HOW FAR WE HAVE COME

Two hundred and twenty-one years ago, the Founding Fathers wrote into the US Constitution that
slaves were to be counted as three-fifths of a human being in the representative democracy that was being
born.
One hundred and forty-seven years ago, the states of the South launched the Civil War to defend the
white citizen’s power to hold others in bondage.
One hundred and twelve years ago, the US Supreme Court ruled that laws consigning blacks to
“separate but equal” facilities were constitutional.
Forty years ago, a presidential candidate declared as governor of Alabama: “Segregation now,
segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” And he won the votes of 10 million Americans.
And today, this nation – so haunted by the original sin of slavery, so riven by the torments of race, and
yet so dedicated to the ideal that all men are created equal – has elevated a black man to the presidency.
[…]
The question asked time and again over the past two years has been answered; Americans were ready
after all – yes we were – to welcome a black man to the White House.
Fifty-three years ago, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man.
Forty-four years ago, Lyndon Johnson pushed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through Congress and
followed with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Forty years ago, the Rev Martin Luther King Jr. gave his life.
Twenty-four years ago, Oprah Winfrey got a TV talk show.
And this morning, Barack Obama is President-elect.
Fortunate are the children of all backgrounds who will grow up more trusting of America’s
commitment to rewarding merit regardless of skin color.
Fortunate are the members of older generations who suffered, or witnessed the cruelties of racism.
Fortunate are the people of good faith – white, black and other, who have struggled to reach common
ground across the racial divide.
It is a glory that so much of the American electorate of 2008 chose Obama neither because of his
heritage nor despite it. They chose him because of the quality of his person and his approaches to the
issues. […]
The indisputable truth is that Obama did not run for President as a black man. He ran as a Harvard
Law-educated senator who was, incidentally, a person of color.
At the same time, no one should ever forget that John McCain had the wisdom and decency never to
exploit racial fears. He competed with an honor befitting the man he is.
This was an election that surely would have delighted King and of which all Americans can be proud.
[…]
We judged Barack Obama by the content of his character.

Adapted from The New York Daily News

November 2008

WORKSHEET : HOW FAR WE HAVE COME

References to African-American History

A) The White perspective

Context Date Who Key Fact

The American 1787 the Founding Fathers : slaves were to be counted as
Constitution Georges Washington. three-fifths of a human being
James Madison. in the representative
Alexander Hamilton. democracy that was being
Benjamin Franklin. born.
John Adams.
WASPs.

The Civil War 1861-1865 states of the South (PRO They launched the Civil War to
SLAVERY) defend the white citizen’s
States of the North (ANTI power to hold others in
SLAVERY) bondage.
It led to the Abolishment of
Slavery.

Segregation 1896 US Supreme Court 13th Amendment :

« separate but equal »

Fight against 1968 Governor of Alabama Declared : “segregation now,

segregation segregation tomorrow,
segregation forever”

Presidential elections Novembe Barack Obama First black man in presidency.

r
2008

What question was asked about the 2008 Presidential election?

“Were Americans ready to welcome a black man to the White House ?” was the question
asked about the 2008 presidential election.

What slogan is referred to?

“Yes We Can-Yes we were” was the slogan of Barack Obama for his campaign.
B) The African-American perspective

segregation 1955 Rosa Parks Refused to give up her

sit

End of Segregation 1964 President L. Johnson The Civil Rights

Act
Discrimination
Prohibited

Post Segregation 1968 MLK

Got Killed by a white
extremist.

Affirmative Action 1984 Oprah Winfrey

First afro American
woman to host a TV
show.

Our Days Novembe Barack OBAMA First Black President of

the USA.
r
2008

Why can this election be seen as a victory?

Because it is a overcoming of discrimination/ racial injustice.

What references are made to Martin Luther King's famous 1963 « I have a dream » speech?
Judged by the content of his character.

Do you think Martin Luther King's 'Dream' has come true?

Maybe there was some hope of achievement, but with the recent events, we can’t say that his dream came to
reality.
What strikes you most about these dates?

Key dates in African-American history

1619 20 slaves from the west coast of Africa arrived in Virginia aboard a Dutch ship
1776 American Independence : the 13 colonies took their independence from Britain
4th July. The northern states talked about abolishing slavery
1787 In the new American Constitution slaves are considered 3/5 human
1808 The importation of slaves was banned / prohibited / made illegal. It is thought
that about 8 million slaves were shipped to America
1857 The US Supreme Court decided that slaves didn't have the right to be citizens
1861 Abraham Lincoln was elected President
The American Civil War began between the North (industrial and anti-slavery)
and the South (rural : plantations and pro-slavery)
1863 Lincoln pronounced the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves
1865 End of the Civil War and end of SLAVERY
Lincoln was assassinated by a southerner 15th April in Washington
1868 The American Constitution granted citizenship to former slaves
1870 The American Constitution prohibited states from denying the right to vote
because of race. Former slaves were given the right to vote
1896 The Supreme Court declared ‘separate but equal’ facilities for blacks
constitutional. By the turn of the century all the southern states had
introduced racist, segregationist “Jim Crow” laws that prevented blacks from
voting. The whites were afraid of losing their power and 'superiority' over the
former slaves, who formed a majority in some areas.
SEGREGATION = blacks and whites were separated in schools, hospitals, trains,
buses , parks and other public places
1929 Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia 15th January
1936 Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals at the Berlin Olympics
1955 Rosa Parks, a black seamstress was arrested because she refused to give up her
seat on a bus to a white man 1st December. This incident angered the black
community of Montgomery, Alabama and they organised a boycott of the buses,
 which lasted a year. This event triggered the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT and
MLK, a Baptist minister became its leader.
Like Gandhi MLK advocated non-violent protest
1956 The Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was against the law in December
1963 March on Washington where MLK delivered his “I have a Dream” speech in
front of 200,000 people 28th August
1964 MLK was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
1964 The first CIVIL RIGHTS law was passed giving blacks equal rights. Other laws
were passed in 1965 (voting rights) and in 1968
1968 MLK was assassinated in Memphis 4th April
1984 Oprah Winfrey was the first black American to host a talk show
1986 A national holiday was introduced in memory of MLK; it’s celebrated in January
2008 Barack Obama became America’s first black President