Influence of Racism on Political and Socio-Cultural Changes in US (Essay Sample)

The racist and how it has changed in US
In 1865, the thirteenth amendment was enacted immediately after the infamous American Civil War. African-American Civil Rights Movement was also established for eliminating racial discrimination especially against people from African origins. These post-Civil war reforms also aimed at increasing employment opportunities, education and giving African American the right to participate in the electoral process (Dudziak, 47). Thus, tremendous changes were experienced in the wake of 1865 in favor of Black community. The year was marked by two major events that shaped the history of African Americans. The Thirteenth Amendment has previously abolished slavery but was ratified to enforce Emancipation Proclamation that recognized June 19, 1865, as an American holiday to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Texas State. The day was characterized by local celebrations that include rodeos, parades, family reunions, cookouts and park parties. The day was also known as Freedman Day and marked the beginning of the new lives of immigrants in the United States. This paper, therefore, discusses the changes relating to racism in the United States since 1865.
The federal government began reconstruction program immediately after the end of Civil War. The program focused on integrating the former slaves with White Society. Therefore, Black Community gained a lot of political power as well as land ownership which moved many Blacks from abject poverty. On the other hand, the white resented on these gains leading to unprecedented violence by Ku Klux Klan chapters, White League and Red Shirts. The Ku Klux Klan had three movements that advocated for anti-immigration, White supremacy, White nationalism and later anti-Catholicism. The groups were involved in physical assaults and even murder to the African Americans. In short, the movements claimed that they are purifying the American Society and were considered themselves as right-wing extremist groups. In the 1870s, the first Klan sought to overthrow state governments in the south during the Reconstruction period. The move was however discouraged by federal law enforcement in 1871 even though the members of the movements began wearing masks, costumes and robes to terrify and hide their identities (Bryant 1).
Unfortunately, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 made some devastating setback in terms of civil rights. The ruling upheld separate but equal racial discrimination as a constitutional right. In this case, the political, social and legal status of the black population were jeopardized. The ruling legalized racial segregation for the next 58 years through the doctrine of separate but equal rights. According to the verdict, the Fourteenth Amendment’s object was to enforce the equality between the Whites and the Blacks before the eyes of the law. However, it did not ignore distinctions based on the skin color in political and social equality. The law required the two races to enter into a contract of agreement in areas where segregation is inevitable. This did not, however, mean one race is superior to the other. Such areas incompetency matters in police power as well as state legislation. The law thus advocated for separate schools for white and black children. Legislation powers held this separation as a valid exercise by the State courts.
In addition, a couple of people from two races were universally recognized to be within the police power even though such law interferes with freedom of contract. Other laws that recognize the separation of the two races whether, in schools, transport carriages or theatres are frequently drawn in the State court. The bottom line is that the police power must be exercised in a reasonable manner and should only extend only to the laws that were enacted in