Klansville U.S.A

 In 1966 North Carolina, the future of the Ku Klux Klan was on the line. Led by Bob Jones, he brought 10,000 members to the clan, believing that this was the best way to give voice to the poor and white working class. He felt strong racial hatred against blacks, especially those who rose financially above whites.

The Klan arose during the wake of the civil war. Essentially they would pose as confederate officers back from the dead, terrorizing freed slaves. They spent their time murdering people, and eventually the federal government condemned their behavior. This put a use to their maliciousness, but they revived themselves in the early 1920s.

In 1925 50,000 Klan members marched through the capital, sending messages about their numbers and giving them publicity. However even if their message reached those across America, huge changes surrounding segregation would arise in the south. The Civil Rights movement began to loom large, and the push for integration put pressure on their notion.

Jones was chosen to be the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan. Seven days later Martin Luther King shared the thoughts of the Civil Rights movement to Washington D.C. Jones took inspiration from this and wanted to demonstrate his opinions the same way King did.

Gradual change was not acceptable to both sides, as the civil rights began to rise up. Blacks began putting themselves in government offices, and the Klan wanted a say in this. They saw themselves as the only organization in the south that would protest for the segregation of race.

Many of the events hosted by the Klan were seen as social events. Even if there were very few people, many would come to watch and partake in social events. They brought people of the same opinion together, believing that the events would convince people that desegregation was bad.

Rallies would convince some to join the Klan. The members thought that this would give them the respect and relevance that they wanted in their community. Jones believed the clan could be seen as a central force in electing politicians to positions they wanted them positioned in. He used street walks in North Carolina towns to show that his clan had nothing to hide.

Lyndon Johnson spoke to the Klan members after they gunned down a white civil rights worker in her car. They argued that the civil rights movement were the evil ones who wanted to tear down America through desegregation. After this event their event in North Carolina brought in 3,000 people, which was broadcast by CBS. They were seen in a very different light, condoning murder and hate that was shown across America.

Eventually clansmen began to see that Jones was selling opinions that made people sick, not cured. His refusal to testify and pleading of the 5th amendment alienated many of his followers. This was an incentive for many in the clan to realize the injustices of what they were doing, and the group soon fell apart. Jones was convicted of contempt in congress, and was sent into a year in federal jail.

Whites found different political avenues as the Klan became a shameful thing once more. Jones could not achieve any of his major goals and were legally unable to maintain segregation. People leaving get the clan realized that they had really descended into darkness.

Brown v Board of Education

The debate of wether segregation should continue in the United States brought many different and interesting viewpoints to the table. Schools across America have been brutally effected by this debate, and the question of how kids for the future will receive a good education has made the case even more important. This debate made sure this topic was thoroughly discussed, and had a momentous impact in the history and future of the African American community.

One of the arguments made in favor of Brown was that the schools may definitely be separate, but they are in no way equal. In many black school the standard education is much lower, the facilities are less sanitary, the they are simply not funded as much as white schools. Therefore not only is the standard lower for an entire American community, it is evident that the nation is making no effort to integrate them into their society.

A further talking point that was posed in favor of Brown was that the separate accommodations was unconstitutional. If you are going to have separate schools you are going to have a separate nation, and when one of these is unequally neglected then people in the nation will not have the same opportunities as other. This by definition means that all people are not created equal, and in turn the American promise is not upheld.

By the words of the law of course the accommodation laws can lawfully be argued. However it is evident to anyone who has seen both schools that the students are not receiving the same tools for success. In the future economic malfunction will be evident due to the poor attention an American race and community is receiving. In short these were the arguments posed by Brown in his case against the Board of Education.

Next the defense for Board of Education provided arguments that would maintain Americas historical traditions. The first that arose was that there was no proof that the schools were teaching different levels of education, and that it was a fallacy that there was unequal standards implemented in the schools. If bathrooms are separate but equal, then why should schools and facilities be any different?

Another point that was made was that there is no way under the constitution that the schools being separated was unconstitutional. America has given opportunities to blacks because it has seen many from this community establish themselves in history by leaving legacies. If this community is given education that is supported then obviously the boundaries are limitless. Therefore why should the segregated schools highlight the good work that has been done for this community?

