The History of the United States is long and nuanced. There are many events that have occurred that are important to the country that we live in today. From the perspective of Black people, the history of our nation can be separated into about seven (7) distinct periods:

1.  The Colonial Period (1600 – 1770s)

2.  Pre-Civil War Period (1770s – 1861)

3.  Civil War (1861 – 1865)

4.  Reconstruction (1865 – 1877)

5.  Jim Crow (1870s – 1960s)

6.  Civil Rights Movement (1950s – 1960s)

7.  War on Drugs/Modern Era (1970s – Present)

Many of these periods interconnect and overlap. Many of the important people and decisions made affect the timeline down the road all the way until the present. The things (good and bad) that were placed in the foundation back in the Colonial Era are still here today holding up everything that we have built on top of it.