Assignment task:
In 1619, enslaved people were brought to what eventually became the United States. The end of the Civil War legally ended slavery, but Black Codes, Redemption, and Jim Crow laws ensured that most African-Americans were kept in a position of social, political and economic oppression until passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In the years since 1964, opportunities have improved for African-Americans, but arguments can be made that systemic racism still acts as a barrier to progress for Black citizens.
We all know of recent events that have brought race relations in America to the forefront of political debate: the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery; controversy over Black Lives Matter; release of and reaction to the 1619 Project; and controversy over "Critical Race Theory" in schools. Plus, there has been a surge in attacks against Asian-Americans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. And significant numbers of Hispanics report experiencing discrimination. Not to be outdone, many white Americans (that link is to a 2011 study) believe that anti-white discrimination is a problem in America. Here's a Pew survey of the state of race relations in America.
I'd like for you to reflect on Civil Rights and race relations in America today. How has America progressed in relations between people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds? Are we not tolerant enough? Are we *too* tolerant? Has the government not done enough to aid historically disadvantaged groups? Has the government done about what it should have done? Has it done too much? Should it do more? Is it reasonable to expect that African-Americans, who from 1619 to 1865 were enslaved, then from 1865 to 1964 were in many cases and places not much better than enslaved, and today experience significant inequality, should have "caught up" by now?
After you've taken some time to reflect on Civil Rights and race relations in America, write a brief essay to tell me what you think.
Minimum words is 300 words.