The ethnic group that I personally belong to is African American.

According to the Census Bureau from 2000, "African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa." The first recorded Africans in the British North America came in 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia. Several African families own farms and some were wealthy. In the 1770's the American Revolution happened, and by 186- there were about 3.5 million Africans enslaved in the United States because of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Three years later, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in the United States that seceded from the union were free. Although this was a wonderful step for Africans, it also left another struggle for them to survive, which was the uphill battle of having nothing. Even after the proclamation was in full effect, the southern states enacted Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation. African Americans had to submit to humility and violence during these times. Eventually the middle-class African Americans created their own schools, churches, banks, social clubs, and other businesses. The great migration in the early 1900's was sparked by African Americans because of the desperate lifestyles that they were in. Eventually, there was a civil rights movement, in 1954 to 1968, which is one of the biggest highlights of my race. This movement was done in order to end public and private acts of racial discrimination against African Americans. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was created which banned discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and labor unions. (Wikipedia) Because of all of these things is the reason why I have a voice. Most African Americans were enslaved and bought to the United States by boat from Africa. The others immigrated to the United States. From knowing this piece of history it is obvious that there was definitely some sort of prejudice that African Americans faced. African Americans faced prejudice, segregation, and racism. Even now today there is still some form of all three of those in our lives. The reason for this discrimination was because of the color of our skin. European Americans did not regard us as being equal to them. Actually they thought of us as a fraction of a person. In today's society things are much more diverse than then. Company's and places thrive on diversity. We are treated as equals because that is what we are. I love being an African American, and therefore identify more with that ethnic group. Although I know that the United States of America does have its own mainstream culture that I relate to sometimes, I believe that I identify more with African American. The history of African Americans is so deep and elaborate that it presents a strong standing. To be able to go through all of that drama and start at the bottom and still rise out of it is tremendous. Because of this is the reason why I culturally identify with African Americans. One of the forms of discrimination that African American participates in is Affirmative Action. This is one of the reasons that I am able to get a quality education, and do the things that I currently do. Affirmative Action was created for "...policies aimed at a historically sociopolitically non-dominant group (typically, minority men or women of all racial groups) intended to promote its access to education or employment." (Wikipedia) Because of the history of African Americans, we would be viewed as more underprivileged compared to European Americans. We did not have the same resources are abilities that European Americans has because of things such as segregation and discrimination. Affirmative Action creates policies and gives African Americans the chance to be on the same playing field and European Americans in

terms of education and employment. This is something that we really needed because it allows us to succeed even though we may not have had enough money to go to college. Overall, African Americans have so much history. We literally started off at the bottom and crawled our way to equality. Looking at our history makes me want to progress because I know that if the previous generations could do all of that, then I am able to succeed myself. It is very unfortunate that my race was enslaved and treated the way that they were, but nonetheless we survived. Things are more different in the United States than they were then even though there is still plenty of discrimination. Moreover, African Americans are a wonderful ethnic group whom I belong to who has shown what determination means.