alive. During this time if the white wife didn’t have breast milk to feed their baby the husband would find a black woman that just had a baby to take care of their baby and breast feed.

Overall African Americans have gone through very difficult times and still remain strong, now there isn’t so much discrimination that they are facing. But like my high school history teachers said “History always repeats itself.” I agree with her one hundred percent history does repeat itself now a days blacks aren’t the one that are being discriminated now Mexicans and other races from south America are the ones that are being discriminated.