When we look at Black history throughout Black History Month, we must reflect on the legislation and Supreme Court rulings that have played an invaluable role in the current structure in the lives of Black Americans today. Legislation within the United States has been an active force in limiting the freedoms of Black people throughout the years by systematically carving out various components of Black American lives, from HBCUs to predominantly Black neighborhoods. Examining the significant legislation and court rulings that have influenced the progression of African American history recognizes Black survival and the creation of Black American culture in the midst of the institutional powers never working in their favor.Here's a combination of seven Supreme Court cases and acts of legislation that changed history and still impact Black Americans today.1. The Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves of 1807Congress enacted this law to prevent any new slaves from being brought into the United States. Although the act did not physically stop slavery from happening within the U.S., its enactment contributed largely to the end of the transatlantic slave trade. With growing populations of enslaved Black people able to sustain the country’s economy, this act made a clear political distinction between bringing enslaved people from Africa and the Caribbean and owning enslaved people as property. 2. The 13th AmendmentIn 1865, the 13th Amendment overturned decisions, such as the legality of slavery established via the Dred Scott v. Sanford case. It reads, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction," essentially abolishing slavery — except as punishment for a crime. The verbiage in the 13th Amendment has been used as justification for mass incarceration, which effectively operates as a modern-day slavery machine. To date, Black people are incarcerated at a rate that's five times higher than white people.3. The Morris Land Grant Colleges Act of 1890When this act was first made into law in 1862, it granted federal funding to those who sought land to build higher education institutions. Once built and opened, these colleges and universities refused to admit Black people. After complaints of racial discrimination, another land grant act was passed in 1890, forcing each state that sought or received federal funding for these land grants to prove that their denial of Black Americans into their institutions was not based on race. If it was discovered that racial discrimination played into the assessment of applications, then a higher education institution had a choice: They could either return their federal funding or build a university that catered to Black students. Ultimately, this led to the development of historically Black colleges and universities across the southeastern U.S., which still remain intact today.4. Brown v. Board of Education of TopekaIn 1954, Brown v. Board of Education ruled that schools could no longer segregate students by race. The case, which actually was a combination of three other cases related to school segregation, was brought forth by Oliver Brown, who sued the Board of Education of Topeka, KS, on behalf of his daughter, after she was denied admittance to a white elementary school. Brown brought attention to the inequality in school funding and resources, as well as quality education between all-white and all-Black schools. Consequently, the case debunked the practice of "separate but equal, " which was exercised to justify segregation, validating the disproportionate quality between the amenities, facilities, and fundamental supplies used in Black and white schools. Although this decision allowed for the full integration of public schools, remnants of the history of segregation is still evident in public schools based in predominantly Black neighborhoods, with many reports of neglect and poorly funding. 5. Loving v. VirginiaRichard and Mildred Loving’s 1967 court case in Virginia set the precedent for overturning the criminalization of interracial marriage, regardless of what state did the officiating. After writing a letter to the attorney general about their sentencing in Virginia, the case was fought all the way up to the district courts, which ruled in their favor. Ultimately, this resulted in the removal of harsh punishments given to Black people in interracial marriages, as their own sentences were often more egregious than their white partners. 6. Fair Housing Act of 1968Passed in 1968 — a week after the assassination of equal housing advocate Martin Luther King Jr. — this act legally eliminated all discrimination against Black people who wanted to buy or rent property, especially in predominantly white neighborhoods. Even after its enactment, however, the homeownership rate for Black people has reportedly been on the decline since 2001. 7. The 15th AmendmentAfter the 15th Amendment states, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Passed in 1870, it granted all American males the right to vote regardless of their race. Though passage of this amendment was a huge victory, it wasn’t fully enforced, as many Black men still faced some barriers, like poll taxes and literacy tests that prevented them from participating fully in the electoral process. Today, voter suppression remains, with new tactics in place coupled with the constant neglect of Black voters’ needs.When talking about Black disenfranchisement, it's important to also take into consideration how society has failed to uphold the legislation and court rulings specifically designed to support the prosperity of the Black community. What this shows is that the legislative system has been an ineffective method of social change. In spite of being used to establish equality, Black people have still left behind this enforcement, hindering progress of the community in order to advance white superiority. Instead, laws like these have been used to target Black communities rendering its justice unreliable. Blavitize your inbox! 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Excuse me, we're going to let all you predominantly white institutions (PWIs) finish, but HBCUs have the best homecomings. Every year, each HBCU fights for recognition as having the most lit homecoming. But let's call our attention away from competing among one another and acknowledge why no PWI can compare. So SpelHouse, Howard, Clark, Hampton and AT&T alumni, take a break from the eternal side-eyes to recognize why we all...
