Inequality in American History - Essay Example

Topic: Inequality in American History:from reconstruction to the first world war The growing world we have does not exempt any nation from any competition. Humans compete to survive, whatever means that he can do to surpass tests, is never impossible to show it how powerful an individual can be. Like humans, nations also acts like that since it s composed of humans. With the race of power, America is one who made it through the competition. From the field of Science and Technology to the field of business, America never quitted any race. Together with other powerful nations (Japan and United Kingdom), America made it to the top of the ladder. Not only it was a competitor for power, it is also one of the conquerors. Hawaii of the Pacific waters and to the American Indians of the south, America had stretched its arms that far to expand its nation. United States of America, as its name says, is composed of different states. Together with in such nation run different races, there were those red Americans (the Indians), black Americans (the Negros) and those from the Latin Americans of the south. With the differences of races, the nation cannot get away from discriminations. Among the races who are those who dominate and who are those being disregarded Let us take for example the case of the Negros, before; they were brought to this land for slavery. There is always a distinction of priorities if you are black and if you are white. Was it because these black people came from a different land and have different skin color that made them discriminated among the whites Though discrimination is a thing cannot be avoided. Jackson, 1966, stated in the Laws of the State of Mississippi, "The status of the Negro was the focal problem of Reconstruction. Slavery had been abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment, but the white people of the South were determined to keep the Negro in his place, socially, politically, and economically. This was done by means of the notorious "Black Codes," passed by several of the state legislatures. Northerners regarded these codes as a revival of slavery in disguise. The first such body of statutes, and probably the harshest, was passed in Mississippi in November 1865. Four of the statutes that made up the code are reprinted below." With this statement you can see the conspiracy held nicely. They keep the blacks but still the tint of slavery is there, it was never gone. The black people are always the least of given opportunity. It was even stated in the Civil Rights of Freedman Section 2 and 3 that all freemen Negros married with its same kind are considered lawful but if there is an intermarriage to white, it is considered as a crime. Even in marriage, this people are still discriminated. What if you belong to this black people and fall in love with a white man, would you still go for marriage if the consequence is answerable to law You can always answer "no", but can you avoid absolute emotions like for falling for a white guy Aside from the Negros, there are still other races being discriminated. According to an article from The Journal of American History (2005), even in the early times when America was with in touch with Europeans, Indian women are traded and exchanged as slaves as baits for political motives. Another story about slavery is Jonathan Edward's American debate over slavery for nearly a century. He was a revivalist and philosopher who also owned slaves. With this kind of stories, inequality treatment by this time is very rampant. Humans are used as instruments to gain power and influence. Using the minorities, The Americans are not exempted from the issues of slavery and inequality. Up to this time, this inequality treatment has not been eradicated. Generations to generations the grudge of ancestors upon the Americans due to grabbing of lands, unequal treatments and slavery are passed continuously. Let's take for example the story of Chief Joseph who is also known as Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt. He was a native from Idaho and was one of the elders of their tribe. He was among the first Nez Prce who was Christian converts. He was pro American at first, but when there was a gold rush in Nez Prce, the Americans took their lands. With this he decided to withdraw his support for the Americans and even destroyed his American flag and Bible. After his father died he was then the successor of the position as chieftain. Joseph loyally resisted all efforts to force his band onto the small Idaho reservation, and in 1873 a federal order to remove white settlers and let his people remain in the Wallowa Valley made it appear that he might be successful. In 1877, General Oliver Otis threatened an attack to scare away Joseph's group. Joseph even said in his last speech about dreaming someday that the Americans will do justice and inequality not only to their people but to the Native Americans as well. With this story, Chief Joseph came up to a realization about the inequalities the Americans are giving to their race. He shifted when he had seen the tactics done by Americans for the sake of underlying motives. America's way of colonialism had put it into this kind of situation. Due to its motives, it never realized about the issues of inequalities. What it pursues to attain during that time set asides the treatment for the minorities. In the story of Chief Joseph, it had led his people to establish a gap between their tribe and Americans. As you dissect the stories about inequality and slavery, you will surely ask about the factors that contribute to this issue. One thing that may count