By Larry Seabrook
Not only were African Americans slaves denied basic human rights for over 300 years but this was compounded when the United States of America, sanctioned legal segregation in its Plessy V. Ferguson 8 to 1 decision of 1896. This Law specifically for African American, lasted for 70 years and opened up a host of segregation laws against African Americans, that have continued to affect the lives of generations to follow. Every African American was relegated to second class citizenship in America thus stunting our growth and development in all areas of live in a free society. Let us review.
Education
Not only were black children denied basic access to elementary and secondary education but our ”Tax dollars” were used to fund State sponsored colleges and universities that forbid us, entry. The results are profound as it obstructed development of professionals, particularly in areas of medicine, science, engineering, and education. One of the least talked about issues in this segregated system was the equalization of salary for African American teachers. Our teachers were paid less than half what white teachers were paid affecting the household.
Health
The lack of proper health care for African Americans has been an issue since the forced arrival to American. The legal segregation of “State Tax Funded” hospitals, and research facilities and the lack of Black medical professionals magnified the situation.
Land and Property ownership
Wealth cannot bring happiness but it can bring “Independence”. While the Homestead Act of 1862, granted white applicants access to government owned property at low cost, it excluded most African Americans, thus ensuring that property and wealth could not be passed on to future generations.
Legal segregation, limited Black access to the very freedoms and rights they fought for in WW 11. While the G.I Bill was established to allow all veterans access to housing and home ownership, the Federal Government permitted State actions to restrict Africans from home ownership in suburbs and other desired areas. We are still waiting for our ”40 acres and a mule”.
Employment
African Americans were denied work in many places. Not only were railroad trains segregated by law but blacks could only be hired as Pullman porters. At one point African Americans were not allowed to become police officers, even in New York. Later when they were allowed, they could not ride in police cars nor arrest “White Criminals”.
Under President Woodrow Wilson, who was an ardent supported of segregation, the Federal Government planned and implemented racial segregation laws for its’ federal employees. African American if hired, were relegated to the basement, in windowless offices or literally screened off from whites. They had to eat in separate cafeterias, and use segregated restrooms. Later, when Civil Service laws were enacted applicants had to submit photographs of themselves, often being denied employment without even being interviewed.
Sports
Despite what we see today, African Americans were legally excluded from participation in most, if not all professional sports. To rectify this, African American created their own leagues, own their own teams, built their own stadiums and managed businesses, associated with the sports. This allowed black athletes to excel in Baseball, Basketball and Football etc. For example, The Negro Baseball League was so successful that attendance to the games surpass that of whites. The goal of the NBL was to compete at the same level as their white counterpart, anticipating when legal segregation would be over. However, the white baseball league had other ideas. They were not going to allow African Americans to own baseball teams. The move to integrate baseball enabled the white leagues to raid and drain the top African players, without compensating the NBL. A move that ultimately eliminated a major African American business enterprise. The same fait accompli would occur with the Negro Basketball league.
As we have witnessed, the history of Legal Segregation in America against African Americans in every aspect of society, has contributed to our present day struggles. In order for Americans to understand the need for reparations for African Americans, Americans must understand the history of America.
The United States of America owes a tremendous debt to African Americans and they should be paid. The last article will address how reparations will be paid.