While slavery was undoubtedly the engine of this discord, there were other gears grinding in the background—less visible, perhaps, but no less significant. Among them: tariffs and taxes. In this…
Author: mirtisr
The 761st Tank Battalion: ‘Come Out Fighting’ – A Legacy of Courage and Resolve
This is a story of valor, of men who dared to fight on two fronts—against tyranny abroad and racism at home. The men of the 761st Tank Battalion, known as…
A Step Back? Examining the Potential Erosion of Civil Rights Protections
A troubling development is unfolding in federal policy, which may have profound consequences for the civil rights protections enshrined in the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. At issue is…
A Story of Resilience: The Rise of Black-Owned Banks and Fraternal Organizations
This is a story of a community pushed to the margins but determined to forge its path to prosperity and dignity. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, African…
The Red Cross and Segregation of Life-Saving Blood Donations From African Americans
The American Red Cross’s segregation of African American blood donations during World War II actively upheld systemic racism in a critical realm: life-saving medical care. Influenced by pseudoscientific beliefs about…
Red Summer and The Massacre Of Elaine, Arkansas
In 1919, several interrelated factors intensified racial tensions in the United States. During Reconstruction, African Americans gained significant political and legal rights, such as voting and holding public office. However,…
To Preserve Slavery, Nothing Was Sacred. Not Even The Bible
The Slave Bible exemplifies how religion was weaponized to sustain slavery. Officially titled Parts of the Holy Bible, Selected for the Use of the Negro Slaves, in the British West-India…
The race riots of East St. Louis and Springfield. A stark reminder of the violence and racial division that persisted then and now in America.
The East St. Louis race riot of 1917 stands as one of the darkest moments of racial violence in American history. What began as economic and racial tension soon spiraled…
In 1865, Congress Created the Freemen’s Bureau. But, Sometimes, Good Intentions Breeds Detractors.
Establishment The Freedmen’s Bureau was established on March 3, 1865. It was officially known as the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Congress created it during the closing months…
Home Ownership, The American Dream – A Racial Nightmare
Levittown, one of post-World War II America’s most iconic suburban developments, symbolizes opportunity and exclusion. Created by William Levitt and his company, Levitt & Sons, Levittown represented the promise of…