During the time of the Reconstruction, and also including the Emancipation Proclamation, it definitely did not change as much for black people as everyone assumed it would. Most historians today recognize that Reconstruction did somewhat fail, because it did not achieve its initial goal of rebuilding the Union and giving freed slaves some basic protections, while at the same time helping them transition from slaves to freedom. Although, slaves at this time had the right to own there own property and such they still didn't have the complete freedom whites had. Therefore they were still limited from many things. However, President Lincoln, favored the abolition of slavery having the purpose of rebuilding the Union. Leaving the suddenness of the Emancipation both the blacks and whites unprepared to deal with each other and their new status. There was also difficulty with legal discrimination and harsh imprisonment as blacks attempted to integrate themselves into a white society during a very overwhelming time. The Emancipation Proclamation abolished the legal fact of slavery, but racial discrimination and segregation still remained during the reconstruction era.
The African Civil rights movement, refers to the movement of which the United states aimed to outlaw racial discrimination toward African Americans, during the 1950's and 1960's. Even though this movement was suppose to change the right of African Americans it wasn't to different from how they were treated during reconstruction. People views towards blacks were not just going to change, and they surely didn't. Whites still looked at them the same way, and still strongly believed they should be segregated from the rest. However thanks to Martin Luther King Jr. things changed for blacks. Although white people didn't agree with it blacks were given more rights and didn't have to be segregated so much from the whites anymore.
It's hard to believe that this all happened 50-60 years ago, looking at today's society. Imagine having a black president in the 1950's? It would never happen, not a chance! However believe those times were crazy or not, but look around you and our world today, racism still occurs through out our life everyday. Is it right? Maybe, or maybe not, but there isn't much you can do when that's someones own beliefs. After all we do have a law called the First Amendment!
