History in the makingHistory in the making
The Election ofThe Election of BarackBarack ObamaObama asas
the 44the 44thth
President of the UnitedPresident of the United
States of AmericaStates of America
Milestones leading to todayMilestones leading to today
16191619 –– First Africans arrive in JamestownFirst Africans arrive in Jamestown
16601660 –– Codification of slavery in the legalCodification of slavery in the legal
code of the Virginia colonycode of the Virginia colony
The condition of slavery is inherited from theThe condition of slavery is inherited from the
mothermother
On March 5, 1770,On March 5, 1770, CrispusCrispus
AttucksAttucks, probably a runaway, probably a runaway
slave, is one of five peopleslave, is one of five people
killed in the Boston Massacrekilled in the Boston Massacre
The engraving by PaulThe engraving by Paul
Revere (above) becomes theRevere (above) becomes the
most widely distributedmost widely distributed
image of the Massacreimage of the Massacre
The Boston Massacre byThe Boston Massacre by
Henry Pelham (below),Henry Pelham (below),
stepbrother of painter Johnstepbrother of painter John
Singleton Copley. PelhamSingleton Copley. Pelham
published his design nearlypublished his design nearly
two weeks after Paultwo weeks after Paul
Revere'sRevere's..
18581858 –– TheThe DredDred Scott decision (Scott decision (ScottScott v.v.
SandfordSandford))
In a 7In a 7--2 decision written by Chief Justice Robert2 decision written by Chief Justice Robert
Taney, the Supreme Court ruled, amongst otherTaney, the Supreme Court ruled, amongst other
things that:things that:
The question is simply this: Can a negro, whose ancestorsThe question is simply this: Can a negro, whose ancestors
were imported into this country, and sold as slaves, becomewere imported into this country, and sold as slaves, become
a member of the political community formed and broughta member of the political community formed and brought
into existence by the Constitution of the United States, andinto existence by the Constitution of the United States, and
as such become entitled to all the rights, and privileges, andas such become entitled to all the rights, and privileges, and
immunities, guarantied by that instrument to the citizen?immunities, guarantied by that instrument to the citizen?
……
We think they are not, and that they are not included, andWe think they are not, and that they are not included, and
were not intended to be included, under the wordwere not intended to be included, under the word ‘‘citizenscitizens’’ inin
the Constitution, and can therefore claim none of the rightsthe Constitution, and can therefore claim none of the rights
and privileges which that instrument provides for andand privileges which that instrument provides for and
secures to citizens of the United States. On the contrary,secures to citizens of the United States. On the contrary,
they were at that time considered as a subordinate andthey were at that time considered as a subordinate and
inferior class of beings, who had been subjugated by theinferior class of beings, who had been subjugated by the
dominant race, and, whether emancipated or not, yetdominant race, and, whether emancipated or not, yet
remained subject to their authority, and had no rights orremained subject to their authority, and had no rights or
privileges but such as those who held the power and theprivileges but such as those who held the power and the
Government might choose to grant them.Government might choose to grant them.
18631863 –– AbrahamAbraham
LincolnLincoln’’ss
““EmancipationEmancipation
ProclamationProclamation”” freesfrees
slaves living in areasslaves living in areas
controlled by thecontrolled by the
Confederacy but noConfederacy but no
othersothers
18651865 –– ThirteenthThirteenth
Amendment banningAmendment banning
slavery is ratifiedslavery is ratified
The Fourteenth (1868) and Fifteenth (1870)The Fourteenth (1868) and Fifteenth (1870)
amendments to the Constitution redress the issuesamendments to the Constitution redress the issues
raised in theraised in the DredDred Scott decision:Scott decision:
The Fourteenth states in Section 1:The Fourteenth states in Section 1:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, andAll persons born or naturalized in the United States, and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the Unitedsubject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United
States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shallStates and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall
make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privilegesmake or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges
or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall anyor immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any
State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, withoutState deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without
due process of law; nor deny to any person within itsdue process of law; nor deny to any person within its
jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
The Fifteenth Amendment states in Section 1:The Fifteenth Amendment states in Section 1:
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not beThe right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any State ondenied or abridged by the United States or by any State on
account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
18961896 –– PlessyPlessy v.v. FergusonFerguson
In an 8In an 8--1 decision, the Supreme Court ruled:1 decision, the Supreme Court ruled:
The object of the amendment* was undoubtedly toThe object of the amendment* was undoubtedly to
enforce the absolute equality of the two races before theenforce the absolute equality of the two races before the
law, but, in the nature of things, it could not have beenlaw, but, in the nature of things, it could not have been
intended to abolish distinctions based upon color, or tointended to abolish distinctions based upon color, or to
enforce social, as distinguished from political, equality, orenforce social, as distinguished from political, equality, or
a commingling of the two races upon termsa commingling of the two races upon terms
unsatisfactory to either. Laws permitting, and evenunsatisfactory to either. Laws permitting, and even
requiring, their separation, in places where they arerequiring, their separation, in places where they are
liable to be brought into contact, do not necessarilyliable to be brought into contact, do not necessarily
imply the inferiority of either race to the other, and haveimply the inferiority of either race to the other, and have
been generally, if not universally, recognized as withinbeen generally, if not universally, recognized as within
the competency of the state legislatures in the exercisethe competency of the state legislatures in the exercise
of their police power. The most common instance of thisof their police power. The most common instance of this
is connected with the establishment of separate schoolsis connected with the establishment of separate schools
for white and colored children, which have been held tofor white and colored children, which have been held to
be a valid exercise of the legislative power even bybe a valid exercise of the legislative power even by
courts of states where the political rights of the coloredcourts of states where the political rights of the colored
race have been longest and most earnestly enforcedrace have been longest and most earnestly enforced
*The Fourteenth Amendment*The Fourteenth Amendment
19011901 –– Dinner at the White HouseDinner at the White House
President Theodore Roosevelt invited the AfricanPresident Theodore Roosevelt invited the African
American author, educator and speaker Booker T.American author, educator and speaker Booker T.
