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''See also [[Black history]]''.

''See also [[Black history]]''.

Blacks were originally brought to America to serve as slaves in southeastern states on large-scale plantations. During the [[Civil War]], all slaves were freed by Republican President [[Abraham Lincoln]] though the [[Emancipation Proclamation]], the [[Thirteenth Amendment]], and some state actions. During [[Reconstruction]] the [[Freedmen]] (freed slaves) gained citizenship and civil and political rights, including the right to marry, move about, and keep their wages.

Blacks were originally brought to America to serve as slaves in southeastern states on large-scale plantations. During the [[Civil War]], all slaves were freed by Republican President [[Abraham Lincoln]] through the [[Emancipation Proclamation]], the [[Thirteenth Amendment]], and some state actions. During [[Reconstruction]] the [[Freedmen]] (freed slaves) gained citizenship and civil and political rights, including the right to marry, move about, and keep their wages.

The system of sharecropping instituted after the end of the war left most Freedmen poor, while the [[Democrat]] [[Jim Crow]] policies of racial [[segregation]] that were implemented after the end of [[Reconstruction]] limited their civic and political rights. Notably, the states that supported these policies were largely governed by members of the [[Democrat Party]].

The system of sharecropping instituted after the end of the war left most Freedmen poor, while the [[Democrat]] [[Jim Crow]] policies of racial [[segregation]] that were implemented after the end of [[Reconstruction]] limited their civic and political rights. Notably, the states that supported these policies were largely governed by members of the [[Democrat Party]].

==Integration vs. separate institutions==

==Integration vs. separate institutions==

[[File:RosaParks.jpg|thumb|right|[[Rosa Parks]].]]

[[File:RosaParks.jpg|thumb|right|[[Rosa Parks]].]]

Since 1964, most forms of racial discrimination is illegal, and government services and public accommodations have been integrated so that African Americans and non-African Americans can go to school, shop, travel and live with all other Americans. Although ''de jure'' segregation has ended, ''de facto'' segregation continues in many aspects of American life.  Many people have observed that Sunday morning when people are attending church is perhaps the most racially segregated time of the week—because many congregations and denominations are composed primarily of a single race.  Similarly, housing patterns have created neighborhoods of predominantly a single race.  The federal government has outlawed racial discrimination, but continues to support [[historically black colleges and universities]] which continue to educate a predominantly African American student body.  Many states have two public university systems: one for African Americans and a second one open to all students.  Within an individual college that includes students of both races, African Americans socialize in particular [[fraternity|fraternities]] that are historically African American or live in "special interest" dormitories that focus on the "Black experience."  There have even been debates as to whether African American students should be encouraged to use "Black English" as a separate dialect apart from Standard English that is taught and used in academic settings.  The concept of promoting and having all Americans accept a separate "Black culture" in the United States has culminated in the opening of a separate Smithsonian museum on the subject.  As a result, in the 50 years since the passage of the Civil Rights law, American society has not been thoroughly integrated and still has many divides along racial lines.

Since 1964, most forms of racial discrimination are illegal, and government services and public accommodations have been integrated so that African Americans and non-African Americans can go to school, shop, travel and live with all other Americans. Although ''de jure'' segregation has ended, ''de facto'' segregation continues in many aspects of American life.  Many people have observed that Sunday morning when people are attending church is perhaps the most racially segregated time of the week—because many congregations and denominations are composed primarily of a single race.  Similarly, housing patterns have created neighborhoods of predominantly a single race.  The federal government has outlawed racial discrimination, but continues to support [[historically black colleges and universities]] which continue to educate a predominantly African American student body.  Many states have two public university systems: one for African Americans and a second one open to all students.  Within an individual college that includes students of both races, African Americans socialize in particular [[fraternity|fraternities]] that are historically African American or live in "special interest" dormitories that focus on the "Black experience."  There have even been debates as to whether African American students should be encouraged to use "Black English" as a separate dialect apart from Standard English that is taught and used in academic settings.  The concept of promoting and having all Americans accept a separate "Black culture" in the United States has culminated in the opening of a separate Smithsonian museum on the subject.  As a result, in the 50 years since the passage of the Civil Rights law, American society has not been thoroughly integrated and still has many divides along racial lines.

==References==

==References==