African American History

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  African American History

  “I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality

and justice and prosperity for all people.” (Rosa Parks). The struggle for equal rights

for African Americans has been long and difficult. Beginning in the 1950’s, the fight

for equality became stronger. Even though African Americans overcame many

inequalities, are African Americans treated equally in today’s society?

      In 1641 Massachusetts was the first state to legalize slavery. Soon after that other
      states began passing laws to enslave the children of slaves. The northern states began to abolish slavery, while it became more popular in the southern states. The first state to pass an act for abolition was Pennsylvania in 1780. In 1808 congress abolished the International Slave Trade. As blacks thought this was a victory for them, it actually increased the want for slaves.
      In 1973 the Fugitive Slave Act stated that blacks could be claimed as a runaway slave, if they did not have a white person to speak for them. Many free blacks were taken and sold into slavery, especially free children. By 1830 there were 319,000 free African Americans...