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) has partnered with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) around the nation to encourage the entry of young black scholars into preservation efforts, including that of historic sites.With aid from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the National Park Service, six Morgan State students will run the first trial of the program spearheaded by the NTHP’s Hope Crew. Using their backgrounds in architecture, the students will pool their minds together and redevelop the Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture, which, according to (NTHP), is the oldest museum in the U.S. Once accepted, Morgan State students Ariel Allen, Tiffany Dockins, Nathaniel Mitchell, Jamil Nelson, Taylor Proctor and Monique Robinson began their introduction to preservation with small efforts on aging buildings by evaluating the location’s structures and landscape before providing hands-on treatment. “Beyond addressing deferred maintenance at historic sites, the success of HOPE Crew highlights a hands-on approach to saving places that are making a positive difference in the lives of future preservationists and the communities where they serve,” Associate Director of the National Trust’s Hope Crew, Monica Rhodes, told Blavity in an email. “We’re excited to continue broadening the preservation movement and to raising awareness of the cultural legacy of HBCUs with this new partnership – allowing African American college students to see what happens when theory meets practice in preservation trades.”The students are set to rehabilitate the Peale Center’s courtyard and visit historic sites in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. For some, the conscious restoration of these locations not only serves as a method of preserving history but also draws awareness to the continuing history of their hometowns. “Living in Baltimore, surrounded by history, and, now, learning about preservation, makes me more aware of the need to save these historic places for the future,” participating student Taylor Proctor said. “If many of our historic places disappear, we would lose the fabric that gives Baltimore its identity. ”Ending the program, the students will detail reasons supporting why restoration is vital. With Morgan State recently being named a National Treasure, the university is open to preservation plans, which the students, after their NTHP training, may have a chance in which to...
A new Vice News report covering white students attending historically black colleges and universities has ruffled quite a few feathers. In the first episode of "Minority Reports," Vice looks into the life of a white student attending Morehouse College in Atlanta in an attempt to highlight an influx of white students coming to HBCUs. White freshman Tiago told Vice he always dreamt of attending the prestigious HBCU. "When I first got here, you know, people said they are going to stop and ask you why you come to Morehouse," he recalled.For Tiago, he wanted a change of scenery. When he was younger, he went to predominately black and brown schools, but by the time he went to high school, he was attending an affluent white high school. He said telling people about his dream usually meant being ridiculed by his peers. Tiago noted that the people he met while visiting Morehouse made him feel more welcomed than being around people he knew. "I'm naturally more gravitated towards the black community than the white community," Tiago said.As HBCUs struggled to make ends meet, many are turning to white student recruitment to bring in more dollars for their universities. But the move is counterproductive to students and alumni who state white students have always attended HBCUs. Twitter users had a few words like many of the people Vice interviewed. Some people couldn't grapple with Vice's need to cover this aspect of the conversation.White people are doing OK at HBCUs, according to @PrinceLlewellyn. In some cases, HBCUs pay for white students via special scholarships to attend while leaving black students out to dry. Some HBCUs are literally paying white students to attend the institutions and giving “minority scholarships”. This is one thing we’re always talking about....white people virtually get handed EVERYTHING. In order for us to attend their schools we have to jump through hoops....— Junie June3rd Chappelle 👑 (@PrinceLlewellyn) June 20, 2018Or shoot through hoops.— Danielle Mia Moore (@iDannyMiaMoore) June 21, 2018What years are you talking? The era when we were forced into separate education?? White students BEEN at HBCUs fam. Stop with this. pic.twitter.com/22ktJUZm1x— TomorrowMan X (@tomorrowmanx) June 21, 2018Right at Tuskegee, I had friends from Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. At Alcorn, I had friends from Russia and Turkey. Over half of the faculty at HBCUs are non-Black. There presence is not an issue.— Working It Out (@MarMar1500) June 21, 2018.@VICE Beginning to? Have you visited the campuses of West Virginia State, FAMU, Bethune-Cookman, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State or Howard the past 35 years? You ever known a Howard or Xavier pre-med student the last 60 years? Dental?— Bijan C. Bayne (@bijancbayne) June 21, 2018you ain’t gotta lie to kick it, vice— DigitalBridget 💁🏿 (@BridgetMarie) June 21, 2018Here's Vice's full report...