The Reconstruction era

 

The Reconstruction era was a time of immense hope for many African American people. After being slaves since stepping on American soil it was unbelievable that black people were able to gain the right to even identify as African American. If they could overcome long-lasting slavery, there should be nothing holding them back with their newfound citizenship. While during this time African American people made huge leaps and jumps, there were still many influences of racism, violence, and terrorism that attempted to hold them back and return to the old south.

First and foremost, with the right to vote more and more African American men were seen in congress. Shockingly the first black congressman was in Mississippi by the name of Hiram Revels and South Carolina even held a majority black house, despite both of them being deeply southern states. Now with African Americans being represented in congress, it seemed like an extra layer of protection that African Americans’ voices would be heard and their right protected by their people.

(Hiram Revels)

However, what I found to be the most interesting was the stature, elegance, and excellence that these men fought to represent. This image is something that still is within African American culture many African Americans will dress a certain way and carry themselves in a certain way outside of their household to be perceived the same way that these men wanted. The rise of this image was to counter many of the stereotypes and images against African American people. The way a person carries themself will always speak before their actual words.

Next, was the rise of many different African American businesses such as churches, colleges, and farms. During this time there was a rise in the black church which became the center of African American culture and collaboration. Along with the church came colleges taught by black people for black people because many African Americans didn’t want white teachers to treat students unfairly. Finally, African Americans had the opportunity to own their land to create farms along with the experience and knowledge to upkeep that land.  

(Fisk University)

 I feel with the rise of these black businesses there was also a rise in more black culture that we still see very prevalent today. The black church is still the center of a lot of African American culture, for example, things like gospel music which has an impact on much of the music we see today, or the symbol of community and unity within the church as a place of refuge. Many colleges that were created for African Americans back then are celebrated as HBCUs today and are known to teach many of the principles of pride, perseverance, and hope that were created during the reconstruction era.

(Fisk University current students)

However, with the success of many African Americans, there was also a rise in white jealousy. The ideology that blacks were inferior and incompetent was being disproven right before their own eyes. This led to the rise of the KKK and terrorism against African Americans, white southerners did everything in their power to end reconstruction. Remarkably under Ulysses S Grant, the federal government made an effort to protect African Americans from this extreme violence with the enforcement acts. The federal government took the time to listen to KKK cases and would send in federal troops to protect African Americans.

Sadly, the federal government slowly began to lose interest in reconstruction with the corruption within congress along with the following economic panic of 1873. The north grew tired of supporting African Americans in reconstruction along with the constant pushback of the white southerners. Yet even with the turn away from reconstruction, African Americans could still get the civil rights bill passed. However, reconstruction ended with the presidential election and the promise to end reconstruction.

Additional links 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NNYPWhRhks