In the decades leading up to the 1950's, African American people were denied basic human rights as they were seen to be "lower" and "inferior" human beings. This racial discrimination can be traced back to the days of slavery in the 1600's right up to today in the 21st Century. It has been only in the last 50-60 years that African Americans have been treated as equals. The prime root of this conduct can be seen from the beginning of slavery.
Modern (1500's onwards) slavery started when the Spaniards began importing slaves in 1517. The first African slaves in the now United States arrived at the English colony of Virginia on a Dutch ship in 1619. The slave population grew from then on to approximately 4 million in the mid 19th century. …
