African American Civil Rights Short Essay

A century of slavery and half a century of Jim Crows segregation laws, the African American people were finally victorious when the civil rights act of 1964 and the Voting Rights act of 1965 were passed. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities and women. Congress finally asserted their authority to regulate interstate commerce under Article One (section 8). Their duty is to guarantee all citizens equal protection including African Americans under the laws of the Fourteenth Amendment. Also the fourteenth Amendment protects voting rights under the Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibits the government from denying any citizen the ability, or right to vote based on race or color. For so long African Americans have been held back due to slavery and Jim Crow laws. After Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) racial segregation was necessary in all public facilities under the doctrine of â€Å"separate but equal†. The fact of the matter is that whites and blacks were never equal, just separate. Jim Crow laws were adopted throughout the south to alienate black citizens and physically separate African Americans and whites. These laws institutionalized segregation of African Americans and whites and did not allow access use of the same schools, hospitals, prisons, public parks, housing communities, and even restrooms. Lets remember these facilities were completely unequal. The white facilities were obviously more luxurious in every way, and throughout the whole country it was obvious that in no section blacks were treated equal. The most important goal of these laws was to keep blacks from voting. Whites realized that once blacks were able to vote freely they truly were equal to every citizen. The best way they kept blacks from voting was through literacy tests. Through all the efforts whites were putting to keep blacks from voting they have been successful allowing less than 10% of blacks voting in the south in 1910. These segregation laws stayed until Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which overturned the ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson. The decision stated that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. It was realized after this that racial segregation was ruled a violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision paved the way for integration in the south and throughout the United States and was a major win in the civil rights movement. Blacks were most successfully when they were organized. The organized bus boycott, sit-ins, freedom rides, and march on Washington brought national attention to the war on civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr. led these events; his â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech is world famous now due to the significance of the civil rights movement. These demonstrations were pivotal for the African American community in declaring their liberty. Finally when the Civil rights Act of 1964 passed along with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, discrimination because of race was outlawed and any color human being could vote. Blacks were finally free and were the true winners of the civil rights movement 1950s and 1960s. They were finally equal and there rights were fully instilled. (Sources: The Logic of American Politics) African American Civil Rights Short Essay A century of slavery and half a century of Jim Crows segregation laws, the African American people were finally victorious when the civil rights act of 1964 and the Voting Rights act of 1965 were passed. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities and women. Congress finally asserted their authority to regulate interstate commerce under Article One (section 8). Their duty is to guarantee all citizens equal protection including African Americans under the laws of the Fourteenth Amendment. Also the fourteenth Amendment protects voting rights under the Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibits the government from denying any citizen the ability, or right to vote based on race or color. For so long African Americans have been held back due to slavery and Jim Crow laws. After Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) racial segregation was necessary in all public facilities under the doctrine of â€Å"separate but equal†. The fact of the matter is that whites and blacks were never equal, just separate. Jim Crow laws were adopted throughout the south to alienate black citizens and physically separate African Americans and whites. These laws institutionalized segregation of African Americans and whites and did not allow access use of the same schools, hospitals, prisons, public parks, housing communities, and even restrooms. Lets remember these facilities were completely unequal. The white facilities were obviously more luxurious in every way, and throughout the whole country it was obvious that in no section blacks were treated equal. The most important goal of these laws was to keep blacks from voting. Whites realized that once blacks were able to vote freely they truly were equal to every citizen. The best way they kept blacks from voting was through literacy tests. Through all the efforts whites were putting to keep blacks from voting they have been successful allowing less than 10% of blacks voting in the south in 1910. These segregation laws stayed until Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which overturned the ruling of Plessy v. Ferguson. The decision stated that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. It was realized after this that racial segregation was ruled a violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision paved the way for integration in the south and throughout the United States and was a major win in the civil rights movement. Blacks were most successfully when they were organized. The organized bus boycott, sit-ins, freedom rides, and march on Washington brought national attention to the war on civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr. led these events; his â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech is world famous now due to the significance of the civil rights movement. These demonstrations were pivotal for the African American community in declaring their liberty. Finally when the Civil rights Act of 1964 passed along with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, discrimination because of race was outlawed and any color human being could vote. Blacks were finally free and were the true winners of the civil rights movement 1950s and 1960s. They were finally equal and there rights were fully instilled. (Sources: The Logic of American Politics)

