The Progress of Blacks in America

Black people have come a long way since the landing of the Mayflower in 1619. "New Jersey Governor James E. McGregor recently signed legislation aimed at incorporating Black history into traditional curriculum of New Jersey's Schools. (Sept .23, 2002) Jet Magazine. We as Blacks also have made strides in the political arena. " Alan Keys with his 2000 cadency for president with the republican party and "J. C Watts was also a first in Congress serving in government in the late 1990'as republican, and early 2000's. Black Portal.com Our nation despite its shortcomings has advanced after October 1962. Integration that year of Old Miss University by " James Meredith." A black student (Oct. 1, 2002) Channel 13 News WZZM.

Even though it took Federal Marshals to escort Meredith into the University on that historic day in American History it was accomplished just the same, We have also recently advanced- even in rhetoric in the black community-lead by Johnny Cochran and others with the theme of reparation for Blacks in the form of higher education for blacks to be provided by corporations that has benefited from slavery. Along with this striving by Blacks to assimilate Blacks have for almost 400 years have been struggling to recapture our identity in America.

The apex of the struggle was at a southern rally attended by Martin Luther King where young civil rights activist uttered the now famous and misunderstood phrase "Black Power". For the sixties generation it then became popular to say "Power to The People" on many occasions. Most Black people I know today have no problem saying I 'm Black although some prefer to be called African American. Generations Y and X has lost connections with many of the accomplishments of the past concerning civil rights- they have lost touch with their roots. Not just the pre 60's and 60's but also the post 60's 70's which connected us to the past Black art, littiture and rap, yes rap done by originators likes Gil Scott Heron and the Last Poets.