Harriet Tubman, first woman on a $20 Bill

Harriet Tubman has been chosen to replace Andrew Jackson's portrait on US $20 Bill !

This black woman was an African-American abolitionist born into slavery. She helped hundreds of slaves to escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. 

It's so a great news for Black women !!

Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/05/12/harriet-tubman-20-dollar-bill/27173135/

Debate: Can we consider African-American people as an apart society?

Recently, I asked myself about African-American people place into The American society. After what they had to face (Segregation, racism…) we can ask ourselves if they really are integrated or if they are apart. Of course, segregation has been abolished but, in my way of think Black American people are creating a society inside of the society of the United States of America.

On the one hand, American society is a big mix of people from everywhere with different origins. On the other hand, it seems like if there were a lot of different societies into the country. For example, we mention communities like Italian or Chinese people creating neighborhoods like “Little Italy” or “China town”. They are living into the United States but, they are still having a strong link with their country.

Black people have created a Black community as well. They have their own TV channels, their own newspaper, their own music and sometimes their own political movements or religion.

Now, we can ask ourselves if there is still some kind of segregation. 

Animation: "The proud family" 

To be honest I don’t think it would be an appropriate word. First of all, contrary to segregation, those movements have been initiated by black people. I don’t think they are excluding people with a different skin color if they are interested in their culture. I mean that during the segregation period, black people were completely excluded. It is just that they have their own culture and if a Chinese guy wants to discover this culture, nobody is going to prohibit that. Second of all, having many cultures inside of this country is part of the history and the identity of the United States of America. 

Obviously their history is based on immigration and various cultures… so, what’s your opinion?

Source: My head 

History: Black African-Americans role into Second World War

African-American soldiers played a significant role in World War II. More than half a million of them served in Europe. But on the other side they were also segregated inside of the army. They couldn’t serve on the same units as white soldiers as well as they could not combat on the front lines until 1941. This year, African-American civil rights leaders convinced the government to set up all-black combat units and consequently, black soldiers had the same kind of tasks. 

In a way, we can ask ourselves if there was kind of “double war” for African-American soldiers. In my opinion, war is a hell and it’s a very hard ordeal. Soldiers had to fight in another territory they were far away from home, and for black soldiers it was even harder to face because they had to face the hostility of some soldiers, and of the army. Of course, they were helping their country at the same level, so I think it was a really difficult challenge for them.  

Here is an interesting report about Black soldiers during the second World War.

History: Plessy vs Ferguson (1896)

In 1890 the State of Louisiana adopted the separate car act which stated that Blacks and Whites had to use separate cars in trains, buses as well as in other public transportations.

Homer Plessy, was an octoroon who initiated those laws; that is interesting to mention that this man was seven-eighths White but in reality he looked like a White man. In 1892 he decided to challenge the law because he wanted to cancel it. 

 Homer Plessy

One day, he decided to sit on a place reserved for White people. He was immediately arrested and sentenced to pay a fine with an amount of $25.

Then he decided to continue the judiciary process all the way up to the judiciary Court. Finally, the Court studied the case on April 1896 and handed out its final decision on May, 18^th.

There was a seven to one majority and the Court declared that the separate car act did not go against the 14th Amendment.

In the end, the « SEPARATE BUT EQUAL » principle was declared constitutional.

So the only dissenting voice was John M.Harlan’s ones.  He wanted the Court decision to be as unpopular as the Dred Scott’s decision and in fact he was right. The Southern States all jumped on the occasion to use a lot the « separate but equal » principle which made segregation legal and common in the South. Obviously, it was all with the blessing of the Supreme Court.

In the end, we can say that the separate part was respected but the equal part were not really respected. 

In reality segregation has never been "equal"...

Source: https://almostinterestinglyenough.wordpress.com/tag/homer-plessy/ 

Mr Grenet teacher of "USA's History"

Obama's documentary

Have you enjoyed the last videos about Barack Obama? 

If you want to know more about him, you should see this full documentary about the President of United States! 

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YCNclAos_k