Module 2 Reflection: The American Dream

 The power in being  united.

 “If we accept and acquiesce in the face of discrimination, we accept the responsibility ourselves and allow those responsible to salve their conscience by believing that they have our acceptance and concurrence. We should, therefore, protest openly everything...that smacks of discrimination or slander." Mary Bethune

For many and for myself, the American Dream is simply categorized as having the same opportunities and equal access to particular aspirations as everyone else. Some may call it, equality. And in this day and age, it isn't that simple. Equality is just the means of being treated fairly, especially relating to status and rights. But we can say what many things mean, and never mean them. (14th Amendment, Section 1) For years, and for centuries now, racial injustices have existed in our country, and we haven't been as focused on them until now. With the tragic killing of George Floyd and so many other innocent African American's over the past few years, this year has really allowed our country to deeply reflect on the violence and racism in America, and take accountability for all the pain it has caused, primarily African Americans, in their right to fight racism and white supremacy.

The Mississippi Black code of 1865 played a significant role in Modern History today. Mississippi Black codes were laws put in place to control black behavior in the economic and social realm. However, these laws were limited and allowed African Americans some basic rights like to marry, own property, or make contracts. African Americans were denied access to serve juries or in state militias, they were unable to testify against white people in a trial, and orphaned children were forced to go back to their original enslaver's homes.  

Slavery under another name.

 In January of 1866, the General Assembly established extensive vagrancy laws, which made it essential for African Americans to carry papers proving they were employed. Otherwise, if they had no proof they would either be fined or arrested. These vagrancy laws were created to simply keep control over African Americans. Keeping these laws in place allowed this country to continue with its use of discrimination and racism in America and in essence, sought to keep the right away from African Americans to have access to the same opportunities as white Americans. When the General Assembly established these laws, they knew what they were doing, they wanted blacks to feel like they were being given equal rights when in reality they had none.

Black codes constructively limited black people’s freedom and mobility, it was just another form of slavery, but on paper this time. The violence against Black southerners grew, and Republicans became upset and wanted to reconstruct a plan to build a new voting bloc against African Americans. Some Republicans believed in racial equality, like, Thaddeus Stevens, but were primarily drawn to the opinions and dividends of their party. And the only way to protect the vote and rights for all Americans was to simply count on the votes of Black men.

The Civil Rights Act of 1865, was essentially the first national attempt to establish that all citizens black or white, were protected and equal under the same law. This was an essential movement in American History because it established the movement in the right direction of change and in this case finally granted African Americans their own freedom. The Fourteenth Amendment developed solely in accordance with the Civil Rights Act and granted citizenship in Section 1 of the Amendment. In essence, (I love using my name) it guaranteed that laws could not discriminate against particular groups of people and in this case people of color. There’s still a lot of work to do today, and our world continues to change. For decades and for centuries racism and discrimination in America have been prevalent, now our country has decided to stand against it and rise together. 

The American dream symbolizes freedom, equality, and justice for all. It represents what we want our children to have, our future children, and great-great-grandchildren to come. Without it, we are freedomless. The true American Dream has already been established, no matter what race you are, what class you are, the American Dream is meant to give everyone equal purpose and opportunity.

"Legal Information Institute". U.S Constitution

"The American Yawp." by Standford University Press