Timeline of the Black Experience

Starting from the earliest known history and progressing through the modern era this timeline includes significant milestones, historical context, and important figures. It demonstrates the resilience and contributions of Black individuals and communities throughout history, as well as the persistent impact of systemic racism and the continued fight for civil rights.

### Pre-Colonial Africa (Before 1619)

– **3000 BC – 1500 AD**: Ancient African civilizations flourished during this period, showcasing the rich history and cultural heritage of the African continent [[1]]

– **Ancient Egypt (c. 3000 BC – 30 BC)**: One of the world’s earliest and most advanced civilizations, known for its monumental architecture, including the pyramids.

– **Kingdom of Nubia (c. 2000 BC – 350 AD)**: Located south of Egypt, known for its rich gold deposits and powerful kingdoms like Kerma and Kush.

– **Kingdom of Aksum (c. 100 AD – 940 AD)**: A major trading empire in present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, one of the first African kingdoms to adopt Christianity [[2]]

– **Empire of Ghana (c. 6th – 13th centuries)**: Flourished in West Africa, controlling trans-Saharan trade routes in gold and salt.

– **Empire of Mali (c. 13th – 16th centuries)**: Rose to prominence under Sundiata Keita, reached its peak under Mansa Musa, known for its wealth and Islamic learning centers.

– **Empire of Songhai (15th – 16th centuries)**: Succeeded the Mali Empire, known for its administrative sophistication and military prowess.

– **Great Zimbabwe (11th – 15th centuries)**: Thrived in southeastern Africa, renowned for its impressive stone structures [[3]]

– **Swahili City-States (10th century onwards)**: Developed along the East African coast, serving as cosmopolitan centers of trade [[4]].

### The Beginning of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (15th – 19th centuries)

– **Late 15th century**: Portuguese initiate the transatlantic slave trade, initially transporting Africans to work on sugar plantations in Cape Verde and Madeira islands [[5]].

– **16th century**: Spanish and Portuguese establish colonies in the New World, increasingly turning to Africa for labor as Indigenous populations decline [[6]].

– **17th – 19th centuries**: The transatlantic slave trade reaches its peak, with an estimated 10-12 million Africans forcibly transported to the Americas [[7]].

### Colonial America and Early United States (1619 – 1865)

– **1619**: Arrival of the first recorded Africans in English North America at Point Comfort, Virginia [[8]].

– **Mid-17th century**: Establishment of lifelong slavery and hereditary servitude in Virginia and other colonies [[9]].

– **1705**: Virginia Slave Codes codify the dehumanizing nature of slavery [[10]].

– **1739**: Stono Rebellion, the largest slave uprising in the colonial period [[11]].

– **Late 18th – early 19th centuries**: Rise of the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad [[12]].

– **1861 – 1865**: American Civil War fought over the issue of slavery.

### Emancipation and Reconstruction (1865 – 1877)

– **1865**: Ratification of the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery [[13]].

– **1865 – 1877**: Reconstruction Era, aimed at rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved African Americans into society [[13]].

– **1868**: Ratification of the 14th Amendment, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States.

– **1870**: Ratification of the 15th Amendment, prohibiting the denial of voting rights based on race.

### Jim Crow Era and Early 20th Century (1877 – 1950s)

– **Late 19th century – 1965**: Implementation of Jim Crow laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States [[14]].

– **1896**: Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court decision upholds “separate but equal” doctrine [[15]].

– **1909**: Founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

– **1914 – 1918**: World War I, with approximately 370,000 African Americans serving in the U.S. military [[16]].

– **1920s – 1930s**: Harlem Renaissance, a flowering of African American cultural, literary, and artistic expression.

– **1939 – 1945**: World War II, with over one million African Americans serving in various branches of the U.S. armed forces [[17]] [[18]].

### Civil Rights Movement and Beyond (1950s – Present)

– **1954**: Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision overturns Plessy v. Ferguson, declaring segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

– **1955 – 1956**: Montgomery Bus Boycott led by Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks [[19]].

– **1963**: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech [[20]].

– **1965**: Voting Rights Act passed, aimed at overcoming legal barriers preventing African Americans from exercising their right to vote [[21]] [[22]].

– **1964**: Civil Rights Act passed, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin [[21]].

– **1968**: Fair Housing Act passed, prohibiting discrimination in housing [[21]].

### Presidential Administrations and Their Impact on Black Americans

– **Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933 – 1945)**: New Deal programs often reinforced racial inequalities, but also provided some economic relief [[23]]() [[24]].

– **Harry Truman (1945 – 1953)**: Desegregated the armed forces and advocated for anti-lynching laws [[25]].

– **John F. Kennedy (1961 – 1963)**: Initially hesitant on civil rights but eventually supported the movement, leading to the introduction of a comprehensive civil rights bill [[26]].

