Financial shackles still in place

(NNPA)—As the annual, month-long Black History observance begins, now is a timely moment to reflect on the journey that previous generations of Blacks have trod in the continuing quest for total freedom and equality. From 1865’s Emancipation Proclamation, to 1954’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, and 1965’s voting rights legislation, Black Americans have vigilantly fought for freedom.
Celebrations of our milestone moments convey our unique American history. By embracing our history, we teach our youth and remind older ones of significant strides achieved when we had none of the freedoms promised by our nation. Most of these achievements were fought and won when Black personal financial resources were rare, limited or nonexistent.
Blacks serving in the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War fought for the union as well as for themselves and the futures they envisioned for their families. Imagine the pride they must have felt when for the first time in their lives they held their own paychecks. According to the National Archives, beginning in 1864, banks such as South Carolina’s Military Savings Bank and Louisiana’s Free Labor Bank were created for these soldiers. For many, it was the first time they had ever been paid for their work.