Have African-Americans obtained equal rights in America today?

Question:it depends on how you define equal rights.

In the eyes of the courts and the laws it would appear that they have equal rights.

They are guaranteed the same rights as any other american. It is expressly forbidden for them to be discriminated against on the basis of their skin color, and there are government programs designed to benefit african americans.

But with that said, when young african american males make up 70% of all the criminals currently in prision (and they only make up 25% of the population), when 3 out of 4 african american babies are born into a single parent family, and when many african americans are a much lower socioeconomic class than their white neighbors, it makes you wonder how equal they really are.

So under the laws on the books, african americans have the same rights as every other american. They have the same rights to education, to medical care, to access the legal and political system, the same rights when seeking employment.

But when you look at the reality, i would say they are still being discriminated against, and causing their own problems (out of wedlock births, high school dropouts, criminal activity, etc)

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: it depends on how you define equal rights.

In the eyes of the courts and the laws it would appear that they have equal rights.

They are guaranteed the same rights as any other american. It is expressly forbidden for them to be discriminated against on the basis of their skin color, and there are government programs designed to benefit african americans.

But with that said, when young african american males make up 70% of all the criminals currently in prision (and they only make up 25% of the population), when 3 out of 4 african american babies are born into a single parent family, and when many african americans are a much lower socioeconomic class than their white neighbors, it makes you wonder how equal they really are.

So under the laws on the books, african americans have the same rights as every other american. They have the same rights to education, to medical care, to access the legal and political system, the same rights when seeking employment.

But when you look at the reality, i would say they are still being discriminated against, and causing their own problems (out of wedlock births, high school dropouts, criminal activity, etc)

I will say not exactly because all though its not much like it was in the 60s we still face racism it's just in a more hidden form.

No, they have attained more rights than equal. They have BET, the NAACP, and affirmative action. I am not racist, but that is the truth. as a 19 year old, white male, it costs more for me to go to school, I will get denied jobs if I am applying against a colored applicant, even if I am more qualified.
We all know if there was WET or NAAWP, then every democrat and ethnic person would refer to it as nothing more than KKK rubbish.

Yes and no

there are forms of Raceism so that is the no part

and yes because they can live like people

No, not to the level , Dr. Martin Luther King would have preferred, or my self

I am aware of no law on the books that places African Americans at a lower position than any other race, so if the question is only equal rights, then I would say yes, they have.

Agree with Adorabilly.
African-Americans essentially have the same rights as Americans in terms of the law. America does not legally tolerate racial discrimination in any form.
Yet clearly, the legacy of slavery exists. Discrimination happens...but even more invasive and destructive are problems that have not changed much at all-- the fact that African-American communities are often poor, that we need programs like race-based affirmative action to benefit African-American students...these things clearly show that African-Americans are still at a disadvantage, although their legal rights are clearly the same.

Legally, African Americans have more rights than white Americans because of affirmative action. It's perfectly legal to give African Americans buy throughs (For example, having a quota system that allows black kids into a certain college even there are white kids with better grades trying for places), while it is illegal to do this for white people.

However, for all practical purposes black people are still at a disadvantage because of conscious racism (ignorant white people purposefully doing things) and unconscious racism (White people feeling intimidated by Hip-hop culture and so on and not giving African Americans as much of a chance as they should).

No, white males likes to bring up affirmative action as a way that black people received special treatment when it comes to jobs and college entrance. The fact is the primary recipient of affirmative action has been white females. That is why they are the majority is most universities, and blacks are on a decline. The number of white women executives are increasing as well.

It's gotten so bad that blacks don't own BET anymore.
The Jews have taken control of the NAACP.
The only blacks they will allow in Ivy League schools are athletes.

i still say the best thing that ever happen to the blacks was getting a free voyage to america.