The Supreme Court And The Struggle For African Americans Between 1890-1990

The Supreme Court made many significant changes that, both positively and negatively, impacted the struggle for civil rights for African Americans between 1890 and 1990. Despite this, many significant individuals such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, and organisations such as the NAACP and the SNCC also made many significant impacts in raising awareness for the Civil Rights Movement. Additionally, the role of Presidents and their policies, for example, Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and his New Deal, had a significant impact on African Americans. Throughout the ‘American Century’ from 1890 to 1990, the Supreme Court was at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights. The rulings of Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board led some to believe

The Supreme Court's role during this era remained pivotal, as it dealt with issues from affirmative action to voting rights and school desegregation due to bussing. Decisions such as Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), which upheld affirmative action in college admissions but imposed limitations, reflected the Court's approach to addressing racial inequality. Similarly, rulings such as Milliken v. Bradley in 1974, which restricted school desegregation efforts, highlighted the ongoing tensions surrounding integration. Despite legal setbacks and challenges, civil rights leaders and organisations continued to push for progress through activism and advocacy. The emergence of movements such as Black Power and the Black Panther Party emphasised the complexity of the struggle for civil rights, as activists sought to address systemic racism and economic inequality through direct action and community empowerment. Presidents also played a significant role in shaping the trajectory of civil rights during this period. While administrations such as Richard Nixon’s pursued policies that disproportionately targeted African Americans, others, such as Jimmy Carter's, advocated for human rights and racial justice on a global level. In comparison to other factors, the Supreme Court's impact on the struggle for civil rights during this period was more varied and contested. While it continued to issue rulings that shaped the legal landscape of civil rights, its decisions reflected shifting ideologies and political pressures. The roles of judicial rulings, political activism, and federal policies influenced the pace and direction of progress in the struggle for African American civil