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Solomon Gomez English 111 Megan 7 July 2013 Equality One problem facing the world, and The United States of America in particular, is inequality. inequality is the state or quality of being unequal in degree, value, or ability. Some synonyms for inequality are unfairness and injustice (Dictionary.com). The world has a problem with inequality and it always has. Movements have spread across the nation to make a stand up against inequality for many different cultures. There have been movements for gays, African Americans, Women, other minorities. Although there have been several attempts to better the equality amongst the masses, inequality is still a problem that has not been resolved. Gay, a term that is ignorantly thrown around. Gays have been fighting inequality for centuries. It is only within the last couple decades that two men or two women could get married, and this isnt everywhere. Only a few states in The United States allow gay marriage. And several countries are against gays and none the less gay marriage. Zoe Williams reported in her article Gay Rights: A world of inequality, that three men in Iran were hung for simply being gay. Although this would not be allowed in The United States cases like this pop up all across the globe and the media fails to cover this news. Zoe also reported in her article that in Uganda, there are legislations trying to commence that institute the death penalty to anyone being homosexual more than once (Williams).

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These cases go against all morals and it is hard to believe that things like this still occur in the world. One human does not have the power to take somebodies life for loving somebody. At one point in America it was illegal for an African American and a Caucasian to wed, and now that is a very common occurrence, that is a prime example of just how ignorant we once were. Inequality has always been a problem for minorities and African Americans in particular. There are terrorist groups in America that seek out minorities and believe that they are elite and superior to minorities. Africans were dragged from Africa in chains and brought to america on a boat. These once free Africans were now slaves. That is the definition of inequality. One race thought so little of another race that they actually enslaved them. Even after slavery was over, African Americans were not permitted to vote. These African Americans were stuck to live in a land where they had no representation at all. And even after they were given the Right to vote, there were still laws that would not allow several African Americans to vote. These laws were called disenfranchisement and they were designed specifically to stop blacks from voting (OMalley). Michael OMalley said in his article A Blood Red Record: the 1890s and American Apartheid that in the 1890s there were three counter movements that worked to eliminate African Americans participation in politics and the economy. Disenfranchisement being one of them, Jim Crow laws being one, and lastly lynching. Jim Crow laws set up segregation across the nation. There were signs that specified what race of people was allowed into an establishment. There were even signs on water fountains and outside bathrooms. Kids of different races were not allowed to be in the same schools. African Americans were only allowed to share prisons and the army with the white man. Other than those two things, blacks and whites were completely segregated.

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Lynching is another counter movement that tried to stop blacks from voting. Lynching is the act of prosecuting and executing somebody mob style without any legal authority. Several hangouts occurred and they were most prominent in the southern states of America. The KKK, a terrorist group, was notorious for hanging minorities; anyone of a different race and or religion but mainly targeted African Americans. Although African Americans are finally getting some equality in America there is still a clear realm of inequality between races. Women have always been treated differently than men. In some cultures the women are actually kidnapped by there soon to be husband. Even in America women get paid less for their work at some places. It is also harder for women to get promotions in some job fields, even if they are more qualified than another gender. It was said in an article by Laura Ferro that in the 112th congress women only holds 17 senate seats out of 100 and holds 92 out of 435 house seats (Ferro). It was not until 1910 that Women had the same rights as men. All men were created equal and they meant it, the equality campaign only affected the American Negro and minorities alike. This Hour Belongs to the Negro. (History). Women have been fighting for equality since 1830 (History) but major events kept postponing the movement such as the Civil War in 1840 and World War I in 1910. In 1920 Women finally passed equal rights. All men and women were created equal. (History). So in conclusion it is no doubt that inequality is a problem in the world and even in our home country the United States of America. Gays have and continue to be treated differently because of their sexual orientation. African Americans have been mistreated and abused because of their skin color. And women have been under minded for generations just because of their sex. Inequality is a problem that will always be present, whether it is intentional or unintentional.

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Reference Ferro, Laura. "Gender Inequality in the U.S. Today Trust Women." Trust Women. Blog, 19 Mar. 2012. Web. 12 June 2013. Malley, Micheal O. "Jim Crow and the 1890s." Jim Crow and the 1890s. History 122, 1999. Web. 29 July 2013 Williams, Zoe. "Gay Rights: A World of Inequalitly." The Guardian, 13 Sept. 2011. Web. 01 July 2013 Channel, History. "History of Women in the United States." History. History Channel, 30 June 2013. Web. 01 July 2013.