Racial Oppression in America

Meaning of Oppression
Oppression refers to the social act of subordination, maltreatment, or prejudice in which a dominant group exercises over a minority group with an aim of deriving privileges or enhancing supremacy. It also exist where a minority group cannot compete favorably on societal issues with other dominant social groups due to the restrictions imposed or lack of ability to secure more power necessary for the accomplishment of social issues of much importance. A person may be said to be undergoing oppression when the domineering party has intentionally or unintentionally set specific rules and regulations under which the oppressed person strives to follow irrespective of whether they are suitable or not. A particular segment of the society may experience oppression because it possesses to a certain degree the specific demographic characteristics, which the major segment associated with some attributes, norms, or stereotypes.
Oppression has been commonplace in the American society since the era of slavery. For ages, the issue of racism has been the main form of oppression in the United States. Blacks have always been viewed to be inferior to the whites in every aspect of the society. The African Americans have undergone a myriad of racial prejudices that have seen them being denied opportunities and continuously abused by the whites in all dimensions of the society (Buck, 2001). The denial of the civil liberties has to some extent been perpetuated by the law and institutions of justice. The white supremacy has been protected by the successive leadership regimes with latest being the administration of Ronald Reagan in 1980s. The African Americans were not treated as equals to the whites in terms of education attainment, employment, and even in leadership.
Racial Oppression in America
Dred Scott Case
In late 1850s, a black slave by the name Dred Scott petitioned his white owner for subjecting him to slavery against his will. He, therefore, sought to be compensated for the sufferings he had undergone as a slave and free his family from slavery. In a decision by the United States Supreme Court that was read by Chief Justice Roger Taney, Scott quest was declined on the basis of being black, therefore, he had no right to claim citizenship of the United States. Judge Taney maintained that no black on the American soil could be a bonafide U.S citizen as the Constitution only recognized America as a country built by the whites, for the whites. Dred Scott was born in slavery in early 1800s. His parents lived in service of Blow family, which lived in Virginia.
After the death of Mr. Blow and his wife, Scott was sold to Dr. Emerson, an army personnel based in Texas. After the death of Dr. Emerson, his wife Irene Emerson took over the ownership of Dred Scott and it is from this point the Scott hired lawyers to represent him in the federal court as he sought for his freedom. Scott kept on trying to seek his freedom despite the unsuccessful attempts. His case should how deep-rooted racial oppression was in the American society even in the institutions of justice. This was the beginning of the abolitionist movement that fought for the abolition of slavery in the entire United States and advocated for the equality of all men irr...