on that is the uniqueness these minorities have. They are unique because first, they don't look the same as the white people. Second, they are small in numbers. They are easily dominated with the bigger population. Third, they live in an isolated way. They practice their own beliefs, religion, and own government. But the issues about inequality are sometimes the same reason as above. Some people misinterpret others, miscommunication. Just like in the interview conducted by Liberator (2005) with a Ku Klux Klan member, Jeff Berry. This Klan according to Berry started in 1865 in Pulaski, Tennessee. This Klan was a fraternal group who helped widows and children after the confederate war. They helped disentangle disputes about getting back lands, gold, and self belongings. He emphasized that the Klan has nothing to do about discriminating Black people. He said, "The reason The Klan is in existence is for equal rights. We're not against Blacks. We're against niggers. My definition of a nigger, and I always say this, is no matter what color you are ... and takes away from society and doesn't give anything back. We are not a Hitler group. We are not a White supremacist group. We are Christian, White separatists." If you hear from Berry the statement about hating Niggers without actually asking the deeper meaning of it, you will easily conclude that Berry is a racist. But to him there is a difference about being black and being a Nigger. What he meant about hating Niggers are those people who abuse others and do harm to others regardless of the race, could be white or could be black. America, with its large nation surely hits a lot of minorities with different culture on its own. With misinterpretation of one group to the others, will definitely results to discrimination. Miscommunication is a result also of language barrier. Those natives and other minorities don't know how to speak English and are very much conservative with their language. Due to the problem of language there will be a lot of cases of deception that will lead soon to disputes. Usually, this will result to land grabbing and signing of treaties without the knowledge what the treaty is really all about. Berry stated the Klan's purpose, "Equal rights for all people. Get rid of affirmative action. If this is America and we're all supposed to be equal, then let's be completely equal. We don't need these hate crime laws. If I take a bat to someone whether they're Black or White, there's no love in that is there And if I attack and kill a Black man they're going to tack on five years to my sentence What's that The government collects money to pay for hate crime watch-groups so they can get paid $80,000 to pass out pamphlets. It's not right." They are going to fight equality among races. When he was asked by Liberator about to what extent will he go for the rally He answered that he is willing to give his life for it. He said that even his forefathers sacrificed their lives for the good of the flag and the constitution and he is willing to do the same. Going through the testimony of Berry, one can say how the issue of inequality has stretched its extent among the estates of America. Even in a nation like this, conflict is not absent. It divides the nation into several pieces due to unequal treatments of the people. Is there anything that they can do to get rid about this How can this nation implement fairness for its people If only every people listen at the others one at a time, they can connect to each other what they are fighting for. All those campaigns and rallies about this issue are futile if one does not dissect into the real message of one another. Efficient communication is very important. Every citizen is responsible of his brothers and sisters, though it is hard for a nation like America to engulf every minority for their cries; it is never too late to start solving this. They should start with the younger generation, in schools. Encourage a fair nature. They should teach the children of America on how to be one with others despite of his or her color and race. They should inculcate in the minds of their children that race is not a big issue, what is important is the capability of one person. What is important is everybody's value. Chief Joseph last speech, "I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohulhulsote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led the young men is dead. It is cold and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are--perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children and see how many I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." The speech implies how much was lost in the conflict between them and the white people. All his love ones and his children are gone because of the conflict. How about in the present situation where, people are still fighting for equality When will they get tired fighting for their equal rights And to those people who should hear them fighting, when will you give up and open your hearts In the eyes of God nobody is superior. In the eyes of God, we are all his children. Nobody can step on God's own creation because we are no God. Work Cited Laws of State of Mississippi., Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature, November & December, 1866 (pp. 82-93, 1675-167). Jackson, Mississippi. Liberator, M. (2005). Interview with Ku Klux Klan: Jeff Berry. McCloskey, Ph.D.(2005). Surrender Speech of Chief Joseph (A web text). The Journal of American History (2005) From Captives to Slaves: Commodifying Indian Women in the Borderlands. (Vol. 92, pp.19-46). United States of America: Organization of American Historians. Read More