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Civil Rights and Black Power

In: Historical Events

Submitted By dshodges
Words 529
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The African Americans were being discriminated and segregated not only at home but serving in the WWII. When a black solider were injured they were treated only by black physicians or not treated properly and even where they camped, they were forced to sleep outside. When the African Americans were being trained, they were trained with their race. Also they were discriminated in different ways by the United States Army, Marine Corps and Navy. For example: The Marine Corps excluded blacks, the Army had them into separate regiment and the Navy had them as cooks or janitors.
Even though the African American defended our country, not one was ever rewarded a medal of honor. Regardless of what position and ranks they were in. They were still being discriminated after the war. The African Americans still had no respect or had any rights. Many of African Americans did not go back home, some of them moved to the cities were they could find work. Other went back home, the ones that went back home still had to deal with the Jim Crow law. Which the Jim Crow law was a racial segregation in all public places in the southern states.
After the war in 1944, the government offered a billed called the GI Bill of Rights, this was a bill that rewarded whom served in the war (veterans) could get an education, job finding and unemployment that pay $20 week. Even though this bill was passed by the government, the black veterans were denied of some of these benefits. For example; the banks would not make loans or a mortgage to the black veterans. But the black’s veterans did benefit from the bill was by attending college and graduating.
The segregation and discrimination was coming to an end. The civil right movement was taking place in the 1950’s to early 1960’s. The blacks and supporters were standing up for their rights. The biggest civil right movement was Martin Luther King Jr, a leader of the movement. Martin Luther King Jr led many protests. The biggest movement that impacted on the Americans was when Martin Luther King Jr gave a speech that he have a dream, his speech was to which envisioned a world where people were no longer divided by race (Martin Luther King Jr). There were more than 250,000 protestors of black and white at this march. The speech was so powerful, by in 1964 that the Civil Rights Act was passed by the congress. This act banned discrimination, race, color, sex and religion in the United States. This act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
In overall conclusion African Americans have been treated with discrimination from war to back home. This was very hard for them. They were treated with no respect while being in the war and when they came back home as veterans. They were treated like they never fought for our country. The African Americans fought for our country, they fought for their rights and they believe in their leaders.
Reference
Hine, H.C., Hine, W.C., & Harold, S (2014). African Americans: A concise history. (5th Ed).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

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