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The Young Oxford History of African Americans: 1970 to Present

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Published in Into The Fire: African Americans Since 1970 (The Young Oxford History Of African Americans 10)

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The decade of the 1970s marked a watershed moment in the history of African Americans in the United States. The Civil Rights Movement had achieved major victories in the 1960s, including the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. However, many challenges remained, and African Americans continued to face discrimination and inequality in various areas of life.

Into the Fire: African Americans Since 1970 (The Young Oxford History of African Americans 10)

Into the Fire: African Americans Since 1970 (The Young Oxford History of African Americans Book 10)

by Robin D. G. Kelley

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The 1970s saw the rise of new movements and organizations, such as the Black Power movement and the Black Panthers. These groups advocated for self-determination and economic empowerment, and they played a key role in shaping the political and social landscape of the decade.

The 1980s and 1990s brought new challenges and opportunities for African Americans. Affirmative action policies were implemented in an effort to address racial disparities in education and employment, but they also faced legal challenges and political backlash.

The election of Barack Obama as the first African American president in 2008 was a historic moment, but it did not signal the end of racial inequality in the United States. The Black Lives Matter movement, which emerged in the aftermath of the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012, has brought renewed attention to the issue of police brutality and racial profiling.

The Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement was a period of social and political activism that aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination in the United States. The movement began in the 1950s and reached its peak in the 1960s, with major victories such as the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

One of the most important figures in the Civil Rights Movement was Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister who advocated for nonviolent resistance. King's leadership and the nonviolent tactics he employed helped to bring about major changes in the United States, and he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work.

Other key figures in the Civil Rights Movement included Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, and Kwame Nkrumah. Malcolm X was a prominent spokesperson for the Black Power movement, which advocated for self-determination and economic empowerment for African Americans. Carmichael was a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC),which played a key role in organizing protests and voter registration drives in the South.

Nkrumah was the first president of Ghana, and he played a major role in the Pan-African movement, which sought to promote unity and cooperation among African nations. Nkrumah's ideas influenced many African American activists during the Civil Rights Movement.

The Black Power Movement

The Black Power movement emerged in the late 1960s as a response to the perceived failures of the Civil Rights Movement. Black Power activists argued that integration into white society was not a viable goal, and they advocated for self-determination and economic empowerment for African Americans.

One of the most prominent organizations of the Black Power movement was the Black Panthers, which was founded in 1966. The Black Panthers advocated for armed self-defense and community control, and they played a key role in the Black Power movement. Other important Black Power organizations included the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).

Black Power activists often clashed with the police and the government, and they were often accused of being violent and radical. However, the Black Power movement played an important role in raising awareness of the plight of African Americans, and it helped to inspire a new generation of activists.

Affirmative Action

Affirmative action policies are designed to address racial disparities in education and employment. These policies give preference to minority candidates in hiring and admissions decisions, in order to increase their representation in these areas.

Affirmative action policies were first implemented in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and they have been the subject of much debate and controversy. Supporters of affirmative action argue that it is necessary to level the playing field for minority candidates, while opponents argue that it discriminates against white candidates.

The Supreme Court has upheld the use of affirmative action policies in several cases. However, the Court has also ruled that these policies must be narrowly tailored to achieve their goals, and that they cannot be used to create racial quotas.

Affirmative action policies remain a controversial issue today. However, they have helped to increase the representation of minorities in education and employment, and they continue to be an important tool for addressing racial disparities.

The Election of Barack Obama

Barack Obama was elected as the first African American president of the United States in 2008. His election was a historic moment, but it did not signal the end of racial inequality in the United States.

Obama's presidency was marked by a number of significant achievements, including the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the end of the war in Iraq, and the killing of Osama bin Laden. However, he also faced major challenges, including the economic recession, the rise of ISIS, and the ongoing struggle for racial justice.

Obama's presidency was a time of hope and change for many African Americans. However, it also highlighted the ongoing challenges facing the black community, such as poverty, inequality, and police brutality.

The Black Lives Matter Movement

The Black Lives Matter movement emerged in the aftermath of the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012. The movement is a response to the ongoing problem of police brutality and racial profiling, and it has been led by a new generation of activists.

Black Lives Matter activists have organized protests, marches, and other events to raise awareness of police brutality and to demand justice for victims of police violence. The movement has also been active in electoral politics, and it has helped to elect a number of progressive candidates to office.

The Black Lives Matter movement has faced criticism from some quarters, but it has also been successful in raising awareness of the issue of police brutality and in pushing for reforms. The movement continues to be a powerful force for change in the United States.

The history of African Americans in the United States is a complex and multifaceted one. African Americans have faced centuries of discrimination and inequality, but they have also made significant progress in the pursuit of civil rights and economic justice.

The decades since 1970 have been a time of both challenges and opportunities for African Americans. The Civil Rights Movement achieved major victories in the 1960s, but many challenges remained, and African Americans continued to face discrimination and inequality in various areas of life.

The history of African Americans is one of resilience and determination. Despite centuries of discrimination and inequality, African Americans have made significant progress in the pursuit of civil rights and economic justice. The challenges facing African Americans today are significant, but the history of the past shows that they can be overcome.

Into the Fire: African Americans Since 1970 (The Young Oxford History of African Americans Book 10)

by Robin D. G. Kelley

5 out of 5