From 1877 to the early 1950's, Jim Crow laws
were enforced in American South.
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"Mississippi at the St. Louis Fair". McCutcheon, J. T. CCO. This cartoon depicting two streetcars of vastly different quality levels, demonstrates the inequality that segregation permitted under Jim Crow laws.
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Segregation Between SoldiersLetters from African American soldiers recount the experiences of fighting in a segregated regiment:
To: Truman K. Gibson, Jr. "I learned early in life that for the Negro there is no Democracy... I found that a Negro in civilian life has [a] very tough time with segregation in public places and discrimination in industry." From: A Loyal Negro Soldier (2) To: Mr. Carl Murphy "we are Negro Soldiers, giving our sweat blood, and lived for what is known as an IDEALISTIC DEMOCRACY, and here in the midst of a world crisis we are told not to read books as that one by men of our own race." From: S/T/5th Clarence E. Adams (2) In 1948, President Harry Truman ordered the integration of all military forces. In the Korean War and every war after, African American and white soldiers fought together. (3, 4) "Jackie Robinson". Sandburg, B. CCO. Jackie Robinson is pictured in his Brooklyn Dodgers uniform and holding a bat, ready to swing.
Intellectual ConflictThe United States was founded on the defense of human rights and pursuit of freedom. During WWII, citizens began to question if their treatment aligned with the ideals for which America fought. This conflict was not only felt by soldiers, but by those on the home front, as well. The creation of internment camps faced immediate backlash from certain publics. Racism had become a contradiction to the American lifestyle and civil rights activists worked to bring this ideological transformation to political and social realms. (3, 4)
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"Pilots of a U.S. Army Air Forces". US Government Military. CCO. This photo was taken of in February of 1944.
Desegregation in SportsJack Johnson
In 1908, Jack Johnson became known as the first black champion of heavy-weight boxing. (6) James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens An Olympian Track and Field runner nicknamed "The Buckeye Bullet." Jesse Owens competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and left a four-time gold medalist. (7) Jackie Robinson In 1947, Jackie Robinson was the first baseball player to break the racial barrier. He joined Major League Baseball and played as the Dodgers' second baseman. (4) Court CasesPlessy V. Ferguson
In 1896, the courts dictated that African Americans could be excluded from white spaces if they had comparable facilities to use. This case coined the concept "separate but equal." (4) The "Grandfather Clause" In 1915, the NAACP won a supreme court case that effectively ended the "grandfather clause," which kept minorities from registering to vote. (4) Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka This case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson in 1954. The case, argued by Thurgood Marshall, allowed for racial integration in public schools. (4) The Bakke Decision In 1978, the Supreme Court determined racial quotas unconstitutional, but validated the use of affirmative action. The courts declared that race could be used as a criterion of acceptance by institutions. (1) |
The Civil Rights Movement
The conflict of American ideals and Southern practices led to the dawn of the Civil Rights movement.
The Civil Rights Era lasted until the 1970's, but many activists remain fighting for their rights to this day. The height of the Civil Rights Era brought about protests, marches, peaceful resistance as well as militant groups, and, most importantly, changes in legislature and government action.
One of the most memorable march is the March on Washington that took place in 1963. It was here that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I Have A Dream" speech. Some activists felt that King's nonviolent nature was not inciting change fast enough. This inspired the formation of the Black Panther Party, also referred to as the Black Power Movement. (4)
The fight for civil rights in America stemmed from America's involvement in World War II. If it were not for the nation's adamant investment in the freedoms of others, American citizens may not have been so determined to seize their rights at home.
The Civil Rights Era lasted until the 1970's, but many activists remain fighting for their rights to this day. The height of the Civil Rights Era brought about protests, marches, peaceful resistance as well as militant groups, and, most importantly, changes in legislature and government action.
One of the most memorable march is the March on Washington that took place in 1963. It was here that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I Have A Dream" speech. Some activists felt that King's nonviolent nature was not inciting change fast enough. This inspired the formation of the Black Panther Party, also referred to as the Black Power Movement. (4)
The fight for civil rights in America stemmed from America's involvement in World War II. If it were not for the nation's adamant investment in the freedoms of others, American citizens may not have been so determined to seize their rights at home.