According to the article The Idea of America by Nikole Hannah-Jones about the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, all persons are created equal and have certain individual rights (Hannah-Jones, 2019). The fact that the men who composed these words did not believe in them renders them meaningless. Instead, they viewed themselves as superior to other races, hence giving rise to racism and slavery. They viewed the many thousands of blacks in their society as different and did not permit them to enjoy constitutionally guaranteed freedom. The whites continued their pursuit of happiness while ruthlessly denying the black community the pledged freedom and equality.
Black Americans had a strong sense of faith in the American ideal. Over many years, the black community’s ongoing demonstrations eventually allowed the nation to achieve its fundamental aspirations (Hannah-Jones, 2019). There is a good chance that American democracy would look very different today if it were not for the black community’s idealistic, rigorous, and patriotic efforts. There is a good chance that democracy would not exist at all. Few enslaved people recognized their lack of freedom or endured life on the plantation, according to many of today’s historians. One formerly enslaved person said, “No day dawns for the slave, nor is it sought.” A long night of slavery resulted in the deaths of several people.
Enslaved people were legally recognized as the property of their owners in every Southern state except Louisiana. Enslavers in Louisiana had absolute power over their slaves, who were considered property of their masters: “The master will sell him, dispose of his body, industry, and labor; [the slave] can accomplish nothing, own nothing, and if he possesses something, it will be deemed the master’s property.” Rules and restrictions could vary depending on where one lives (Hannah-Jones, 2019). For instance, enslaved people lacked the legal ability to sue a white person in court and were forbidden from leaving the plantation without the owner’s express permission. Enslaved people were loaned, given away as lottery prizes, and even used as wagering commodities in card games and horse races. Enslaved people often worried about being taken away from their loved ones. When an enslaver passed away, his heirs often auctioned off his slaves to ensure their financial security.
Even though the Black Power movement ended in the late 1970s, its impact will be felt for years. Black Power influenced all walks of life, from popular music to academia, to politics, by highlighting Black pride, patriotism, and autonomy. At the same time, the movement’s stance against segregation spurred other groups to adopt their anti-discrimination and civil rights measures. The Black Lives Matter movement challenges the legacy of the civil rights and Black Power movements. Black Lives Matter’s efforts to alter the criminal justice system are founded on a history of organizing against racism and other forms of oppression.
The article “The Idea of America” by Nikole Hannah-Jones inspires one to compare the past and the present. Sadly, things have not changed, and some benefits and stereotypes still apply to some people because of the color of their natural skin. Reading the headline of this article leads one to assume that it describes what people want to believe about America and what they believe about it. However, in practice, no one is portraying America in the way it is. Because African Americans were raised with the “idea” that their only purpose in life was to be enslaved, they were naturally placed in cruel, peculiar, and unfair situations.
Reference
Hannah-Jones, N. (2019). Our democracy’s founding ideals were false when they were written. Black Americans have fought to make them accurate. New York Times Magazine, 14.
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