Racial Discrimination In The 1950's

Racism is an issue we have dealt with for decades; we all judge people under a personal lens. Our opinions on people are shaped by our views and values. Even 100 years after Emancipation African Americans still faced continuing political and social injustice (“Civil Rights and the 1950s”). Thousands of people fought to make America more inclusive. The 1950’s hardly gave African Americans any opportunity to expand. Segregation was the rule throughout the country in housing and employment. In the South public accommodations were segregated by law while in the North it was happening by custom, or de facto segregation (“Civil Rights and the 1950s”). In the 1950’s, half of black families lived in poverty. When they were given the opportunity to get union jobs blacks had less seniority than whites. Therefore, employment was less stable. Their education opportunities were limited by substandard segregated schools. The effects and responses to racial discrimination can be seen in the works of Gates, King, and Staples. Henry Louis Gates Jr. wrote “What’s in a Name?” to share his story of discrimination. It was “one of those things,” as my Mom would put it… One of those things that provided a glimpse, through a rent

describes his experience of discrimination in a piece he wrote while he was imprisoned titled “Letter from Birmingham”. He was invited to Birmingham, Alabama to participate as a religious leader in a non-violent action program in the protest for the injustice against black Americans. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. (King 564).” The main purpose of the non-violent campaign is to create tension to bring about negotiation. “Justice too long is justice denied (King 566).” The oppressors were the ones participating in unjust laws. African Americans were frustrated because their given rights were taken from them. They attempted non-violent protests such as parading, demonstrating, boycotting, trespassing and