Do other groups
owe a debt to the
black struggle?
© 2016
Other ethnic and immigrant groups may not know it, but nearly every ethnic and immigrant group that has come to the United States has benefitted in some way from the struggles of brave black men and black women.
Some of these immigrant groups are now basking in the glow. You might say, they’re the latest “hot thing.” And, oh yes, they’re quick to tell the world how they came to this country with nothing and how they made it.
Perhaps they would be telling a different story, a less rosy story if they had to face the same obstacles, the same violence, the same individual and systemic discrimination, humiliation, racist mobs and white resistance that Blacks faced after they arrived here.
Black men, black women, even black children put their safety and lives on the line fighting for equality and civil rights; rights that any other group coming to this country can now enjoy without having to break a sweat.
Immigrants and other minorities now have voting rights. But it was ex-slaves who fought for voting rights, which eventually led to the 15th Amendment. However, Blacks still faced voting opposition especially in southern states.
It took the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to really advance voting rights. That act came about following black struggles, black protests, racist attacks, bombings, and violence. The political skills of President Lyndon B. Johnson and the leadership of Dr. King, and many others, helped to win the Voting Rights Act.
Now other minorities and immigrants, who never fought for voting rights, also have these rights. They also have rights that protect them from housing and employment discrimination. These rights, too, were earned as a result of the black struggle.
Perhaps the greatest right enjoyed by immigrants that relates to the black struggle pertains to citizenship. The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution granted citizenship to ex-slaves, who were born here but not considered citizens.
They were deprived of life, liberty, property, and equal protection under the law. That is the backstory of the 14th Amendment, which was pushed through in large part due to the skills of Pres. Abraham Lincoln.
Long story short, the 14th Amendment and its “equal protection clause,” had one singular objective: to grant citizenship rights to ex-slaves.
More recently, in a departure from its original intent, the 14th Amendment has been used to grant citizenship to any child born in this country even though the expectant parent may have been just visiting the United States, or the expectant parent came to the country illegally. (Phyler v. Doe)
The 14th Amendment also has been extended to include corporations as persons. For the record, critics have voiced strong opposition to how the 14th Amendment has been repurposed beyond its original intent.
As African Americans, it is extremely important for us to know our history and the impact our struggle has had on history. It is also important for other minorities and immigrants to know this history and to realize that were it not for the struggles of African Americans they would have faced obstacles and violence they could not even imagine. A simple thank you served on a platter of respect will do.
For us African Americans, we still have more work to do and more battles to fight. That’s just the way it is. The next battles, however, shouldn’t be focused outward; they have to be focused inward.
Many of us may not realize it, but we can make more progress focusing on our internal, self-inflicting wounds than continuing to focus on external issues.
We earn over $1 trillion every year, yet our “leaders” have convinced us that we’re poor and desperate. The key to greater progress is to correct our internal issues.
owe a debt to the
black struggle?
© 2016
Other ethnic and immigrant groups may not know it, but nearly every ethnic and immigrant group that has come to the United States has benefitted in some way from the struggles of brave black men and black women.
Some of these immigrant groups are now basking in the glow. You might say, they’re the latest “hot thing.” And, oh yes, they’re quick to tell the world how they came to this country with nothing and how they made it.
Perhaps they would be telling a different story, a less rosy story if they had to face the same obstacles, the same violence, the same individual and systemic discrimination, humiliation, racist mobs and white resistance that Blacks faced after they arrived here.
Black men, black women, even black children put their safety and lives on the line fighting for equality and civil rights; rights that any other group coming to this country can now enjoy without having to break a sweat.
Immigrants and other minorities now have voting rights. But it was ex-slaves who fought for voting rights, which eventually led to the 15th Amendment. However, Blacks still faced voting opposition especially in southern states.
It took the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to really advance voting rights. That act came about following black struggles, black protests, racist attacks, bombings, and violence. The political skills of President Lyndon B. Johnson and the leadership of Dr. King, and many others, helped to win the Voting Rights Act.
Now other minorities and immigrants, who never fought for voting rights, also have these rights. They also have rights that protect them from housing and employment discrimination. These rights, too, were earned as a result of the black struggle.
Perhaps the greatest right enjoyed by immigrants that relates to the black struggle pertains to citizenship. The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution granted citizenship to ex-slaves, who were born here but not considered citizens.
They were deprived of life, liberty, property, and equal protection under the law. That is the backstory of the 14th Amendment, which was pushed through in large part due to the skills of Pres. Abraham Lincoln.
Long story short, the 14th Amendment and its “equal protection clause,” had one singular objective: to grant citizenship rights to ex-slaves.
More recently, in a departure from its original intent, the 14th Amendment has been used to grant citizenship to any child born in this country even though the expectant parent may have been just visiting the United States, or the expectant parent came to the country illegally. (Phyler v. Doe)
The 14th Amendment also has been extended to include corporations as persons. For the record, critics have voiced strong opposition to how the 14th Amendment has been repurposed beyond its original intent.
As African Americans, it is extremely important for us to know our history and the impact our struggle has had on history. It is also important for other minorities and immigrants to know this history and to realize that were it not for the struggles of African Americans they would have faced obstacles and violence they could not even imagine. A simple thank you served on a platter of respect will do.
For us African Americans, we still have more work to do and more battles to fight. That’s just the way it is. The next battles, however, shouldn’t be focused outward; they have to be focused inward.
Many of us may not realize it, but we can make more progress focusing on our internal, self-inflicting wounds than continuing to focus on external issues.
We earn over $1 trillion every year, yet our “leaders” have convinced us that we’re poor and desperate. The key to greater progress is to correct our internal issues.