What is an American?

Those who were white or white passing had more privileges than African American people or People of Color in general. Those who were ‘colored’ were separated from the whites and not allowed to be in areas that were designated for whites only. This could range from the bus to bathrooms to schools. “In the South, public accommodations were segregated by law while in the North it was usually happening by custom.”

There were loopholes to the 14th amendment that helped the idea of still being equal without being inclusive. There was also the Jim Crow laws and the Black codes dating back to the 1800s. In the case of Plessy v. Ferguson of 1896, the Supreme Court ruled that a Louisiana law providing for “equal but separate” accommodations for “whites” and “coloreds” did not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”

Brown Vs. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954, ruled that separate educational facilities are unequal and violated the 14th Amendment and caused desegregation

Movements started to occur around America to finally create change to these laws and society. Thus began the African American fight to equality.

The Civil Rights act banned discrimination and segregation based on religion, race, origin or gender. They were finally considered to be Americans although many didn’t agree or approve. African American people were allowed to take part in society without being separated from the rest.

Voting Rights of 1965 law was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson which allowed African Americans their right to exercise their votes.

During the Vietnam war so anyone considered vietnameze would be immediately considered the enemy even if they were american citizens. Racism was also very prevalent in america during this time so african americans were seen as not americans and less than then the white people U.S.

After years of campaigning by feminists, Congress approved the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution, which reads: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”

The populist conservative movement known as the New Right enjoyed unprecedented growth in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It appealed to a diverse assortment of Americans. So in the eyes of some but not all blacks and latinos were still considered not america

remembered as the decade of relative peace and prosperity. The Soviet Union fell, ending the Cold War, and the rise of the Internet pushed in a new era of communication. Racism has gone down and people have been growing more and more open minded by the minute. Also anyone from the middle east that had migrated to America was instantly considered the enemy even if they were legally considered american

the rise of islamic terroism started. In the wake of 9-11 and even now muslims are considered the enemy and in the eyes of most un American and terrorists against america.