Explain the meaning and significance of the Black Freedom Struggle from Reconstruction to the present.

The Black Freedom Struggle is a long-standing and ongoing campaign for civil rights and equality that has been fought by black Americans since the end of the Civil War. It seeks to address centuries of discrimination, oppression, exploitation and violence. This struggle began in Reconstruction Era America when formerly enslaved African Americans sought to secure their freedom from the oppressive system of slavery through the enactment of civil rights laws and protection from white supremacy groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.

The Reconstruction period saw some success for black Americans, as many newly emancipated slaves were able to take advantage of voting opportunities that had not previously been available to them. However, these advances were often shortlived due to staunchly racist state governments enacting discriminatory policies such as literacy tests and poll taxes that were designed specifically to keep blacks from participating in elections. The Ku Klux Klan also terrorized those who attempted to exercise their right to vote with lynchings, bombings, arson attacks and other forms of intimidation throughout this period.

In response, a new generation of African American activists emerged in the early 20th century with an uncompromising commitment towards achieving full equality for black people under law. These leaders included figures such as W.E.B Du Bois, Ida B Wells-Barnett and Booker T Washington who utilized a variety of tactics ranging from legal challenges to protests in order gain recognition of black civil liberties within society at large.. The most notable example being the Montgomery Bus Boycott which was organized by Rosa Parks after she refused to give up her seat on a city bus – sparking off one among many nationwide boycotts throughout this period aimed at forcing desegregation on public transportation services across America.. This movement eventually resulted in several key court victories culminating in Brown v Board Education (1954) which declared segregation illegal within US schools – marking an important milestone along the road towards full acceptance for African American civil rights within society at large..

Over subsequent decades more progress was made with congressional passage of two landmark pieces legislation; namely The Civil Rights Act (1964) which provided equal access employment opportunities regardless race or gender while outlawing segregation on public accommodation sites like restaurants; followed by The Voting Right Act (1965) guaranteeing all citizens over 18 years old unrestricted access voting booths based solely upon citizenship status rather than racial identity… Unfortunately despite these successes there remain many areas where systemic racism persists even today – whether its educational inequality perpetuated through gerrymandering or mass incarceration disproportionately targeting minority communities – highlighting just how much further still has go before true equality can truly be achieved between races…. As such it remains paramount priority amongst both current generations social justice movements continue march forward securing greater freedoms each day while fighting against any form backlash may come our way future