Black Americans in history and society

¶ … United States is a country that thrives on the achievements of various people groups. The achievements of African-Americans in the United States are particularly significant. African-Americans have contributed greatly to the world of literature, medicine, and business. The purpose of this discussion is to examine the role that African-Americans have played in the formulation of American culture.

Blacks in America

Although the history of blacks in America has been steeped in bigotry, hatred, and segregation, the culture has managed to face these adversities with courage and triumph. African-American's have fought for equal rights since their arrival in this country. Initially, they were forced to fight for the right to be free men and to end slavery. Eventually, African-Americans also struggled for integration during the civil rights movement. There were several individuals that were instrumental in ensuring that African-Americans were free from slavery and that they gained their civil rights. These individuals included; Frederick Douglass, Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, and W.E.B. Du Bois. (Bennet 1989) fascinating fact about African-Americans is that they were able to achieve amazing things in the midst of their struggles. These achievements were accomplished in literature, medicine, and business. People like the poet Langston Hughes and the novelist Richard Wright changed the literary world forever. (Bennet 1989) Other writers such as Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Phyllis Wheatley, Zora Neal Hurston and Gwendolyn Brooks have also helped to shape American literature. (Bennet 1989) Black literature is still an important part of American literature and includes novelists such as Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Maya Angelou. Black writers are important because they expose the plight of African-Americans to the world.

Blacks have also made significant contributions to the advancement of medical practices. Dr. Charles Drew made one of the most important contributions to the world of medicine when he pioneered research that led to blood plasma preservation. (Bennet 1989) In addition, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed the first open heart surgery in 1893. (Bennet 1989)