How do I compare human rights from back then to today?

Generally, in America, and many other civilized countries, African Americans were once thought less than humans, property. We have made great advancements in human rights, the 14th, 15th, 16th amendments to the constitution gave black men freedoms and rights to vote, female rights came later. Now in modern day civilized countries, we are all born with basic inalienable rights protected not only by the United States constitution, but also the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.