The Collapse of Segregation Essay

The movement started after the Civil War, but it began to worsen in the 1950s. The Supreme Court ruled that segregation was illegal in schools. This resulted in several major events in the fight for the rights of African-Americans. In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white person on a bus. This started the Montgomery Bus Boycott that lasted over a year and led to Martin Luther King Jr. to leading the movement. He led a number of non-violent protests including the Birmingham Campaign and the March on Washington. In 1964, The Civil Act Right was signed into law by President Lyndon johnson. This outlawed segregation and discrimination based on national background, race, and gender. Although there were still problems, it gave organizations the right to fight discrimination in court. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed to let everyone vote. This outlawed literacy tests and poll

During the 60s, discrimination was very strong and took place during this time, when it came to the Jim Crow laws, blacks were excluded from what whites had the ability to do. In the South, and around it these laws were strongly enforced, African - Americans felt as if they would be safer by heading North. In 1810 whites thought that blacks were here in this world to be put to work. They thought blacks did not deserve any respect. (Jim Crow Laws n. pag.) For about 80 years, most of the United States, pushed towards Jim Crow laws . “From Delaware to California, and from North Dakota to Texas, many states could impose legal punishments on people for consorting with members of another race.” (Jim Crow… n. pag.) The laws kept both blacks and whites from sharing anything with each other. It caused a lot of hatred towards one another but all they wanted was to be treated the same. Although there were many laws, many of them had many reasons to them. Whites did not use the blacks names in a respectful manner, they called them by their first name. The blacks had to call them by their name with Mr., Mrs., Miss, sir, or mam. (Pilgram n. pag.) If blacks rode in the same car as a white and the white

Chicago is a beautiful city with many different people and things to learn or experience; however, it is a city of segregation, and it has been that way for a long time. Even though it may not be quite visible today, it still happening thorough our city. However, what is so special about ethnicity that people have to hate on each other? Is it because we all are born with different backgrounds or is it because we are raised to hate others? In the history of Chicago’s segregation, we learn about how the whites are seen as the superior beings than others in America. Moreover, we all have seen and learn how race is displayed through our media. Additionally, we all have grown up attaining knowledge from our elders, and we learn about values in life. The society of Chicago are segregated by our history, media, and standards.

Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, segregation in the United States was commonly practiced in many of the Southern and Border States. This segregation while supposed to be separate but equal, was hardly that. Blacks in the South were discriminated against repeatedly while laws did nothing to protect their individual rights. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ridded the nation of this legal segregation and cleared a path towards equality and integration. The passage of this Act, while forever altering the relationship between blacks and whites, remains as one of history's greatest political battles.

The years leading up to the 1960’s were ones full of worldly and civil unrest. Wars raged, blood spilled, and many lives were lost. However, these wars weren’t always fought across continents and countries. Some were fought internally, without involving assault rifles or trenches. The war I’m speaking did involve two sides, but not Axis and Union. This war dealt with racial segregation and hatred among races . This movement sprouted all the way from the roots of slavery and the oppression of those enslaved. Nearly a hundred years after the end of slavery a clash between races was still very prevalent in the United States. Segregation was in full effect and blacks everywhere were being treated beyond unfairly. Blacks and even some others,

The 1960’s in the United States was an era of tremendous struggle for African-American all around America, but especially for those who lived in the south. Laws such as the Jim Crow act, voter suppression, intimidation, oppression, and the fight for equality, all were issues that African-Americans had to deal with in the 1960’s. The 1964 civil right act was a major executive action taken by then president Kennedy do to protests that had gone on for years in southern states by African-Americans, and Caucasians who unified in order to try and end segregation, and provide African-American with the same equality that Caucasian Americans had (Lawson, et al., pg. 28 &29). Many white southerners apposed ending segregation or giving African-American the same rights as they had, and terrorized those who fought for equality every step of the way (Lawson, et al., pg.21).

The Black soldiers fought for equality throughout the ranks because they were being taken into the military at the same rate as the whit inductees. Many black soldiers would be segregated would serve primarily in non-combat units but they still served with pride. Being a part of this great military and an opportunity for them to create an identity for themselves was looked upon as progress. In military segregation, black American leaders employed a variety of strategies; they mobilized the black civilian workforce, black women’s groups, black college students, and an interracial coalition to resist this blatant inequality.

