The Illusion of Equality
Here's an argument against eliminating DEI initiatives and civil rights protections, emphasizing historical context: * Post-Civil War Amendments: The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were designed to abolish slavery and grant Black Americans citizenship and voting rights. However, these legal guarantees did not translate into genuine equality. * Rise of Jim Crow: Southern states enacted Jim Crow laws, enforcing segregation in schools, transportation, housing, and all aspects of public life. These laws, along with violence and intimidation, systematically disenfranchised and oppressed Black Americans. * "Separate but Equal": The Supreme Court's Plessy v. Ferguson decision (1896) upheld segregation, codifying the idea that "separate but equal" facilities were constitutional. This doctrine legitimized racial inequality for decades. The Need for Continued Action: * Lingering Disparities: Even with landmark civil rights legislation like the Civil Rights Act of...