President Obama's Plan

The Obama administration has plans on reducing poverty by creating more jobs for the citizens of the United States, working hard towards passing the Fair Pay Act, what that act will protect is the rights of women to receive equal pay for their labor, also it protects workers from being discriminated against on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. The Obama administration has plans on implementing a prison to work program that will improve job retention rates. President Obama will allow ex- offenders to obtain employment by first allowing them to receive free training for a trade of choice. This will also help with crime rates reducing it by allowing ex- offenders to earn an honest living once released from prison. They will be ordered to seek counseling for issues such as, mental health, and substance abuse, therefore they are mentally stable to return to society. Obama has released his budget request for the national campaign that is planned to reduce and prevent teen pregnancy, the funding will cover several years of programming for teens, and it also helps prevent teen pregnancy in foster care. The programs will also cut the cost of taxpayers’ bill by billions of dollars every year, and it will be a boost to our economic growth.  Improvement will be seen within our families, our children, and the communities. The issue on education President Obama said that he would “Provide funds for states to implement a broader range of assessments that can evaluate higher-order skills, including students’ abilities to use technology, conduct research, engage in scientific investigation, solve problems, and present and defend their ideas.” President Obama also stated that what was needed was teacher quality and retention and he offered ideas for professional development programs as a way to resolve the issue. Preschool programs have been provided for American families to promote early on education in the United States.

Two Powerful Black Leaders

         Dr. Martin Luther King wanted to see change for African Americans all over, King believed that racial equality could be accomplished by organizing religious groups to protest and fight for their lawful rights without the use of violence. The only way to receive social change was through nonviolent actions said Dr. King. All Dr. King wanted to accomplish during his time was to save the souls of America. Dr. King gave a speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and one of his quotes was as follows: " Their questions hit home, and I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today-my own government"(440). Dr. King wanted blacks to understand that violence will not gasps the attention of our government, but his way left blacks questioning his theory on how to see change, because this is what blacks were seeing from the government, violence. Blacks are noticing that when the government wants something that they believe is rightfully theirs, they send their citizens to war as they did in Vietnam. King says well you the people raise a valid point, and I can't dispute what the people are saying so, I now have to get to the government and address these issues. Let the government know that we are willing to negotiate for what we want without any violence involve, as they should be willing to as well without the act of violence.
          Malcolm X was concerned with addressing the issues of prejudice, racism and discrimination. Malcolm X wanted blacks to have equal rights as any other citizen of the United States, he believed this to be right. Malcolm spoke to African Americans wanting them to fight for their rights by any means necessary, including violence if that is what it took to get through to our government. Malcolm X model was to attack your attacker, and do not let anything stand in our way, because we deserve the right to vote, for our children to receive proper education, for our males to be treated with respect, and for our people to receive employment with equal pay. One of Malcolm X's quotes: "Just stop being a Negro"(409). This quote says a lot to African Americans, it says that blacks will receive equal treatment if only they changed their name to a African name and tie their head in a turban and whites will allow them to do just about anything eat with them, work with them etc. Stop allowing yourself to be the victim , and take back what is yours, given to you by the Constitution. Malcolm also believed that the power was in the ballot, he fought for blacks to have the right to speak through the vote, because this was a way for blacks to make change in government laws, and political views.Both men wanted blacks to have equal rights, but Martin Luther King Jr. thought it ought to be gone without violence, while Malcolm X thought that a little violence would not hurt to get your point across.

Women Activist

Jo Ann Robinson became an activist after being involved in a verbal attack by a bus driver. Robinson became president of the WPC; she wanted the group to focus on the abuse that African Americans were receiving from the bus drivers. When Rosa Parks was arrested for not wanting to give her seat to a white man Robinson decided to form a boycott, wanting blacks to stop patronizing the buses if they could not receive equal treatment.  Robinson said and I quote, "We, sir, do not feel that forceful measures are necessary in bargaining for a convenience which is right for all bus passengers"(353). She believed that violence was not the answer to solve the problem; she believed that the state could come together with the people and come to agree that blacks did not have to receive racial segregation.

Rosa Parks was not the first, but the one person who was an activist and was tired of blacks having to give their seat up on the bus if a white person did not have a place to seat on the bus. Parks decided that, that day in December was enough and refused to give her seat up, so Parks was arrested and taken to jail. Parks was a major part of the Civil Rights Movement, the Montgomery Bus Boycott and racial segregation. Parks stated that "When the driver saw that I was still sitting there, he asked if I was going to stand up. I told him, no, I wasn't. He said, "Well, if you don't stand up, I'm going to have you arrested." I told him to go on and have me arrested" (354). Parks wanted to put an end to racial segregation and took a stands to make a change and she did.

