Holding America Accountable: Reflections on 1619 and the Ongoing Struggle for Justice

Hello,

After reading 1619, I’ve been reflecting on its impact. One key takeaway for me was how African Americans have held the U.S. accountable to its democratic ideals. Despite the country’s racist and enslaving origins, Black Americans have consistently fought for justice. This, along with the surprising level of patriotism among Black Americans—many of whom are more likely to serve in the military—stood out.

The U.S. was born out of controversy, particularly racism and slavery, which still affects us today. The phrase “All men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence is misleading. It tied citizenship to land ownership, excluding Black people, women, Indigenous people, and others. Also, the U.S. government initially blamed the British for slavery, but the founders, who were themselves slave owners, did nothing to end it, fearing the collapse of the economy.

Black Americans were only recognized as citizens after the 14th Amendment was ratified. This Amendment overruled the 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, which had denied Black people, free or enslaved, U.S. citizenship.

African Americans fought hard for the 14th Amendment during the Reconstruction Era. After the Civil War, many Black Americans, protected by federal soldiers, entered politics and prospered economically until faced with intense white backlash.

The 14th Amendment also paved the way for Wong Kim Ark’s U.S. Supreme Court victory, affirming birthright citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' nationality. Ironically, this ruling was partly racially motivated, as a ruling against birthright citizenship could have denied white European immigrants citizenship.

Before the 14th Amendment, only white men were considered citizens. This ties into the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in which the U.S. took Mexican land and promised citizenship to Mexican residents. However, to be citizens, they had to be considered white. This idea was tested in Hernandez v. Texas, where the Supreme Court ruled that Mexican Americans were a distinct group and extended the protections of the 14th Amendment to them.

Ultimately, the 14th Amendment has been crucial in holding the U.S. accountable to its democratic ideals, thanks to African Americans. The Black Panther Party is another example of Black Americans holding America to its democratic ideals. . Fred Hampton, one of its leaders, pushed for universal breakfast programs for children, influencing the federal school meal program we have today. The Black Panthers also advocated for economic equality, housing, healthcare, and education, not just civil equality. .

Education is a critical issue. U.S. schools remain unequal due to the history of racism and slavery. School funding relies on local property taxes, perpetuating inequality. Despite segregation being illegal, zoning laws still restrict access to neighborhoods for Black and other minority communities, keeping housing prices high and limiting opportunities for lower-income families.

This contributes to disparities in education, with some schools underfunded and others thriving. Federal politicians, often older white men, tend to underfund education, especially for children of color, who will soon make up most of the population. Meanwhile, homogenous countries like South Korea and China heavily invest in education.

As the 1619 Project argues, freedom in America has always been tied to enslavement, and true equality requires confronting this legacy. The project challenges the narrative of American exceptionalism, reminding us that we critique what we care about.

Finally, reading 1619 made me think about abolishing the Electoral College, created to benefit white Southerners. The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed enslaved people to count as three-fifths of a person for representation, contributing to the election of presidents who didn’t win the popular vote, like in 2016.