How did race relations change in the united states from the 1940s to the 1960s? Consider issues such as legislation and cultural happenings of the time. Also consider the importance of civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr, Malcom x and Rosa Parks. Another important factor to consider is how race relations changed based on the area of the country you were in.
Races relations in the United States did not change much from the 1940’s to the 1960’s. Although legislation was passed, it was not implemented to its maximum capabilities. The reason for this is because many of those who had to implement these laws were White males who did not find the changes to be fitting. With people such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks, they helped ignite the situation and put their complaints in front of peoples faces without backing down. These people were brave pioneers who have helped pave the way for us today. Race relations have not changed in my area. Just as in that era, my neighborhood of Los Angeles continues to have race wars on all levels.
ReplyDeleteRace relations are always changing in the united states, hopefully for the better. The 1940s and the 1960s was a time where people were still trying to find themselves. Racism is still alive and rampant during this time period. Civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr, Malcom X, and Rosa Parks helped to get the anti-racism message to a greater number of people. They were great leaders that transcended race and gender. The south has always seemed to be more racist than the north, because of their early dependency on slaves, but overall the scale of racism has had to have dropped all over the country. The election of the first black president has to clearly show that.
ReplyDeleteRace relations changed throughout the history of the United States. Active movements did not begin until the the early 1960s and prior to that race defined a persons status in life. African-Americans were not given the same rights as whites. It was not until these Civil Rights movements, in which we see leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks going against the grain and standing up for their rights. Shortly after African-Americans gained rights, such as the right to vote, women's movements followed in the same path of sucess. This push for equal rights still takes place today in which homosexuals are now under the same stuggles as once felt by African-Americans. One day this nation will truely stand as one in Color, race, creed, religion, etc. will not determine qualifications for basic human rights.
ReplyDeleteThe Second World War more than any other single event prior to the Civil Rights Movement generated the momentum for such individuals as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Law suits against de facto and de juro segregation had been going on for most of the early 20th century. However it wasn't until Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 that any headway was made. However racism is something that will always exist. What the Civil Rights Era did was try to eliminate legal segregation. Changing people's minds about the common humanity we all share is an on-going struggle.
ReplyDeleteOne part of the country that had difficulties with race relations was California both during its early statehood with the Chinese and then with hispanics during the zoot suit period of the 1940's-50"s. The zoot suit riots were a direct outlash of the discriminatory practices that existed between white urbanites and hispanics. Martin Luther King Jr. brought attention away from the west and east coast and made the south during the 1960's a focus of much of the race relation issues that exploded as blacks and whites marched and protested against deep rooted discrimination that permeated all parts of the south. It wasn't until a higher level of national exposure to racial issues, the beatings, and segregation of restrooms, restaurants, movie houses, stores, and education, in the south that a national movement for equal rights became powerful enough for the Kennedy and Johnson administrations to promote legislation on the national level that forced States to provide equal access and rights to all citizens regardless of race or color.
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