Throughout the course we have examined that the African American communities have changed drastically as more Americans have become aware of the injustices faced by millions of people of color.
Reading the content section for our course (the lessons that you click through, not the actual textbook pages), choose one of the sections listed below and summarize it and explain how you see it relating to the earlier history we studied in this course. No events or issues exist in a vacuum. You can also, if you wish, explain how it relates to the Black Lives Matter movement in your own words, which started essentially with the Trayvon Martin killing. Sections that you can choose from include (and it's mandatory to use one of these): "Progress and Poverty in the 20th Century", "Intellectual Life", and "Black Politics at the end of the 20th Century". Exclusively use that source, the content area with references to the pages. DO not use other sources.
Sample Answer
Model Response: Black Politics at the End of the 20th Century
I've chosen the section titled "Black Politics at the end of the 20th Century."
Summary of the Content Section (Placeholder)
You must replace this placeholder with a summary of the key points from your course's "Black Politics at the end of the 20th Century" content area. This summary should focus only on the information presented in your lessons.
Likely topics covered: The shift from protest to electoral politics following the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965; the rise of prominent Black mayors (like Harold Washington in Chicago and Tom Bradley in Los Angeles) and Congressional leaders; the impact of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC); the challenges of addressing persistent urban poverty and joblessness despite political gains; the emergence of figures like Jesse Jackson and his Presidential campaigns; and the impact of the conservative shift in national politics (e.g., the "War on Drugs") on African American communities.
Relationship to Earlier History
The political landscape for African Americans at the end of the 20th century is a direct consequence of the earlier history of struggle for civil and political rights.
The Quest for the Vote: The rise of Black electoral power in the late 20th century, where Black politicians secured positions in city halls and Congress, is the fruition of a centuries-long fight for the right to vote. This struggle stretches back from the promises of Reconstruction (1865-1877), which were ultimately dismantled by Jim Crow laws and violence, through the massive direct-action campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. The political gains of the late century rest entirely upon the success of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which finally enforced the 15th Amendment.
Segregation and Urbanization: Earlier history, specifically the Great Migration of the 20th century, where millions of Black southerners moved to northern and western cities, created the concentrated urban populations that made it possible for Black candidates to win local and Congressional elections by the 1980s. These cities, though plagued by de facto segregation and economic disinvestment (stemming from earlier practices like redlining), became the geographical centers of late 20th-century Black political power.
Connection to Black Lives Matter
The issues faced by Black politicians and communities at the end of the 20th century, as detailed in the course content, provide the necessary context for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement which began after the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012.
Persistent Injustice: Despite the political successes—having Black mayors and representatives—the course section likely highlights the failure to completely eradicate systemic issues, particularly those related to policing and the justice system. The disproportionate impact of the "War on Drugs" and increased mass incarceration, which largely took place in the same period, created a system where political representation did not translate into safety and justice for ordinary Black citizens.
The Power of Protest: The BLM movement is a return to a style of direct-action protest that parallels the earlier history of the Civil Rights Movement and even earlier abolitionist and anti-lynching campaigns. While the late 20th-century section focused on winning power through the ballot box, the BLM movement demonstrates that when institutional power (represented by elected officials and law enforcement) fails to protect marginalized groups, protest and street-level organizing remain essential tools for demanding change and accountability. BLM essentially critiques the limits of the political gains made in the late 20th century.