Obama’s victory during the presidential elections in 2008 is sometimes seen as a sign of reconciliation between two races (the whites and the blacks) in the USA. Nevertheless, the tension between the two races remains quite obvious. Admittedly, African Americans gained a lot throughout the twentieth century, but this is not enough as this ethnic group faces a lot of constraints.
One of the most controversial aspects of the issue is that African Americans had to endure forced immigration. Levinson and Ember note that first Africans were brought to the Americas in the seventeenth century (255). This was not the end of immigration.
After abolition of slavery in the USA, African Americans were forced to migrate to urban areas in predominantly Northern states (Levinson & Ember 256). Of course, this migration was not welcomed by white populations. Moreover, the migration led to increased tension between the two races.
It is important to note that African Americans had to face lots of issues in a variety of spheres of their lives. They had to endure hostility in social and political spheres. Cashmore argues that the Civil Rights movement had a great impact on empowerment of Black people (231).
Thus, African Americans have entered sports arena. Victories of black politicians in the 1980s were also seen as a great victory and certain implications of the Civil Rights movement (Cashmore 231). Nonetheless, these cannot be regarded as examples of African Americans’ complete empowerment as there were only two black mayors in Northern states.
One of these Black politicians was killed, and the other won could not remain in the office for the second term. Those victories were short-lived and did not lead to meaningful changes in the situation.
Admittedly, political life is not the only sphere where the tension between the two races is apparent. Social life is another terrain where African Americans have to endure hostility and certain kind of oppression. Levinson and Ember note that many African Americans achieved “a middle-class status” (257).
However, the researchers also argue that this does not mean that this group of African Americans enjoys equality (Levinson & Ember 258). African Americans pertaining to this class have to endure oppression and hostility which is manifested in other ways.
Notably, Levinson & Ember reveal a hazardous trend concerning families of African Americans (259). The majority of African American couples are not married that, eventually, leads to a great number of families where the breadwinner is a female. There is also a high rate of mortality among black males.
This can be explained by high rate of unemployment. Furthermore, many black females are killed (by other black males as well as white people). Admittedly, the number of incomplete families negatively affects the future of ethnic group.
It is also important to note that African Americans always wanted to preserve their ethnic identity. African Americans have been against complete assimilation as they cherished their ethnic background. This also contributed to certain tension between the whites and the blacks as the cultures of these groups are different.
On balance, it is necessary to note that there is still tension between different ethnic groups in the USA. African Americans have gained a lot since abolishment of slavery, but they still face a lot of constraints in different spheres of life. It is still unclear whether the American society can ever become truly integrated.
Works Cited
Cashmore, Ellis. “African Americans.” Immigration and Ethnic Relations in the US. Ed. Takeyuki Tsuda. San Diego: Cognella Academic Publishing, 2012. 231-232. Print.
Levinson, David and Melvin Ember. “American Immigrant Cultures: Builders of a Nation.” Immigration and Ethnic Relations in the US. Ed. Takeyuki Tsuda. San Diego: Cognella Academic Publishing, 2012. 255-262. Print.