 Ella Baker was a civil rights and human rights activist. Baker graduated college and throughout her years in college she recognized something’s that did not sit well with her, so after graduation she challenged school policies that she thought were unfair. Baker states, "The students showed willingness to be met on the basis of equality, but were intolerant of anything that smacked of manipulation or domination"(376). Baker was saying that students are tired of being controlled and will no longer accept the devious treatment that they had been receiving.

Fannie Lou Hamer was an activist for the Civil Rights Movement, and organized the Mississippi Freedom Summer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. She was a religious woman and her goal was to help blacks became substantial in life.  Hamer stated," God's children is going to help in the survival of this country if it's not too late"(397). Hamer believed that African Americans were God’s children and a very important part of society. Hamer knew that if given the chance blacks would accomplish great things in life, not only for themselves, but for the world also.

World War II

 World War II created a lot of problems pertaining to racial and social conditions for the American people. American families began to live below poverty lines because of lost of employment, which then turned into the family possibility losing their home. They were not eating the meals  that they were use to because families had to make their money strength, so families cooked meals that were low in cost and that could last a couple of days, such as beans, and stews. People who were lucky enough to still have employment were not bring home the amount of money that they were use to bring home, now they were earning less then minimum wage which  is amazing how this is even possible or legal for that matter, another reason why families life styles declined below poverty level. Unemployment rates were high because a lot of businesses went out of business during World War II causing Americans to lose employment and with jobs not being available to people, this caused people to loot, reason being is that they still had to find a way to survive in these troubling times, people had families at home that still need nourishment. The Armed Forces were concerned about not having enough men in the event of another war, so in order for this not to occur millions of young and older men were being enlisted in the Armed Forces for precaution reasons. Blacks were dealing with segregation within the Armed Forces, black soldiers had to train, ate and sleep in separate quarters then whites. The army was experiencing a shortage in white nurses, but if there were a mass amount of injured white soldiers the black nurses where not allowed to aid them in their time of need, the blacks were considered not good enough to take care of them. Production of products were decreased in order to increase the production of weapons for the Armed Forces because they did not want to face not being able to control the war if any were to occur. The American people were living in fear of what to expect, Americans did not know and that is what scared them the most. The automotive companies dropped sells because no automobiles were being produced as a matter of fact there was a cease in automobile production until after World War II was over. Americans received a increase in taxes because the war exhausted a huge amount of funding, so in order to build the funding up there was a increase in taxes placed on Americans.

The effect of Jim Crow laws

     The daily life for African Americans living in the south under the Jim Crow laws was very stressful and demean their character. This law served as a legal way to continue to discriminate against blacks. African Americans on a daily basis was deprived education, their children were not allowed to attend the same schools as white children, blacks had to ride on the back of the bus and if the bus happen to become full the black person had to give their seat to a white person, blacks were not allowed to dine in restaurants that served whites or even work in the restaurant. Blacks feared being lynched or their family being lynched, worried about if their homes would get torched by whites. African Americans did not receive governmental services such as welfare that whites were able to receive. Overall blacks felt worthless to society on a daily basis. blacks felt as though they were servants to whites. Blacks could not use the same water as whites because blacks were considered dirty. The daily life for whites under the Jim Crow laws was not so bad, whites were able to work, become educated, eat where ever they wanted, and if whites did dine with blacks whites were to be served first. Whites were able to accuse black men of rape if approached by black a black man. White families received an abundance of help from blacks with their daily house duties. Whites were offended by blacks if they showed one another affection in public. White people did not have to address blacks as Mr. or Mrs., they did not have to show any respect to blacks, but received nothing but respect from blacks. So, whites lived a normal life under the Jim Crow laws because they were considered superior. The Ku Klux Klan reflected whites fear that the minority would come to take over, and since there was an increase in blacks and immigrants in America whites adopted this fear. Feared the blacks would receive equal opportunity for jobs, education, politics, and rights, and the goal was to prevent this from taking place, so they lynched, burnt blacks homes and much more.

