Final answer:
America has historically prioritized economic gain over Black Americans' civil rights through discriminatory practices and controversial policies, often influenced by economic interests. While progress has been achieved, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the tension between economic priorities and civil rights continues today with efforts such as affirmative action and the Fair Housing Act facing challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question on how America has prioritized economic gain over the basic civil rights of Black Americans finds its answer in history marked by discriminatory practices and policies. Despite advances following the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, where grassroots activists played a key role in sparking federal action toward racial equality, the struggle for equal treatment persists. Early affirmative action programs aimed to rectify historical injustices by increasing opportunities for minorities in higher education and the workplace; however, these programs have been controversial and labeled as 'reverse discrimination' by some. Over time, governmental efforts like the Fair Housing Act attempted to foster integrated communities but faced regulatory rollbacks affecting enforcement and progress. Current movements within Black communities striving for neighborhood and school improvements hint at hope for meaningful advances.
Policies throughout U.S. history, such as Jim Crow laws and tardy enforcement of civil rights legislation, reflect a pattern where economic interests often eclipsed civil rights concerns. In the post-Civil War era, despite the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments aiming to secure rights for African Americans, regressive policies surfaced to stifle these rights, influenced by economic motives intertwined with racial discrimination. Notably, integrationists' gains were frequently contested or diluted when they clashed with prevailing economic interests, particularly in the Jim Crow South.