“After the end of Reconstruction in 1877, southern states and local communities began to enact laws known as segregation or "Jim Crow" laws. These measures separated the races in public accommodations. Rather than passing one sweeping law, local and state legislators in the South passed a series of laws between 1881 and 1910 that required separate accommodations for blacks and whites in public spaces. These laws were indicative of the hardening of the philosophy of white supremacy throughout the South during this time.”(Cassanello). The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the most influential event in the Civil Rights Movement because it paved way for ending discrimination and segregation, and giving more rights to African- Americans. During the Civil Rights Movement African- Americans were fighting to get their rights that were being taken away from them little by little. Starting in 1955 and going well into the late 1960’s early 1970’s, African- Americans started to protest against discriminatory laws and acts such as Jim Crow Laws and various requirements to vote. They did this because they wanted to be treated as equals and not to be judged because of their race(Mayer).

Commencing in the late 19th century, state level governments approved segregation acts, identified as the Jim Crow laws, and assigned limitations on voting requirements that caused the African American population economically and diplomatically helpless (Davis, n.d.). The civil rights movement commenced, intensely and assertively, in the early 1940s when the societal composition of black America took an increasingly urban, popular appeal (Korstad & Lichtenstein, 1988). The 1950s and 1960s was well known for racial conflicts and civil rights protests. The civil rights movement in the United States during the late 1950s and 1960s was based on political and social strives to achieve

To begin with, Jim crow laws separated blacks and whites which put many people at a disadvantage. “Separation between the races also limited educational and professional jobs within America”. “The separate but equal doctrine advanced in such legislation, that it failed to uphold the “equal” part in practice”. These laws also caused many notable protests to occur over segregation policies in America (Racial Segregation 1). Blacks began to get fearful of going places that whites also went because they wanted to avoid any extra controversy from interactions with the whites (Stokes 83).

Bradley, Stefan. "Watching Jim Crow: The Struggles over Mississippi TV, 1955-1969." The Journal of African American History 90.1-2 (2005): 171+. World History Collection. Web. 31 Aug. 2015.

It was clear through our readings that they Supreme Court had a difficult time when trying to tackle the issues of racial segregation. They where dealing with a nation that was very much divided when it came to blacks and whites. When the challenged arrived too desecrating the nation and adjusting its interpretation on the constitution the Supreme Court used multiple approaches.They had no other choice, each case was so different that one single approach might not have worked. It was a process that was slow and had to be eased into American society, which is unfortunate but true.

Although the United States had prospered after World War 2, all Americans did not benefit equally from this prosperity; the promise of equality and opportunity had not yet been fulfilled for ethnic minorities and women. Many states denied equality to African Americans and other ethnic minority groups, enforcing legal segregation in education and housing, as well as discrimination in jobs and voting. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court made a land marking ruling, declaring segregated schools unconstitutional; and in 1956, the African American preacher- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.- led the civil rights movement joined by Americans of all races- demanding equality. In 1965, the Civil Rights Act was passed; outlawing segregation. The women’s' rights movement also won laws banning discrimination against women.

As time elapsed de jure segregation, also known as the Jim Crow system, began in the South that replaced slavery in the South. According to Healey (2012), “Under segregation, the minority group is physically and socially separated from the dominant group and consigned to an inferior position in virtually every area of social life” (p. 182). Under state and local laws, African Americans were considered inferior to Caucasians. All aspects of life were included in segregation such as schools, restrooms, parks, stores, and any public facility. The civil rights movement began to eliminate laws based on racial segregation. In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that separate facilities are unequal; therefore, the laws were unconstitutional, which abolished de jure segregation (Healey, 2012, p. 233). During the civil rights movement there were many influential leaders such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. promoting nonviolent protests. Finally, in 1964 United States Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, outlawing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. This act was only the beginning as our nation is still trying to eliminate discrimination completely. These important historical events have influenced past and current African Americans.

The historical events that happened in the 1960’s was the turning point for segregation in American history. President Kennedy was on board as far as supporting the civil rights movement, but tragically was assassinated before he could see this plan go into action. President Johnson seen this movement in action. The many horrible crimes and inhumane acts that whites endured on African Americans was and is too terrible to mention. However, it was these events that made African Americans stronger and more determined than ever to become non-segregated. It was these events that influenced Martin Luther King Jr. to peruse the act of