Newly Emancipated Person

     If I were a newly emancipated person of the United States first, I would be enlighten with so much joy to know that my children will have the luxury  of being born a free person and not into slavery. I will have finally become able to lead my own individual life, decide the future for my family, and set forth the effort in doing so, well at lease this is what I think sounds good and hope for while at the same time experiencing a since of being afraid but,I don't know where to begin my new profound journey. This is not the case, I will face a hand full of issues. The time setting is about around the time of the Civil War. Becoming free is good but, there isn't any jobs that will even consider hiring me but, guess where, on the very plantation that I was just freed from. I would have to more than likely travel north to find work as a maid or a factory worker that's if they will allow a woman to work for their company, but, now the problem that occurs is that now that
I've been emancipated I don't have any money or assets because, while I was enslaved I was forced to provide free labor so, how will I even be able to afford to relocate to the north. Well with the Jim Crow laws enforcing segregation within public places, I have to fear and also be careful not to make the wrong decisions that will otherwise cause me to receive a beating, getting lynched, or even rapped. Not to mention not having an education, even if someone was willing to hire me I don't know if I'm going to receive the pay that is owed to me because I can't read, write, or count. My greatest concern would be education and segregation because without an education what is to be expected of me in this world, who wants to hire me? no one and if  I do get a job the employer can just about pay or tell me anything and I have to accept  it because I'm ignorant the employer can pay me any amount they want because I do not have the rights that whites have in the United States, and to top it off I can't count. Segregation is a concern because not only will I experience segregation because I'm black but also because I'm a woman, I don't want to have to walk on pins and needles in order not to get beaten or killed. I would get involved with black nationalism, because I'm joining a fight that will one day if not for me but my off springs will one day have the same rights as whites and rights should be equal to every citizen. This movement helps to create a form of blacks uniting, giving us a form of ethnic pride. I would support the labor movement do to the fact that we are advocating to improve the conditions of organized labor through labor unions. The Tuskegee Institute is a excellent cause to support because it allows our black people to receive a higher education which is a must so that one day blacks will become compatible in the world , so yes I would involve myself. I also would support the Niagara Movement because these group of men consisting of: W.E.B. Du Bois, William M. Troller, John Hope, and Fredrick L. McGhee who are highly intelligent are fighting to make life and the world a better place for blacks, arguing concerns of racial discrimination, civil liberties, and the most important , recognition of black brotherhood, which is important for black families so that black man can lead their household.

Women Activist

     Mary Church Terrell was an highly educated women, whose credentials included a bachelor's and master's degree. She was the first black women to become a member of the Board of Education in D.C. Terrell was co founder of NACW (National association of Colored Women). She was also an activist in women's rights causes, which brings us to the question at hand. Terrell believed that colored women that posses any type of aspiration and ambition had been handicapped on the account of their sex, and mocked and baffled because of their race (166). Terrell's main objective as an activist was education, she wanted black women to be active in education, wanted them to realize the importance of education, so that they could enter the work force of America. Terrell wanted people of America  to realize how important black women were and that they were not just uneducated beings. Terrell stated that black women for the first time have homes all across the country (166). Terrell pointed out that black women intellectual progress has been marvelous, that there are few schools, high school, colleges, and universities that black girls have not graduated from (166). Black women created and carried out successful execution, by either founding, conducting, or supporting charities (167).
     Josephine Ruffin worked as an advocate of civil rights in her day. Her interest was in the Women's Club Movement. Ruffin's organization that she was president of: National Federation of Afro-American Women merged together with NACW. Ruffin was amazed to see that Southern white women took interest in the moral welfare of former slaves children, willing to gave a hand in helping them take on the duties and responsibilities of citizenship (169). Ruffin noted that there would have been total ignorance among black children if the North had not sent it's daughter's to the South (169). Josephine Ruffin believed that the women of Georgia that were broadminded and intelligent, if willing to join the movement would be able to lynch thousands of Negroes (170).
     Anna Julia Cooper was an educator and scholar she had several degrees B.A., master's, and doctorate. Cooper taught Latin and mathematics in a high school. Cooper's concern was to address the issues of tariff and currency that was a concern of the public (159). Cooper felt that  this was the reason for the need of a women's influence, "to give a heart power into the money getting, dollar worshipping civilization"(160). Copper believed that the interest of the people was in the wrong place, that their focus should concern God first and foremost, home, and the Native land, not selfishness and greed (160). She wanted women to receive the recognition they deserved for the work that they have done for this country. Cooper was apart of the W.C.T.U organization which, supports women ideals and women activist. The organization fought against consuming alcohol (160, 164). Yes, the women showed concern that distinguished women perspective from issues that were of concern during the new freedom era, and that was education and themselves.

