Essays and Research Papers on Slavery & Civil Rights

This 12 page paper explores the experience of the KKK and reasons why the group's activity dominated just a few decades within American history. The paper concludes that the Klan's motivations are largely economic in nature. Bibliography lists 12 sources.

An 8 page research paper which examines how racism impacts children. The writer discusses how black parents have to transmit to their children information concerning racism and the dangers of world without having the children internalize the dominant culture's negative messages concerning African-Americans. Other topics addressed include the importance of multiculturalism in school curriculums, conflict ...

A 4 page essay on the importance of a film like "Sankosa" -- to ensure that African-Americans never forget their roots. Slavery is described as a problem that could conceivably re-occur if history fails to adequately re-tell its horrific tales. In the writer's opinion, Sankosa is most likely a chillingly real account-- worthy of anyone's ...

A 4 page overview of August Wilson's play 'Fences' with special consideration of the importance of Troy and the impact that this main character has on the development of themes like racial separation and struggle. This paper also looks at Troy's impact on his family and the way in which Wilson provides an insightful look ...

The Civil War was the most devastating event in the history of the United States. The political, social and economic effects of that particular war are still being felt today. The 'cause' of the Civil War is generally understood to be the controversy surrounding slavery and the abolition of that institution. This 12 page paper explores the ...

This five-page-paper compares and contrasts two of the of the most famous civil rights activists in African American history. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois spent their lives as civil rights activists for their people but used different approaches toward the same goal. The differences and similarities are discussed along with explanations as to how those differences came to ...

A 5 page discussion of the cause of segregation and its history in the United States. Distinguishes between the natural tendency of groups toward segregation and the artificially imposed segregation which results from one groups distrust or dislike of another. Concludes that while the Civil Rights movement has brought America a long way toward equality and integration, and ...

This 5 page paper looks at Cuba's history, with a focus on its formation shortly after independence. Several issues are discussed. The race issue is illuminated. Most of the positions draws on information from a book by Aline Helg. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

An eight page paper which describes the history of slavery on Long Island from the first black immigrants to the Revolution. The writer looks at the ways in which life for Northern slaves differed from that of their Southern counterparts, and considers how the change from Dutch to English rule negatively affected the Long Island ...

A 10 page paper which discusses various aspects of the Civil Rights Movement. The paper presents the history of the movement, as well as information dealing with the ideals, goals, methods of employment, organizational approaches, and other aspects of the movement. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page discussion of the reconstruction era following the Civil War and the impact of this era of freed slaves. Outlines the history leading up to this era and the measures which would be taken to ensure black entry into the predominantly white world. No additional sources are listed.

Between the latter years of the nineteenth century and today a number of black writers have expressed their views on black civil rights. The manner in which these views were expressed, and indeed the literary style and presentation of these writers differed considerably. This 6 page paper utilizes the writings of W.E.B. DuBois, ...

(5 pp) Personal tribal history, and sheer force of will propelled Nelson Mendela into politics; it is unlikely that apartheid would have been abolished with his tenacity, and organizational skills. To say that the right person was in the right place at the right time is not to negate any of Medela's skills, but ...

(9 pp) The success of "passing" for white dangles in front of those with "mixed blood," in the South of the post-Civil war. Education and training may make "the passing," easier to accomplish, but still maintains a social fragility, that is always in danger of collapsing. Chestnutt mines this psychological tension, as ...

A 4 page essay that discusses the paradox of these two movements occurring during the same era. The beginnings of the Civil Rights movement which would emerge fully in the 1960s could find its foundations beginning in the 1950s, the same period of time that saw ultraconservative McCarthyism. The writer offers reasons why the occurrence ...

An 8 page essay exploring the conditions described in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s book, 'Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?', to conditions for the African American in 1997, thirty years after the book was published. Specifically, Chapter IV is reviewed and compared to conditions of racism and opportunities in both eras. ...

A 5 page paper in which the writer argues that literature written by Black authors during the early 1920s opened up a discourse between Black artists, militants and intellectuals that helped forge a Black American identity that served the Civil Rights and Pan American movements. One artist who helped to continually reopen this discussion and ...

This 5 page paper argues in favor of non-violent civil disobedience through the application of the views of Martin Luther King in his 'Letter From a Birmingham Jail.' This paper argues that civil disobedience is a powerful means of social change, but that it must be carried out in a manner that determines the ...

A 5 page review of the book by Michael Eric Dyson. Discusses Dyson's portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr's life and accomplishments. Delineates the theme and purpose of the book, its significant findings, conclusions, and the importance of Dyson's sources. Concludes that the author sometimes goes overboard in excusing the more reprehensible of ...

This 5 page paper considers the letter written by martin Luther King in 1963 entitled the 'Letter from Birmingham Jail'. The paper looks at the messages contained in the letter, the justification and historical references and the way in which religion was used. The bibliography cites 7 sources.

This 5 page report discusses Harriet Beecher Stowe’s and Frederick Douglass’ American masterpieces. Douglass’ lectures on slavery to audiences in Great Britain created a great deal of sympathy for the abolitionists’ cause and prompted his admirers to raise funds to purchase his freedom. And, of course, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s heartbreaking story, melodramatic as it is, reached into the hearts of the “mainstream” ...

A 3 page paper which compares and contrasts Martin Luther King Jr. Letter from a Birmingham Jail and George Orwell’s Shooting and Elephant. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 5 page creative story about a young black girl coming to New York during the Harlem Renaissance with the hope of becoming a writer. The story reflects customs and practices common during that time period and mentions figures instrumental in the Harlem Renaissance of the mid-1920s. No additional sources cited.

A 3 page essay that explains what is meant by "colorblind racism." Bibliography lists 4 sources

A 5 page research paper that offers a study guide and suggestions on how to understand and approach the task of essay writing on 2 plays: Oedipus the King by Sophocles and The Darker Face of the Earth by Rita Dove. To repeat this, this paper is not an essay but it rather suggestions and ...