Living History

I've taught United States history for almost 10 years now. I've been responsible for teaching thousands of students the history of their country. I tell them that the history of the United States is largely the history of race. We start with the landing of the first slaves in Jamestown in 1610 and discuss the long and hard struggle to abolish this practice.
It took the U.S. over 250 years to outlaw slavery and the Civil War cost us 600,000 lives in the process but the struggle for equality was just beginning. We go on to study the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments. For those who need a refresher on these the 13th abolished slavery, the 14th granted freed slaves citizenship and the 15th gave black men the right to vote.

Ideally these post Civil War efforts were the opportunity that America had to be who we always said we were - the land of the free and the home of the brave, a democracy where all men were created equal. Unfortunately this was not the case, white supremacy continued into the 20th century where poll taxes, grandfather clauses and literacy test prevented many African Americans from voting. Domestic terrorist organizations like the KKK emerged and lynchings were common place, especially in the South.

When the Civil Rights Movement begins in the 1950's America again has the opportunity to live up to its claims. Courageous leaders like Martin Luther King led nonviolent protests against a "militantly defensive majority population".
Finally after years of struggle a new dawn emerges with the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Bill and the Civil Rights Act.
Last week Teri and I early voted for Barack Obama. I literally cried in the process. I was then, and am today, prouder to be an American than any other time in my life. I took Vin with me into the voting booth and cast my ballot. The election of our first African American President is a long time coming and I'm just so proud that I got to be a part of this historic election.