Strenght of Afican American Women

     The themes Nell Irvin Painter covered about how Sojourner Truth was born a slave and worked hard to become free and help free others by giving them knowledge even though she did not have the skills to read and write. She was actually born in New York along the Hudson River as Isabella. It wasn't until 1842 that she changed her name to Isabella. The name Sojourner meaning  itinerant preacher. She earned her living as an Household worker doing everything from inside to outside.
     Nell Irvin Painter wrote a novel on Sojourner Truth, who to some as Painter stated "knew of Sojourner for being a tough black woman who stood up in front of an audience crowd of black Negro phobic white women, rolled her slaves up said aren't I a woman" this was not true. Sojourner was a powerful women in her time fighting for voting right and freedom. African American women were treated as being non-relevant when in fact African American women are the helpful cause for women receiving the right to vote. By coming together in the fight to help create the Black Movement.
     Sojourner saw this and decided to preach her knowledge of the wrongfulness of slavery to African Americans of this country she saw a better way for her people. Painter discussed with us that Sojourner sold thirteen of her children but this is not true according to Painter because Sojourner only had  five children and only four are accounted for. Sojourner was referencing to her mother who sold thirteen of her children.
     The predicament that these writers revealed about African American women of this period is that they were strong individuals that preached about sticking together to accomplish their goals as abolitionist, and by doing so you should see results, because if not they would not be taken serious because African American people especially women were considered good for one thing and that's being a slave to whites. Stewart said not to allow fear to stop you from speaking up, and also to become active members of society.
     The connection that can become of this is that back in those times women had to fight so hard to prove themselves to society for their equal rights in life and women today are still fighting to prove this in America, the fight is not as bad as back then because of these women , situations are not nearly as bad, but women are still looked at as not being equal in society today but this is not the case.

African American Liberation

African Americans have been considered to be less important in the United States for centuries know, and we still to this day experience some form of  being unequal to other races. Race, class, and gender have been central to theorizing African American liberation because these are the three things that were to be  considered in order for a person to be considered worthy enough to have a fighting chance in life, to have the opportunity to have success to be of equal. African Americans were not to have any say on anything, education, government, work, not even their own life to be more frank. Since African Americans were sold to whites to take care of their labor, housework, children and everything else the mind set of America was that people with colored skin were to be used for whatever they wanted to use them for and the best part for them was that they didn't have to do anything in return for them but give them shelter, no pay, not even food to eat, and what's most crazy to me is that they were the ones harvesting and preparing the food that was being consumed by the whites. So, this is how race played apart in African American Liberation. Class that's a joke African Americans weren't even considered citizens, so how could they be categorized into a class, and when they were granted freedom in America African Americans were placed into the lower class of society just to say okay the government has given you something but you still won't equal to whites we still will have the control over African Americans. Gender has been because women were looked at as being nothing but good for having and rising children, cooking, and cleaning, America felt that no education was needed for that. Martin Delany couldn't have said it better he said "let our young women have an education.....Our females must be qualified, because they are to be the mothers of our children". Women finally began to get tried of working in the cotton field and began to find a voice for themselves which began the race-class based feminism. Women are just as much qualified as men if not more, that is why today we see more women rising to the top and being self-sufficient,because women are the back bone of America, without  woman it wouldn't be educated men to hold the oppositions they hold. Women have been leaders in this way of theorizing because African American women are the foundation, women are the child barriers, educators, nutritionist, and fathers just to name a few. This is how women have helped to pave the way for liberation. Why do we have so many powerful black men today? Because behind every black man is a great woman, look at First Lady Michelle Obama and President Baraka Obama need I say more.           

African American Politics

Three central points that illustrate key political issues of concern are mass unemployment, mass incarceration, and disenfranchisement that create some kind of  racial inequality of the 21th century as stated by: Manning Marable. The panelist are aiming toward trying to rise concern to the African American population about how the republicans want the African Americans to support them more and to give them the opportunity to regain the trust of the African Americans and in the minds of the republicans they believe that African Americans should realize the benefits that they will receive, but Marable brings up the point that republicans want so much from African Americans and they are not doing anything to help the issues at hand that African Americans are facing. Republicans are not trying to produce more jobs in the black community only take away because, if that was the case unemployment rates would be decreasing in stead of increasing, and half of Harlem's black males wouldn't be unemployed. If republicans intentions were to help build up the urban communities there would not have been a case were in a Presidential election over a million votes were spoiled and over half of them were those of African Americans. Manning states that there seems to be a trade off between reputation and power in black politics, and Professor Diawara states that he believes black politics have more to do with reputation because African Americans are always faced with defending themselves because of the images that has been painted of African Americans since the beginning of time. I get from him that black people are always faced with someone or society telling them that they can't do or be something till all they know is to fight to prove themselves worthy of being or becoming anything any one else can do or become.