Double V Campaign Analysis

African Americans face a struggle with racism which has been present in our country before the Civil War began in 1861. America still faces racism today however, around the 1920’s the daily life of an African American slowly began to improve. Thus, this time period was known by many, as the “Negro Fad” (O’Neill). The quality of life and freedom of African Americans that lived in the United States was constantly evolving and never completely considered ‘equal’. From being enslaved, to fighting for their freedom, African Americans were greatly changing the status quo and beginning to make their mark in the United States.

“Long, hot summers” of rioting arose and many supporters of the African American movement were assassinated. However, these movements that mused stay ingrained in America’s history and pave way for an issue that continues to be the center of

Americans, whether they like it or not, share their living spaces with individuals from a multitude of different backgrounds, such as Hispanics and Latinos and African Americans and so on and so forth. This living situation, however, has been set in place since before the 1960s, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his letter “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.” Back in the 1960s, a large number of white people did not want to and would not live within the same community as black American citizens, and this racism towards the black population spanned further than just neighborhoods. Racism was rampant throughout the streets of America, and for the longest time, being an American meant living in a nation that was divided by color and, ultimately, status; those who were white were superior and those who were not were lower. America now, while integrated and preaching equality, still contains racism on mass levels, and to be an American now means having to face the reality that equality has still not been reached in society.

In Ellison short story “Battle Royal” he shows us readers his view on the American society and the black struggles that are inscribed in it. In the Beginning of the story Ellison shows that during his time period there were some black people that felt regret on not taking a stand against the white people and instead just live a life of inequality. The narrator grandfather gave him a long speech on his deathbed that was full of real thoughts of the black people of Ellison time. In the short story “Battle Royal”, the grandfather proclaims, “I never told you, but our life is a war and I have been a traitor all my born days, a spy in the enemy's country”. Clarifying the fact that the life he lived was not a life he intended to but the only way he thought he could survive was to live it in that manner.

‘Opposition to AA civil rights remained powerful throughout the period from 1865 – 1992’ – How far do you agree? (25 marks) Opposition to African American civil rights came from a multitude of people and different groups. The KKK had an obvious resentment towards African American’s and they made this clear through their actions. However, opposition also came from the government, in the form of JFK, who always spoke about equality but let the south continue with their violence and violent state of mind.

They found each others company comforting a new way rather than the idea of fear bring them together. African Americans also, “enthusiastically participated in politics”. Black happily voted and became equal, by law, to whites because their voices were heard when it came to the

The speech given by Alfred M. Green in Philadelphia in April 1861 contains a dynamic and potent message calling African Americans to enlist in the Union Army. Green uses emotional diction, appeals to patriotism, and the authority of religion to persuade African Americans to join his cause. His effective use of pathos and ethos also contribute to his argument. Throughout the speech, Green uses emotional diction to express the need for African Americans to enlist and help fight the Civil War.

“Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.” (King). King calms the African Americans who are being oppressed by using the words, “this situation can and will be changed.” and “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.” which gives them hope that there will be a new day when a change will take place.

In April of 1861, the first month of the civil war, Alfred M. Green gave a speech to encourage his fellow African Americans to “prepare to enlist” and fight for the north. The north was fighting to preserve the Union and end slavery while the opposing side, the south, fought to defend slavery. Although they could not fight in the war, and did not want to, he felt that African Americans should “strive to be admitted to the ranks.” In his speech, Green uses many different methods to persuade them to join the Union forces.

After World War I racial tension was at an all-time high in America. Out of this movement one of the first thing to emerge as a consequence of the political awakening of Black Americans was an increase of black militancy. Key political figures like Marcus Garvey and W.E.B. DuBois emerged teaching black militancy and liberation. The Back-to-Africa movement of Marcus Garvey was the most popular way to express the increasing resignation concerning multiracial society, although this approach was chosen primarily by the uneducated part of the African American population. The more sophisticated respond was the development of a new racial pride.

Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War The historical identity of the African American military experience is deeply rooted in the life and legacy of author Wallace Terry. His legacy has been immortalized in the scores of periodicals and columns he authored throughout his career. Well-read and well-traveled, he brought a balanced context to the field of journalism. To date, he is one of Black America’s greatest contributors to African American journalism.

African-American historian W.E.B Dubois illustrated how the Civil War brought the problems of African-American experiences into the spotlight. As a socialist, he argued against the traditional Dunning interpretations and voiced opinions about the failures and benefits of the Civil War era, which he branded as a ‘splendid failure’. The impacts of Civil War era enabled African-Americans to “form their own fraternal organizations, worship in their own churches and embrace the notion of an activist government that promoted and safeguarded the welfare of its citizens.”

His can-do attitude is shown after the riot when African Americans begin to arm themselves and fight back. The author focuses on these two to prove the point that the African American people, while able to make decisions for themselves, were heavily influenced by the media, fear, and black leaders of their

All they wanted was “to save the soul of America” (King, Beyond, 42). Martin Luther King Jr is an African American preacher and civil rights activist that along with every other African American male and female in 1976 was waging a war in America for their not-so-natural born rights. Not only were they fighting for their own rights in 1976, but they were sending away the son, husbands, brothers of other Americans thousands of miles away to the country of Vietnam to fight an unjust war for the rights of the people in Southeast Asia. Martin Luther King Jr proves to all throughout his speech “Beyond Vietnam --- A Time to Break Silence” that the Vietnam war was unjust by his use of emotional diction, the allusion of Jim crow, and repetition.

A young soldier wrote a letter to the NAACP “ If I fight, suffer, or die it will be for the freedom of every black man to live equally with other races. If the life of the Negro in the United States is right as it is lived today, then I would rather be dead” (Takaki 23). Camp conditions for black soldiers were degrading, they could not go to church services, and other training programs were segregated. Despite these conditions, African Americans contributed significantly to the war effort with support work and had some of the toughest battalions, including the well-respected 99th Pursuit Squadron and 332nd Fighter Group.