Answer to Question #163628 in History for logan william

Question

Vincent Harding essay "We the People: The Long Journey Toward a More Perfect Union" discusses the contradictions between the values expressed in the Preamble to the Constitution and the experiences of African Americans. Discuss one of the experiences Harding refers to that gave you an awareness of the African American struggle historically.

Answer 1

The struggles of African Americans towards the ideals of justice have a long history. Vincent Harding is referring to the experiences that black activists faced during their struggle for social justice. In the course of their freedom struggles, African Americans responded through carceral actions and the creation of cultural consciousness, which sparked imprisonment and carceral confrontations. Therefore, Vincent Harding articulates the impact of imprisonment, policing, jailing, and other unjust actions that native Americans instituted against African Americans.