The Role Of Racism In The 1960s

Today we live in a society where it is acceptable for a white and black family to be neighbors, even close friends. This situation has not always been the case. During the 1950’s, the time that the Younger family was living in Chicago, whites and blacks were living completely separate lives and a majority of the blacks were living in poverty. Although there are significant improvements we have made, there are still things that remain the same. Many African Americans in Chicago today are still living in poverty, just like they were over 50 years ago. Two important changes have occurred during these years. Our race relations between whites and blacks have improved tremendously. Today it is completely acceptable for two different colored families to be living next door to each other. The second significant change is not as positive. The homicide rates per 100,000 people have gone up by almost 10 times the amount it was in the 50’s. Many sociologist believe that the cycle of multigenerational poverty causes violence in the mostly black communities, therefore raising the homicide rates. Even though as a city we have improved our race relations there are still problems such as the rising homicide rates and percent of people living in poverty.

American History X is clearly a film dealing with racism. The interesting thing about this film is the way in which the subject is treated. First of all, it is obvious that, though racism is always a difficult subject to deal with, American History X presents it without any reservations or dumming down. Second, the film's figurehead for racism, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton), is not an unintelligent redneck racist as films often portray them, but is in fact well-spoken, charismatic and intelligent, although he clearly holds ideals that are terribly wrong. Finally, the film shows that it is not just the white, neo-nazi racists who are fools to be involved in this, but all racism is foolish. Through these methods, the film shows the viewer,

The history of the United States in regard to racism and discrimination is no secret. Children are taught about segregation, slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement like the events were purely in the past. In part the events were in the past; however, the results of said events are not. As Americans, we live in a nation with a rough history and, in order to keep growing together, we cannot forget what has happened. Granted, racism is not extinct, but it is most definitely not the norm it was 50 years ago. Many people are not aware of how much racism still exists in our schools, workforces, and anywhere else where social lives are occurring. According to Derrick Bell’s book, Faces at the Bottom of the Well, Bell uses fiction stories to show that racism still exist but has a different form. In American society, racism is still evident today in racial symbols, covert racism and affirmative action.

In comparison, to the 1950’s racism today still exists, but nowhere near the severity of how it was back then. Racism is “a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others” (Dictionary). Due to this idea of discrimination due to racial issues in America causes families to lose their loved ones and in some cases lose their lives. Racism can be seen in the 1950’s through more acts of violence and segregation of society, however, in today's society nothing has changed besides the smaller amount of violence that is used against African Americans. In comparison to the 20th century the racial tensions between the African American community and the caucasian community has shrunk, however it still exists.

“Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. I am not unmindful of the fact that violence often brings about momentary results. Nations have frequently won their independence in battle. But in spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace.” This is a quote by the infamous civil rights leader Martin Luther King Junior. Even though social issues like racism and feminism have changed since the 1930s like in the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are still many similarities in how individuals were treated then and now.

In the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, life in America was divided: there were Jim Crow Laws, Black Codes, segregated schools, and voting restrictions. The years following the Civil War proved to be a tremendous struggle for both African Americans and Whites alike. Many reforms regarding racial inequality took place; however, majority of the White population were angered by all these changes. Tension stirred, violence occurred, and protests arose. Today, racial tension still exists, but to a lesser degree. Over the past 150 years in American history, race relations have slowly improved, but some conflicts still remain.

The conclusion of the Civil War in favor of the north was supposed to mean an end to slavery and equal rights for the former slaves. Although laws and amendments were passed to uphold this assumption, the United States Government fell short. The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments were proposed and passed within five years of the Civil War’s conclusion. These amendments were to create equality throughout the United States, especially in the south where slavery had been most abundant. Making equality a realization would not be an easy task. This is because many problems were not perceived before and during the war. The reunification of the country would prove to be harder than expected, and entry into a new lifestyle would be

The 1950’s American, for the most part, lived in a small suburban town where the houses were designed the same and everyone had a car. This luxurious lifestyle derived from an economic flourishing after World War Two from production boosts and former soldiers re-entering the work force. The other aspects of 1950s America were not so bland and conformist in nature. Art, literature, and music exploded in a new way in the fifties, and influenced society in unseen ways. The Civil Rights movement began to ignite in this decade and started to rework all of American society, creating an anything but bland societal movement. In 1950s America, society had more money than it had ever had before and this created a consumer culture which bread conformist

The 1950s was an era of conflict and black segregation was at its ultimate limit. Many achievements for black people were in the 1950s but many racial acts took place every day. In the north, black people were trapped in the cycle of poverty as they lacked in opportunities for jobs and they also were excluded from higher education. However, in the south black people were living in the fear of violence and they were also disenfranchised from the enforced Jim Crow laws and the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

Why has segregation and racism existed for three hundred ninety-eight years when the Civil Rights Act was passed fifty-three years ago? Segregation is a problem that existed for a long time. The segregation and racism caused the events that led up to the Civil Rights Act being passed. The Civil Rights Act had many events and problems that led up to it being put into place, some of these problems are still and issue today.

fifty years later, the practice of affirmative action has been at the vanguard of intense

The history of United State has shown many racial discriminations since colonists arrived America. African Americans have suffered unequal treatments and punishments in comparison to white people and European immigrants. Even when slavery was abolished in 1865, African Americans were still victims of many inequalities like employment, rights, housing, and transportation. However, due to these inequalities and mistreatments like the Jim Crow Laws, many African Americans started to make a change during the 1950’s, also called the Civil Rights Movement. Rosa Parks, that was arrested for sitting in the front of a bus in Alabama. Rosa Parks case made the supreme court to ban segregation in public transportation. The social difference during the 1950’s was very notable and obvious, and voting was a big example of the huge discrimination suffered by African Americans and minorities. In the south, white people would take away minorities’ right to vote by making them take a test that would decide if they were or not capable to make a political decision. Fortunately, big characters like Martin Luther King vouched for the end of this inequalities. Martin Luther King played a big role in the 1960’s making everyone aware about the change that was about to come.

Have you ever thought of what it like in 1963? Have you ever thought about how black people were treated back then? Well, 1963 was a hard time. There was racism, a lot of violence, and hatred.

In the early 70’s as a kid, I’ve seen my parents and older siblings deal with racism. Being 7 years old at that time I really did not know much about racism. I use to hear my parents talk about Dr. King they also, taught about him in school about who he was and his quest for equality.

Race relations have and always will be a major part of society. They have influenced today 's society economically, politically, and culturally in many ways. Past and present race relations are difficult and careless. In the past many minorities were treated like property to the majority white. For example, in the 1800’s the white majority used the African-American minority as salves. The African-Americans were not treated like people but rather livestock because of of how they worked and were traded. Slowly over time the race relation between whites and African-Americans progressed. It wasn’t until the late 1900s that African-Americans finally gained the ability to vote in the country they have fought for and lived in for many decades. Today in modern American, even after the Civil Rights movement, many minorities still do not have access to the civil rights that the constitution stated that all men deserve. For instance, in the late 1800s to early 1900s African-Americans were the hated minority, they were treated differently and discriminated against. Today the hated minority is muslims and people from the Middle East. Race Relations change along with popular ideas of a certain minority group. All race relations depend on how the media portrays stories that involve more than one ethnicity. The history of America has greatly been influenced by race relations along with modern America.