There are still hateful and bigoted people that live amongst us that work tirelessly to undo the good that was done by real GOD fearing Christians. These hateful people can be your neighbors, friends, family members, or even so-called church members.

Just as the Union soldiers were stationed in the south to protect the rights of newly freed slaves…the same was accomplished with the 1964 Civil Rights Act that made it illegal for employers to discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion "in hiring, promoting or firing." In 1965, the Voting Rights Act made it illegal to deny the right to vote based on literacy tests, which had previously been used to prevent black Americans from voting.

The Reconstruction implemented by Congress, lasted from 1866 to 1877. Much progress was made by Blacks during this time period. However, when the last of the Union soldiers left the south opponents of this progress soon rallied against the former slaves' freedom and began to find means for eroding the gains for which many had shed their blood.

And unless we study history, we are destined to repeat the mistakes of the past.