The power the white society held over the African American’s was strong. Blacks were held as captive slaves to the whites for more than 200 years. The black society was treated as though they were not human too, just because of their color. As time goes on, African American’s start to realize that it is not supposed to be this way, they are just as righteous as whites. Slowly, the black society began to reach out…rebel. The fight for their freedom was a long challenging process. It started with slavery, rebellion to want their freedom and the challenge of fighting for their freedom once they got a taste of it.

Slavery has always been a problem in the world, but 200 years ago, it was the norm in America.  African American’s would be captured from their own country (usually Africa) and literally shipped to the America’s packed head to toe. The blacks would be on the ships, chained together for a couple months at a time during the trade. If someone was sick or needed to use the restroom, they used it right where they were, eventually leaving a massive death count. Once they were transported to America, African American slaves would be bought and traded to the white dominance. Blacks would go home with their new master and begin working. Jobs varied for the slaves: house maids, cooks, field slaves and butlers. Almost all slaves had been whipped or beaten, never treated well. As time went on, the African American slaves began to understand that it did not have to be that way, they were human too, color doesn’t determine power.

African American’s decided to take a stand for their independence. In the 1860’s, most laws that segregated the blacks were gotten rid of. The republican party wanted the African American’s to remain a part of the society and contribute, but whites would do anything in their power to make it impossible for that to happen. Blacks could vote but whites would make them pay a poll tax or take literacy tests. By doing this, it kept the blacks from taking part in the society and it kept them for voting for the Republican Party. As the years went on, segregation was still tough on the blacks, even though they were free of ownership of a white man, they were not free and equal to do the same as a white man. In the 1960’s, the Jim Crowe laws were enforced and they depicted anti-black social racism. Further on, African Americans began to speak out about the nonsense. They are free but they are not equal, they wanted their equality.

Stokely Carmichael is an example of someone who spoke out for the Black society. Carmichael went to school in Washington D.C. at Howard University. He was a black freedom activist who created the slogan “black power”. Unlike Martin Luther King Jr., Carmichael leaned more towards the approach of Malcolm X, he was a violent protestor. Carmichael was a part of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, although he later changed “nonviolent” to “national”. Carmichael’s “Black Power” speech talks about how it is not right nor is it fair that the blacks are the minority just because of their skin color. He says, “We are oppressed because we are black.” (Fisk, 317) meaning that because of their color, they are lesser, not as able. Carmichael goes back to slavery with this quote, explaining that it all started because one man decided another man was lesser because of his skin.

The white supremacy over the black minority is still an issue today. Granted it is nowhere near as awful as it was fifty years ago, but there is still racism and minor segregation among groups at times. The African American society has come a long way in their efforts to become free. Their troublesome fights were strong and heard. It goes to show that with a little time and a little heart, any group can put a stop to anything.  
