Racial Oppression In American History

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Racial Oppression in American History The United States of America was born from a rebellion and has become one of the leading super powers; a place that is highly sought after to live. Throughout American history there are instances where racial oppression was the status quo. The rights and civil liberties of people were cast aside either by deep rooted racism, misguided fears or both. We’ll discuss some of the most well-known misdeeds of the United States is the historic treatment of African Americans, Native Americans and Japanese Americans as has been discussed in class. Racial oppression has been in American history in one form or another, taking on many different faces and going in various layers and depths. These blemishes are but a…show more content…
African Americans had to take literacy tests to determine their eligibility to vote and at sole discretion of the person administering the test between 1950 and 1960. The Civil Rights movement combated these Jim Crow tactics and ultimately led to change. Another case throughout American history is the treatment of Native American Indians. Native Americans went from being an independent people to a dependent nation. Between 1776 and 1887, the United States seized over 1.5 billion acres from America’s indigenous people by treaty (many of which were broken) and executive order (The Invasion of America, 2018). When North America began to be colonize, there were as many as 900,000 Native Americans comprising over 300 languages. The colonization and expansion of the United States lead to the relocation and all but destruction of the indigenous people of North America (Immigration,…show more content…
Japanese Americans sold their homes, business, land and other assets with the uncertainty that laid ahead. However, much of those assets were sold and a severe loss relative to their fair market value. Families who didn’t would eventually come back to their properties being seized due to non-payment of taxes or appropriated to someone else. With no substantive evidence, people’s wealth and livelihood were wiped out. To frame the mentality of the time, the commanding Army general John DeWitt is quoted saying, “A Jap’s a Jap. They are a dangerous element, whether loyal or not.” (Frail, 2017). Rounding up Japanese-Americans is a perfect example of unjustified incarceration based on the way someone looks. One Japanese-American in 1942 stood up, Fred Korematsu, refused the executive by standing up to oppression. Subsequently, Fred was ultimately arrested and convicted. Fred appealed his case to the Supreme Court; however, in 1944 the highest court in the land sided against him on the grounds that it was necessary during wartime. It wouldn’t be until 1983, new documents concealed from the courts previously would help overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling and finally be
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