Is Americas Perception as Always Being a Free and Equal Nation' Justified Enough - Essay Example

Early history Lecturer’s Introduction America as a nation likes to think of itself that has always been a land of equality and toleration. However, this was not the case especially in the 17th century (1600). Not everybody in the country enjoyed social and political equality. There has been continued rollback on civil liberties in the nation conflicts with a view that the country is a land of free people. It is good to recognize things by the right names. The country seems to be in denial towards its implications of its laws and policies. The country is not clear on what it perceives itself to be. Rather, America can be perceived as a “white country” especially in the 17th century in the culture, structure and character. At the time, the country led a version of the apartheid regime lacking the legal sanction. Needless to say, at the time, the black Americans and other minority groups lived a life of their own yet the country perceives itself to be always a free and equal country that is not true. America’s perception as always being a free and equal nation Throughout history, American has been considered as a fairly racist nation. From the work places to the society, there has been a strong barrier among the white and black people. The greatest injustice in the United States is the white people treatment of the African American’s citizens specifically in slavery. At the time, it was impossible for a black to live in the country, and it was more difficult for any black citizen to find a job. However, after the abolishment of slavery, many people began changing their views on the racial relations. Fewer and fewer people started believing that they were more supreme over the African-American race. The blacks started being free people just as the whites and they became accepted as other people in the society (White, Philpot, Wylie, & McGowen, 2007). Race has been the cause of division in the American society in the 17th century since the settlement of American colonies. While the understanding of the concept of ‘race’ in the nation has changed, the history of the African American’s illustrates a very useful template in understanding the history of the racial relations among the parties. The country aspect to racism ranged from the institutional level of racism to individuals levels through complex policies, behaviors and beliefs. The blacks were considered inferior to the white and could not enjoy equal opportunities as the whites did. The whites considered themselves smarter than any other people and considered themselves to make better professionals than other races. Of a total of 800,000 people who arrived in the united states between 1607 and the American revolution 300,000 were African slaves. Slavery was considered as a static institution during the time. Slaves were considered as servants (Carmichael & Hamilton, 2001). The rise of plantation agricultural farming in the country ushered a harsh era of slavery, and the concept of race was the order of the day. The slaves and the white servants worked together and frequently were treated in regards to their interracial groups. Persons with an African descent were considered not equal to the whites. Slavery at the time was the major cause of inequality. In the southern colonies of America, the introduction of plantation agriculture farming in the 17th century as well as the achievement of political dominance by the white class of people inaugurated an new era of slavery in which avenues of freedom were curtailed. Laws were passed to distinguish between the black and the whites as racial discrimination took a far greater social significance. This affected how the black people were being perceived even in other parts and regions. In the northern states where slavery was not profound, the situation of the free blacks deteriorated. Throughout the nation, “free” became a term that was associated with only the whites (Herring & Conley, 2000). The blacks American’s who lived their lives as slaves experienced the institutions of law and politics that was quite different to the whites. Slaves were considered as ‘property’ and virtually had no legal rights. They could be leased, bought, seized or sold just like any commodity to satisfy the owner’s debts. Slaves were considered to have no any family ties and could not leave the plantation firm or hold any meeting without the owner’s permission. Masters who bought the slaves held discretion of inflicting punishment through whipping and other forms of torchers to their slaves. The master committed the system of justice to enhancing the masters control “whites” over human property and no aspects of the slaves life was beyond reach. Thus, there was no respect or privacy in the life of the black Americans. The American revolution was the only hope among the blacks in America that threw the future of slavery to doubt. The revolution embraced for freedom as a human universal right as an asylum of liberty for the oppressed citizens in the country. Because of the revolution, slavery for the first time became an issue of public debate and inspired the hopes that inequality could be eliminated in the American society. Freedom was granted to the black American slaves and, as a result, nearly 100,000 slaves deserted their loyal owners (Seaton, Caldwell, Sellers, & Jackson, 2008). Thousands more escaped the slavery bondage by enlisting in the army of the revolution. Freedom petitions and arguments were the order of the day in the American’s courts as the slaves claimed for equality and liberty for themselves. As a result, motivated by a devotion to the revolution ideas, slaveholders in Maryland and Virginia along with other regions freed their slaves by 1780s. By the end of the century, black American’s were granted their freedom and around 60,000 free black American’s came into existence. By the end of 1800, the number increased to have a million free black Americans. Black Americans started receiving equal education, professions and rights. In cities like New Orleans and Charleston, black Americans became well positioned to take the lead in the American politics in the early period of the countries reconstruction. However, most of the blacks became poor urban or rural laborers who enjoyed equal rights with the whites rather than being considered a form of property. In the end, slavery did not survive the tale but emerged from it strengthened. Paralyzed by the revolution all Americans were able to live equally, all were tolerated, and the two races could now live in equality (Lopez & Pantoja, 2004). Conclusion From the early days of the colonial settlement, racial discrimination has been a crucial issue in the line of division in the American society. The black Americans as a minority group have been the subject of racial discrimination. For more than two centuries, African Americans have been subjects of slavery and discrimination in every aspect of their lives. Other minority groups in the country have suffered similar inequalities as well. However, the nation has made great steps in eradicating the color line disparity and inequality yet the legacy remains alive in numerous aspects of the American society. America likes to take itself as being a state that has always been a land of equality and toleration. However, this was not the case especially in the 17th century (1600) that is evident by the racial and inequalities that have been a crucial line of division in the American society. References Carmichael, S., & Hamilton, C. V. (2001). Black power: The politics of liberation in America. Racism: Essential Readings, 1, 111. Herring, C., & Conley, D. (2000). Being Black, Living in the Red: Race, Wealth, and Social Policy in America. Contemporary Sociology. doi:10.2307/2654395 Lopez, L., & Pantoja, A. D. (2004). Beyond Black and White: General Support for Race-Conscious Policies Among African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and Whites. Political Research Quarterly. Seaton, E. K., Caldwell, C. H., Sellers, R. M., & Jackson, J. S. (2008). The prevalence of perceived discrimination among African American and Caribbean Black youth. Developmental Psychology, 44, 1288–1297. doi:10.1037/a0012747 White, I. K., Philpot, T. S., Wylie, K., & McGowen, E. (2007). Feeling the Pain of My People: Hurricane Katrina, Racial Inequality, and the Psyche of Black America. Journal of Black Studies. doi:10.1177/0021934706296191 Read More