Essay USA

Racism experienced all over USA: mainly in South

Jim Crow Laws made people 'separate but equal'

Voting virtually impossible : - Poll Tax- IQ Tests

Unemployment: 60% - little change

KKK:- lynchings- violence

Many migrated to North:- Lived in Ghettos (Harlem)- Poorly Paid

Overall: slow rate of change - however society indicated a desire for change

1920's and 1930's

1940's

WW2 = Roosevelt forced to ban discrimination in industrial jobs

1942, James Farmer - CORE: -12% registered to vote after CORE (3% before)

1949 Harry Truman created 'Fair Deal': Built upon 'New Deal' (Roosevelt -30's) Aimed to: -Increase employment to capacity -Provide assistance to farmers -Extend social security

1950's

Struggle for equality - confirmed public desire for change

1954 - NAACP challenged the Supreme Court to desegregate schools - Linda Brown

Legal change not societal

1955 Emmett Till: tortured to death - huge publicity & outraged the public

Event split USA: North vs South 

MLK found fame - 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott

1960's

Huge law and societal changes

1961 - CORE organised freedom rides: - Black + White people joined - Huge publicity - John F Kennedy sent 500 marshals to protect 'freedom riders' -Faced violence

Ended segregation in all transport stations - 1963 (Huge change)

Birmingham Council closed all public parks in 1962: -Peaceful protestors -'Bull' Conner attacked them -Negative public opinion towards racism. Societal desire for change

Watt Riots 1965, 35 killed

1968 Mexico Olympics - Tommie Smith/John Carlos raised BPM fists

MLK 1963 - March on Washington, 'I have a dream' speech

1970,80 and 90's

Media industry = huge change

'Black stars':Mohammed Ali, Morgan Freeman and Beyonce.

Continuity - Education/Economics

1978 - hardly any integrated schools (slow rate) since legal change - 1954

1990: average income of black family - less than 1/2 of white family - lack of equality

Many successful black business men/doctors: some change

1992 Rodney King videoed being beaten up by the police.

Police not charged: sparked riots - 1992, 53 killed & 9'000 arrested (LA riots)

These acts represent huge amount of continuity - proves although it was thought USA = racial equality, not completely achieved.

1920/30 and 1940

1950 and 1960

1970,80 and 90