Washington to the White House for dinner. This wasWashington to the White House for dinner. This was
the response:the response:
TheThe Memphis ScimitarMemphis Scimitar published this editorial:published this editorial:
““The most damnable outrage which has ever been perpetratedThe most damnable outrage which has ever been perpetrated
by any citizen of the United States was committed yesterday byby any citizen of the United States was committed yesterday by
the President when he invited a nigger to dine with him at thethe President when he invited a nigger to dine with him at the
White HouseWhite House……No Southern woman with a proper selfNo Southern woman with a proper self--respectrespect
would now accept an invitation to the White House, nor wouldwould now accept an invitation to the White House, nor would
President Roosevelt be welcomed today in Southern homes. HePresident Roosevelt be welcomed today in Southern homes. He
has not inflamed the anger of the Southern people; he hashas not inflamed the anger of the Southern people; he has
excited their disgust.excited their disgust.
Senator Ben Tillman of South Carolina proclaimed:Senator Ben Tillman of South Carolina proclaimed:
““The action will necessitate our killing a thousand niggers in thThe action will necessitate our killing a thousand niggers in thee
South before they will learn their place again.South before they will learn their place again.””
19481948 –– Integrating the militaryIntegrating the military
By executive order, President Harry S.By executive order, President Harry S.
Truman orders the integration of theTruman orders the integration of the
United States armed forces and equalUnited States armed forces and equal
treatment for blacks serving in the militarytreatment for blacks serving in the military
19541954 –– BrownBrown v.v. Board of Education ofBoard of Education of
TopekaTopeka
In a unanimous decision written by ChiefIn a unanimous decision written by Chief
Justice Earl Warren, the Supreme CourtJustice Earl Warren, the Supreme Court
rules that:rules that:
We conclude that in the field of publicWe conclude that in the field of public
education the doctrine ofeducation the doctrine of ““separate but equalseparate but equal””
has no place. Separate educational facilities arehas no place. Separate educational facilities are
inherently unequal.inherently unequal.
19641964 –– The Civil Rights Act of 1964The Civil Rights Act of 1964
All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoymentAll persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment
of the goods, services, facilities, and privileges, advantages,of the goods, services, facilities, and privileges, advantages,
and accommodations of any place of public accommodation,and accommodations of any place of public accommodation,
as defined in this section, without discrimination oras defined in this section, without discrimination or
segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, orsegregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or
national origin.national origin.
All persons shall be entitled to be free, at any establishmentAll persons shall be entitled to be free, at any establishment
or place, from discrimination or segregation of any kind onor place, from discrimination or segregation of any kind on
the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin, if suchthe ground of race, color, religion, or national origin, if such
discrimination or segregation is or purports to be required bydiscrimination or segregation is or purports to be required by
any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, rule, or order of aany law, statute, ordinance, regulation, rule, or order of a
State or any agency or political subdivision thereof.State or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
19651965 –– The Voting Rights Act of 1965The Voting Rights Act of 1965
No voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard,No voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard,
practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by anypractice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any
State or political subdivision to deny or abridge the right ofState or political subdivision to deny or abridge the right of
any citizen of the United States to vote on account of raceany citizen of the United States to vote on account of race
or color.or color.
19671967 –– LovingLoving v.v. VirginiaVirginia
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruledIn a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled
that:that:
Marriage is one of theMarriage is one of the ‘‘basic civil rights of man,basic civil rights of man,’’ fundamentalfundamental
to our very existence and survival.to our very existence and survival. …… To deny thisTo deny this
fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as thefundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the
racial classifications embodied in these statutes,racial classifications embodied in these statutes,
classifications so directly subversive of the principle ofclassifications so directly subversive of the principle of
equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surelyequality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely
to deprive all the Stateto deprive all the State’’s citizens of liberty without dues citizens of liberty without due
process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that theprocess of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the
freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidiousfreedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious
racial discriminations. Under our Constitution, the freedom toracial discriminations. Under our Constitution, the freedom to
marry or not marry, a person of another race resides withmarry or not marry, a person of another race resides with
the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.
Laws still on the books in 17 states were overturnedLaws still on the books in 17 states were overturned
by this decision.by this decision.
In 1961, a certain Ann Dunham would not have beenIn 1961, a certain Ann Dunham would not have been
able to marry her husband of choice in almost half ofable to marry her husband of choice in almost half of
the states of the United Statesthe states of the United States
How do Alexander GardnerHow do Alexander Gardner’’s portrait of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 5, 1865)s portrait of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 5, 1865)
and theand the SunSun--TimesTimes cover from November 5, 2008 compare?cover from November 5, 2008 compare?