In the end the decision ruled in favor of Brown due the argument that the segregation of schools was not based on logic, and there was proof that there was separate but not equal accommodations in the schools. This decision improved the standard of millions in America and had a positive impact on the community that was deprived of rights and equality for the entirety of its tenure in the nation.

Mock Trial Blog Post

The mock trial debates surrounding a runaway slave case brought many viewpoints and attitudes. The arguments between responsibility, morality, and history taught me many things that I would not have known had it not been for the information being directly presented in front of me. The information and topics that I considered most interesting and important will be highlighted in this post.

The first defense in the case that was presented that the price of the meeting was far too cheap. A ten dollar fine would not have much significance in any slave owners life, and to fight a case for an amount this small was absurd. On top of that it was the slave owner who inflicted harm on the slave in the first place, therefore what would mean that there is a clear agreement that the owner was the deliberate aggressor in this scenario. In other words, the owner valued his ten dollars higher than his slaves life.

Although my first thoughts were that there was no way that this action could be prolonged, there were some arguments that convinced me otherwise. One of them was the fact that because the slave had not been killed or seriously incapacitated, the whole case was virtually useless. In a way this perspective is true in the sense of life value, due to the life being endangered but not taken, it is important to consider whether the discussion will achieve anything due to no one being dead.

Further perspectives that seemed to bring a new light of opinion was the matter of the injured woman being a slave. Of course a slave had no human rights and wasn't even considered such. Therefore if a man were to hypothetically destroy or harm his window, it would be the same as harming a slave. So in a way, the slave being wounded by a master who considers them as property is no an illegal or important matter.

Switching sides to the debate in favor for the slave, there were plenty of points that had a moral and emotional impact. Those who argued in favor of the slave claimed that ethically and morally no human should get away with harming another human, especially when the aggressor had full intent and awareness of the action they are performing. For the honor of the slave who only thought about her wellbeing in safety, the entire case is a disgrace.

Obviously from the previous viewpoint and from the post thus far, we can see that Mann could be justifiably charged with assault had the slave been a regular American citizen. The fine line that is drawn in this case and really the arguments that are being made are either for or against the rights of a slave. The fact of the matter in this case was indeed however that a master is absolute, and has the right to render submission over his slave.

Each One Teach One Reflection

 The Reconstruction era each one teach one taught me a lot about the evolution of America. The first thing that I learned is that President Andrew Johnson was a supported of slavery in the north. He was impeached in the house but not in the senate. Surprisingly he grew up with what could be labeled as a superiority complex, adding to his attitude of aggression and personality.

Johnson planned to begin reconstruction era in the south to continue slavery effectively. He wanted the white man by himself have dominance over the south. Reconstruction completed itself 8 months after it started and allowed confederates to enter congress, leaving a large dent in African American hope to impose themselves in the U.S government.

The next topic presented was the Lincoln assassination and the effect that it had on this era. John Wilkes Booth was the man who would go all the way with this plan. He was an actor and confederate who loathed the anti slavery and reconstruction ideas, and killed the current president on April 14th, 1865.

He then fled out of the theatre and started one of the largest man hunts in the history of the nation. Booth broke his leg escaping and made it all the way to Maryland. He was caught by the police at Surrats house where he was taken under jurisdiction of the government. Lincoln lost his life and the American community lost a true friend.

A further discussion topic in the reconstruction era was the Freedman's Bureau. This event helped African Americans all across the nation support themselves and gain popularity in a time of need. Established by congress in 1865 in helped former slaves and poor whites all across the south recover after the destructive civil war.

The Compromise of 1877 helped America choose its new leader and President. Essentially it was a mutual agreement between Democrats and allies of the Republican Rutherford Hayes, marking the end of the reconstruction era. It gave the Democratic Party of slavery the power to regain political dominance in southern state government.