– **Lyndon B. Johnson (1963 – 1969)**: Aggressively pursued civil rights legislation, resulting in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 [[25]].

– **Jimmy Carter (1977 – 1981)**: Supported affirmative action and appointed a significant number of Black Americans to federal positions.

– **Ronald Reagan (1981 – 1989)**: Marked by a rollback of civil rights policies and opposition to affirmative action.

– **Bill Clinton (1993 – 2001)**: Implemented the 1994 Crime Bill, which contributed to mass incarceration, disproportionately affecting Black Americans.

– **Barack Obama (2009 – 2017)**: First African American president, implemented the Affordable Care Act and advocated for criminal justice reform.

– **Donald Trump (2017 – 2021)**: Presidency marked by rhetoric and policies perceived as hostile to Black Americans.

– **Joe Biden (2021 – Present)**: Signaled a commitment to racial equity, including executive actions on racial justice and proposals for police reform [[23]].

### Cold War and Vietnam Era

– **1950s – 1980s**: Cold War period saw African Americans facing a dual struggle for civil rights at home while being part of the global ideological battle against communism [[27]].

– **1955 – 1975**: Vietnam War era, with African American soldiers playing a crucial role despite facing systemic racism [[28]]. The anti-war movement became intertwined with the civil rights struggle [[29]].

### Modern Challenges and Movements

– **1980s – Present**: Mass incarceration disproportionately affects Black communities, with Black adults imprisoned at five times the rate of white adults as of 2020 [[30]].

– **2013 – Present**: Black Lives Matter movement emerges, focusing on police brutality and racial justice [[31]].

100 Years of American History in Black and White

American history over the past 100 years has been a complex tapestry of progress, challenges, and social change, with significantly different experiences for African-Americans and whites. To understand this history and the diverse experiences within it, we need to examine key periods and events that have shaped the nation.

The Great Depression and World War II Era (1925-1945)

The Great Depression, beginning in 1929, was a period of severe economic hardship that affected all Americans, but disproportionately impacted African-Americans

Unemployment was widespread, with many people struggling to find work and provide for their families. For African-Americans, this period was particularly challenging due to entrenched segregation and discrimination. The Jim Crow laws in the South enforced a “separate but equal” status that was far from equal, affecting every aspect of life from education to employment

African-Americans faced severe limitations on their voting rights through mechanisms like literacy tests and poll taxes, despite the 15th Amendment’s guarantee of voting rights

World War II brought significant changes. The war effort required the mobilization of all Americans, and African-Americans served in large numbers both in the military and in war-related industries. However, they still faced discrimination and segregation in the armed forces and employment

The Double V Campaign, calling for victory against fascism abroad and racial injustice at home, highlighted the contradictions in America’s democratic ideals and its treatment of African-Americans

Post-War Era and Civil Rights Movement (1945-1970)

The post-war period saw an economic boom that benefited many Americans, particularly whites. The GI Bill provided returning veterans with benefits such as low-cost mortgages and educational opportunities, although these benefits were often less accessible to African-American veterans due to ongoing discrimination

For African-Americans, this era was marked by the intensification of the Civil Rights Movement. Key events included:

The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965

These events and legislative changes aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination, marking significant progress in the struggle for equality. However, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 was a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges and resistance to change

Late 20th Century (1970-1990)

This period saw continued efforts towards desegregation and the implementation of policies aimed at improving the socio-economic status of African-Americans, such as affirmative action. However, economic disparities persisted, with African-Americans facing higher unemployment rates and lower income levels compared to their white counterparts

The Vietnam War and the Cold War significantly impacted American society during this time. The anti-war movement, often intertwined with civil rights activism, highlighted the connections between foreign policy and domestic racial injustices

Recent History (1990-2025)

The past three decades have seen both progress and ongoing challenges for African-Americans:

Increased political representation, culminating in the election of Barack Obama as the first Black President in 2008

Persistent economic disparities, with African-American poverty rates remaining high

Continued issues of racial profiling and police brutality, leading to the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013

The Black Lives Matter movement has been instrumental in raising awareness about systemic racism and has led to policy changes in areas such as policing.

Conclusion

If you had lived in America for the last 100 years, your experiences would have varied dramatically based on your race. For African-Americans, it would have been a journey from legalized segregation and widespread discrimination to significant legal and social progress, albeit with ongoing challenges. For white Americans, while also affected by major events like the Great Depression and various wars, the experience would generally have been one of greater privilege and opportunity, particularly in the earlier decades.

The story of America over the past century is one of struggle, progress, and ongoing efforts to live up to the nation’s ideals of equality and justice for all. While significant strides have been made, particularly in legal rights and representation, the persistence of economic disparities and systemic racism demonstrates that there is still work to be done to achieve true equality.

Bob’s Tuesday African American Portrait

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Robert Lloyd