The Struggle to Rise
The death of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and Rayshard Brooks sparked a worldwide protest over the treatment of Black Americans in the United States. Rightfully so, the cases of police brutally have revealed a dark underbelly to American life. It is a stark reminder of Black history and a people’s struggle to rise. Many did not see, did not want to see or ignored the issue when it was clear in their face. However, there is always a counterpoint to the race conversation. One that is upsetting and hard to deal with at the same time.
The counter-conversation usually revolves around Black Americans inability to deal with black on black crime in their neighborhoods or the question concerning why Black Americans can’t lift themselves up. The answer to our struggle to rise is rooted in the history of Black Americans.
Since the end of the Civil War in 1865, Black Americans had to face the challenge of equality under a system that still did not see them as equal. Yet they excelled. In this series we will take a look at a few cases through history. In part one we will look at Reconstruction.
Reconstruction – 1867 – 1877
The Black Codes
Immediately after slavery ended first in 1863 and then reiterated and revised in 1865, the main priorities for many former slaves was to get off the plantation. Many headed north. Many sought to find family members separated from them during slavery. After 1863 many former slaves (nearly 180,000) joined the fight against the south during the Civil War. After 1865, when the rest of the slaves were freed, it took a couple of years for Black Americans to begin the process of integrating into American culture. However, during this time, the south was also rebuilding and reasserting their civil authority. The Black Codes restricted freed blacks activities. The intent was to insure their availability as a cheap labor force.
You see, even though Black people were free, the Black Codes placed limits on that freedom. It required Black people to sign yearly work contracts. Refusal meant, they risked being arrested, fined and forced into unpaid labor. Leaving before the contract was over meant they would forfeit earlier wages and be subject to arrest.
This was a severe disadvantage for Black people. It was designed to limit their progress. However, even with these laws imposed on them, black people were still able to rise and succeed.
From Slave to Politician
This period in American history also saw a lot of activism among Black Americans. The 14th and 15th amendments guaranteed the rights of citizenship and the vote. Black Americans sought higher positions in public office. This was easier in the north than the south. In the south, the Black Codes prevented Black Americans from holding a position higher than laborer. Still, 16 Black Americans were eventually elected into the U.S. Congress and over 600 were elected to state legislatures across the south.
Think about it. A few short years after slavery, activists in the black community rose up and ran for office and succeeded. Some were former slaves. This is an epic feat. What are a people made of, that can accomplish such a thing? Has it ever been repeated in history?
Still, this success was short lived. You see… the successful political activism of Black Americans did not just inspire Black Americans during this period of American history. It also brought about the most hostility from southern Whites during this same period.. Frustrated with policies that gave Blacks the right to vote and hold political office, Southern whites turned to violence and intimidation in order to reassert their belief in white supremacy. Any republican leaders and Blacks that challenged White employers were targeted. During this time 35 Black officials were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist organizations. These tactics by white supremacist groups allowed them to regain political control in the south.
Conclusion
The history of this time gives us a strong example of the DNA of Black Americans. Even with all of this arrayed against their success, Black Americans were not satisfied with their condition at the time. They did not sit on the progress they had made. Instead they mobilized and sought to strengthen their ties to this country in service to the military and in public service as lawmakers. Black Americans wanted to show what they can do for this country, but white supremacists sought to keep them down. Placing their knee on the neck of Black Americans in the form of lynchings, terrorism and mass violence.
In part 2 of my series on Black History: The Struggle to Rise. I will talk about lynchings, mass violence and black pride during the era of Jim Crow. Follow me to get an alert when it comes out.
For more on what I have written on this topic, please see my previous post “Manhood to Fatherhood: A letter to my Son“.
For more information on this topic you can also visit the following links. Reconstruction and The Black Codes. You can also check out this link to the 14th and 15th amendments.