Ultimately the reconstruction came to an end in 1877 and had mixed results in America. Radical Republican Legislation failed to uphold and protect former slaves from white persecution, and these issues continued in the south even after this era came to a close. Black codes and racist laws were implemented to keep the peace, however the African community found its way into government positions after years of perseverance and hardship, helping the make America the true land of the free.

Reconstruction America

On June 17th, 2015, an historic black church in Charleston South Carolina was attacked by a racist terrorist, who had a deep hatred for the African American community. This event provided what can be described as an awakening for many, and also some pondering for others. To understand the motives for this event it is important to look into history. Post civil war is a good place to start.

The time period after the civil war is labeled the Reconstruction period. The hope and theme of this era was that blacks could integrate themselves in a white society, however there was steep hurdles that they were unaware of. Decades of hard work and persistence were on the horizon for the colored people of America.

The freed people longed for everything that they had been robbed of for centuries. The right to marry, own land, and live in society were some of the many things black desired. To assist this the freedman's burea was released, with over 850,000 acres of land and a budget that costs more than a week of the civil war.

Slaveries legacy was a tremendous barrier to change however. As blacks tried to integrate themselves in society, economic struggles began to haunt them more than they would have expected. Many black parent who did not have the necessary funds to raise their children had to release them into a type indentured servitude, with no say in the matter. Unable to protect their children and having them stripped away without discussion, was very reminiscent of the previous history in the centuries they desperately wanted to escape.

Military reconstruction began to protect blacks in the south from white terrorists, and threatened to jail or fire them if they continued their violence. Eventually many former rebel states compensated black communities with the right to vote (males only.) 80% had the right to vote by the end of 1867, and a new political culture rose up. The advent of black suffrage brought about mass change in the governing of America.

Former slaves brought life into society by supporting schools, shelters, and farming institutions slowly contributing to the reconstruction of the nation. White gangs began terrorizing them however, and were under an intimidation and pressure to cast their voting ballot. Half a million black men cast their vote. Ulysses Grant was elected because of these votes, and many black men were put into office. For freed people and former slaves, this was the moment they had yearned for.

The reconstruction that took place during and after these said events helped support American democracy. The value that these brave men and women brought during this era changed what was rational, and made the government realize to important black life was. The future was seen as limitless, and for one of the first times in human history a group that was so viciously oppressed grew into the highest echelons of political society.

Ferguson Ethical

The question of whether the Separate Car Act violates the fourteenth amendment is absurd. Ever since slavery ended we have been working tirelessly to integrate African Americans into our society in a safe and non violent manner. I believe that we have found this medium through the separate accommodations we have created, because they are necessary for our society to remain balanced and stable.

I would love to tell you today about why our history, law, and religion support these points. However instead, I would like to use a broader approach to this topic. In a sense it is impossible for blacks and whites to live without a society with separate accommodations because fear and hate have been cemented in both sides.

To provide proof of this I would like to show some examples. The first one I would like to discuss is the factor of fear. For decades whites like myself have feared that if blacks were to live in the same society as us without divisions, it would not be safe for the general public. This is because slavery has shown us how much blacks resent and hate our community, thus why if they were to do everything exactly as us there would be a surplus of violent acts occurring in the community.

Furthermore to this point, for any society to live to its best and happiest potential it must abstain from keeping the majority displeased. If the majority of whites demand for separate but equal accommodation, then that is what must be done to keep them happy. I understand that the African American community may loathe this comment, but we are only trying to do our best in making life better than it was for them during slavery.

The next point I would like to broach is the element of hate. When discussing how to situate blacks and whites in a society as one, it would be a crime not to address the hate in both sides of the community. For centuries whites have done horrible things to the African American community, and understandably many of them hate us for it. 

Now what would happen if you took two groups that hated each other and gave them the exact same accommodations in the exact same society. There would be outburst of course. I guarantee that every week we would assemble here to debate a new case on either white on black or black on white crime. This could very well change in the future, however for now we must have separate but equal clauses so that the fresh hate the two groups have does not grow further than what it is now.

In conclusion, I see no violation of the Equal Protection clause from the 14th Amendment. Both sides get to keep their right, and both sides get to live in the land of the free. What more could a society that prioritizes happiness want?