Discuss the role of victims in international criminal trials and Essay

Discuss the role of victims in international criminal trials and suggest possible areas of reform - Essay Example It is the fourth stage that concerns helping and rehabilitating victims which is the main subject of this article. In addition the need for providing a voice to the victims in the trial process itself is examined. In the past victims have not been of great interest to the international community, and some writers have labeled concern for victims the 'missing link' of international criminal justice3. The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY); the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR); and the permanent International Criminal Court (ICC) have a common mandate: "to contribute to the consolidation and enhancement of international justice and the international rule of law by bringing to account, in an international forum, those persons bearing the greatest responsibility for the most egregious violations of international humanitarian law."4 In the past thirteen years a number of cases have been tried and the use and effectiveness of such courts is evident as they helped establish peace and justice in Rwanda and the Balkans. The need for establishment of international criminal tribunals and courts was felt because the persons committing crimes that may be prosecuted under four clusters of offences i.e. breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions5, violations of the laws or customs of war6 (which together are generally known as "war crimes"), genocide7, and crimes against humanity8 are often beyond the reach of unwilling or unable national judicial systems. Neither is it possible to establish an atmosphere, within the country, for a fair trial to be conducted. 3.0 The Role of the Courts International criminal law has a dual purpose, one to truth and history and second to justice through the trial process. This duality has been recognised and confirmed by the ICTY9. A similar traditional criminal trial model approach was adopted by the ICTR and the ICC with the aim to convict, punish and deter. On the other hand the post-apartheid South Africa trails adopted an amnesty based truth and reconciliation model to reconcile, heal and to set the record straight. Neither approach in itself appears to be fully correct; the role of truth in the first and justice in the second has been overlooked10. The need is to move toward a judicious combination of the two approaches and this indeed is happening when we consider the recent history of trials where the courts have asserted their role as makers of history11 while the defendants have challenged the very legitimacy of the court12. International criminal justice is fast becoming a process of securing convictions of international criminals. The new criminal procedure and jurisprudence that is emerging needs to be considered in the light of what is the actual demand made from it, the rationale behind the trial, and should not limit itself to an adjustment between the classical criminal and civil law processes. While in the traditional criminal trial procedures the need is to find undisputable proof of guilt and punish the criminal, international criminal courts have further considerations like the e ffect the decision may have on the peace and stability of the nation to which the under-trial belongs and also, importantly, the victims and affected communities of the crimes purportedly committed. Professor Mark Drumbl13

Governor James E. Mcgreevey of New Jersey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Governor James E. Mcgreevey of New Jersey - Essay Example In 2001, he was elected as the governor of New Jersey and during his tenure he was able to stabilize the state budget. He maintained his endeavors in 2003 in order to promote employment and develop New Jersey on the whole. He wanted the state to become a technological and financial hub. During his tenure, McGreevey invested heavily on education and employment programs that allowed the creation of 20,000 jobs and numerous schools. Education was being promoted by building schools and encouraging students to read. His services in the field of healthcare and environmental stability have been considerable. He emphasized on clean air and water, tried to control over-development, and tried to protect the health care of the people as well as New Jersey’s natural reserves. His efforts in the field of healthcare and research resulted in the creation of many healthcare companies, institutions, and scientists. An important insurance reform was signed by McGreevey in June 2003 that altered the approach of auto insurance. His office lasted till November 15, 2004 when he resigned (National Governors Association, n.pag.) after a coarse scandal after which he admitted to being homosexual. Although McGreevey’s services contributed a lot to the state of New Jersey, his coming out as a homosexual made him the first governor to state that openly in the entire history of the US. During New Jersey’s property tax crisis, governor McGreevey announced that he had assigned a â€Å"citizens task force† to obtain a solution to the problem (Schwaneberg, n.pag.). According to the official website for the State of New Jersey, half of the state budget was allocated to property tax alleviation and a greater allocation of money on education than ever (n.pag.). According to a plan implemented by the New Jersey governor, all seniors and middle class families were relieved of property taxes. In addition, the plan allowed the power to reform the tax to shift to voters (St ate of New Jersey, n.pag.). However the skeptics were still cynical about the plan and about the commission that was entrusted to provide a solution to the crisis. According to them the property tax factors led to only few constructive outcomes. The formation of the commission was also seen as being a step to delay the action and to keep stalling it (Schwaneberg, n.pag.). Nevertheless the plan provided immediate relief to the people by utilizing the millionaire’s tax and cutting down on the state spending (State of New Jersey, n.pag.). Another significant work done by the New Jersey governor was to prioritize education. As a result, research was promoted in various areas, particularly biotechnology and other technological disciplines. An initiative began in order to improve the standards at school. This was done by increasing the requirements for new teachers and removing those that were inefficient. Computers, internet and other facilities were installed in schools to enhanc e the curriculum. Efforts were also made to train teachers, instill character education in schools, and preventing abuse by starting relevant programs. The overall standards of teaching and education were raised so as to enable New Jersey children to receive a high-standard education (On The Issues, n.pag.). Apart from this, $113 million was allocated to higher education to fund a stem cell research that was being conducted by the Rutgers University and the