The Challenges African Americans Faced in The United States

"The Global Spread of the English Language"

"The English language is widely dispersed around the world because of the influence of the British Empire in the 18th century, and of the United States since the mid-20th century. English has become the leading language of international discourse. Also, it has become a lingua franca, a common language used by people of diverse backgrounds to communicate with one another in many regions." The United States is a multicultural nation, with a vast variety of ethnic groups, religious beliefs, and language traditions. In this essay, I will briefly discuss the challenges African Americans in the United States faced. This includes language traditions and, lastly, why freedom fighters such as Martin Luther King Jr. were of great significance at that time. It is equally important to mention why this still is essential and how that has had an impact on America this very day.

"The Challenges African Americans Faced in The United States"

It all began with Rosa Parks, a black woman, who refused to give up her seat on a public bus to a white man. In the history of the United States, there have been many social and political changes, and due to Rosa Parks, along with many other great leaders, this was one of the most important and significant movements for equality regardless of color. According to historical accounts, Parks' act of defiance on December 1, 1955, sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement (Carson, 2005).

Martin Luther King Jr. became the leading figure in the struggle against segregation and for the Civil Rights Movement, and he successfully made a huge change. King Jr. was a gifted public speaker, and he is most famous for his "I Have A Dream" speech, which has become one of the most famous speeches ever. King Jr.'s significant role in society has been his battle in advancing the Civil Rights Movement. He brought attention to a massive issue that was incredibly controversial and sensitive during his time. His presence and his vision made a huge impact on the African American Civil Rights Movement, before and after his assassination. His goal and central hope were that people someday would be judged by the content of their character, rather than the color of their skin (King, 1963).

In the 1900s, we saw a lot of colorblindness, people who judged other humans by the color of their skin and culture. Today in the United States, we have a very multicultural society; however, colorblindness is not as common as before, but it’s still out there. A recent example of this would be when former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem in San Francisco in 2016. Trump later expressed himself and said that he wants the peaceful protest to stop and said those players that take a knee during the anthem will be fired (Smith, 2017). In addition, "he calls those players a name I never thought I’d live long enough to hear a president say" (Hansen, 2017). Trump has said he supports a peaceful protest because it is an American's right, but he doesn’t support this protest, and that’s the problem. Besides, this is just one of many examples of the challenges and colorblindness the African Americans encounter on a daily basis. Last but not least, the United States has recently had a black president named Barack Obama. Without a doubt, this shows that America has taken some huge steps since the 1600s.

"Historical Context of African American Challenges"

The history of challenges for African Americans begins with slavery in 1619. White European settlers brought Africans to North America to help them with their labor needs. According to history.com, historians have estimated that 6 to 7 million slaves were imported during the 18th century (History.com Editors, 2020). Comparatively, today some of the most common challenges are applying for jobs, growing up in a ghetto, paying for college tuition, and being paid equally. As a matter of fact, 45% of African Americans have experienced racial discrimination when trying to rent or buy a home (Pew Research Center, 2016). Furthermore, 41% of women report being discriminated against in equal pay opportunities (American Association of University Women, 2019). In many of the most dangerous cities in the United States, there is a high population of African Americans. To clarify, African Americans are the largest racial minority, making up 12.9% of the population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020). In these areas, gang violence and crime are a factor of everyday life. It’s hard to point out one single thing that might cause this. I’m of the opinion that children growing up in low-income homes, living in communities that are often described as ghettos, and that experience and see violence, often turn to these bad behaviors themselves.

"African American Vernacular English"

African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is also known as Ebonics or Black English. Ebonics is a variety of languages spoken by the black community in the United States. It has several features that are different from general American English. Black English has its own pronunciations, vocabulary, and grammar. However, no one still knows where Black English originated from today. Additionally, the most reliable theory is that slaves, when brought over from different regions in Africa, eventually developed their own regional language. In order to communicate with each other, the slaves used English as a baseline (Rickford, 1999). Anyhow, today black Americans are recognized for their informal way of speaking, which reflects a rich cultural heritage and resilience.

"Conclusion"

In short, the topics I have covered in this paper are the African American struggles, racial discrimination, and their language. In addition to freedom activists such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. Nevertheless, how their bravery changed the world. Thanks to their massive tireless efforts, risking their lives, facing jail time, and in some cases dying for justice. It should be noted that none of this progress would have happened without the work of several black freedom activists. The ongoing struggle for equality and justice remains essential, as it continues to shape the socio-political landscape of America today.

**References:**

American Association of University Women. (2019). The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap.

Carson, C. (2005). "The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr." Warner Books.

Hansen, D. (2017). Transcript of Dale Hansen's "Unplugged: Patriots" segment.

History.com Editors. (2020). Slavery in America. History.com.

King, M. L. Jr. (1963). "I Have a Dream" Speech. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute.

Pew Research Center. (2016). On Views of Race and Inequality, Blacks and Whites Are Worlds Apart.

Rickford, J. R. (1999). "African American Vernacular English: Features, Evolution, Educational Implications." Blackwell Publishing.

Smith, M. (2017). Trump's NFL Anthem Protest Remarks. The Guardian.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2020). QuickFacts: United States.