“I believe that discrimination still exists in society and that we must combat it in all its forms,” as stated by Andrew Cuomo, the current governor from New York. Throughout history, discrimination has been an underlying problem that must be stopped and resolved. Over time, African Americans have been the most notable victims of discrimination. Since the beginning of the 17th century, black people have been discriminated against and enslaved for no reason. There have been many attempts to end discrimination, but despite best efforts, the problem seems invincible. Although the Jim Crow era is over, it is clear from history and people's experiences that racial discrimination still exists today. When many people ask, when exactly did this start? How did this happen? Are they not populated like us? You have to answer: it all started with the European slave market in the 17th century. Slavery in America began in 1619, when the first African slaves were brought to America by a Dutch sailor to help produce tobacco. Europeans who settled in the American colonies, particularly Jamestown, looked to African men to do their work because they were also very good workers and cheaper. The Americans tried to cover up their actions by allowing “free blacks” to work, but even these blacks had few, if any, rights. Beginning in the late 17th century, laws were passed to prohibit all marriage between blacks and whites. Slavery was so bad that a black woman, Harriet Ann Jacobs, who was a slave, went far enough to say that “death is better than slavery.” Slavery in the 17th and 18th centuries was so bad that 210 million Africans died en route to America in the middle of an article......gton Post, May 2, 2014. Web. May 5, 2014. .Krieger, Larry. AP crash course in U.S. government and politics. Piscataway, NJ: Research & Education Association, 2010. Print. “Martin Luther King Jr..” – Biographical. Np, and Web. May 4, 2014. “Slavery in America.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, and Web. May 2, 2014. “The Death of Emmett Till.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, and Web. May 5, 2014. "What Was Jim Crow?" What is Jim Crow. Np, and Web. May 2 2014. .