The period in American history from 1865 until 1877 is referred to as the the time of reconstruction for the southern states. Freed blacks made some progress during those 12 years by being engaged in local politics and opening small businesses. That progress came to a screeching halt when reconstruction ended. What followed really became the first example of ‘cancel culture’ perpetrated by the politicians of the former Confederate states. The Old South was being portrayed as a period when everyone lived happily in a land of milk and honey. Giant statues were being erected in major and small southern towns celebrating Confederate generals as if they were freedom fighters rather than traitors to the Union. But the uglier side of that time was a severe return to oppressions of the black population by restricting their voting rights and outright violence directed at them. There was a total disregard of the 14th and 15th amendments and the federal government and Supreme Court stood idly by as southern states ignored laws of the nation. This was an unfortunate chapter in our history and sadly it didn’t come to an end until the early sixties when massive civil disobedience movements woke up the population and finally forced government actions.

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