The Anguish of the 19th century race relations african americans post reconstruction
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Date
2020
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Oum-El-Bouaghi
Abstract
Idealism, freedom, and justice are among many features that the United States claims of. For many people, America is the dream land; a space where they can practice their rights (be they civil or religious) freely. Despite its multicultural, multiethnic, and multireligious nature, the nation suffers from different social, political, religious, and ethnic problems. In fact, closing certain pages as the one of slavery and racism was formal and temporary; post Civil War resulted in the abolishment of slavery and giving black slaves equal rights to whites (the reconstruction amendments). Unfortunately, following the introduction of these amendments, the "ferocity" and racism of the white Americans (mainly in the South) increased to unprecedented levels. The accession of ex-slave owners to different high positions in the southern states resulted in the enactment of certain laws and the permission of certain attitudes that had negative impact on blacks there. The integration of freed blacks in the American society was impossible with the existence of certain incapacitating measures and terroristic attitudes.
Post reconstruction era was characterized by the prevailing of debates over the questions of race relations in the U.S. (Blacks Vs Whites and Blacks Vs Blacks). Blacks' interactions and relations with Whites took various forms. While many Blacks advocated peaceful and normal relations with Whites (Booker. T. Washington as an example), other blacks (Including W.E.B. Du Bois) insisted on careful relations and supported the necessity of launching ideological counterattacks against the whites' racist principles and attitudes. The analysis of Up from Slavery and The Souls of Black Folk reflects the ideological difference between Washington and Du Bois despite the same ethnic belongingness.
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Keywords
Civil war, Amendment, Race relation