However, there were still ways in which blacks and whites were politically unequal. This inequality was particularly pronounced in the southern states. For example, by 1965, while 71% of southern whites were registered to vote, only 62% of blacks in the south were on the electoral register. What is more, as late as 1966,, 4 out of 13 southern states had fewer than 50% of blacks registered to vote. In this way, although blacks had the same de jure (legally, by right, rightfully) rights as whites, their de facto position, particularly in the south, was still very much that of a second class citizen.
In terms of social and economic rights, some equality had been achieved by 1968. The 1964 Civil Rights Act, for example, finally banned segregation across the USA. This had an immediate effect on racial equality. By late 1956, 214 cities had desegregated. Additionally, the proportion of black children in segregation schools substantially decreased. The Fair Employment Practices Commission also encouraged the rise of a new black middle class, and therefore during the 1960s, black income doubled. Therefore, it is fair to say that there was some progress towards racial equality in social and economic terms due to the provisions of President Johnson’s civil rights legislation.
Again, racial equality was not wholly achieved by 1968. First, 58% of black schoolchildren remained in segregated schools in 1968. Secondly, 7% of blacks were unemployed, whereas the national rate of unemployment was only 5%. Finally, even though black income had risen in the 1960s, the average black family still only earned 61% of the average white family. For this reason, racial equality was only partially achieved in social and economic terms because black people were still disadvantaged in terms of employment, education and income.
The portrayal of blacks in the media undoubtedly changed during this period. For example, television companies began to cast black actors in leading roles. Batman and Robin featured a black actress as Catwomen, and Star Trek also broke new ground because it included the first interracial kiss shown on American TV. In music too, black artists such as Miles David and Jimmy Hendrix were heavily promoted. However, it was still acceptable to create television programmed which featured no black characters at all, such as Scooby Doo, which was first screened in 1968. Indeed, all-white casts and stereotypical presentations of racial minorities remained normal for much of the 1960s, and therefore racial equality in the media had not been fully achieved by 1968.
Native Americans and Hispanic Americans still suffered from racial discrimination by 1968. They had both benefited from President Johnson’s civil rights legislation, and both communities had active civil rights campaigns. However, immigrant Hispanic farmworkers still did not qualify for the minimum wage. In many ways, racial minorities such as Native Americans and Hispanic Americans were still victims of prejudice in spite of the gains of the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
In conclusion, racial equality had only been achieved to a limited extent by 1968. Although significant progress has been made since 1945 - both formally and in de facto terms - blacks, Native Americans and Hispanic Americans all still suffered from discrimination in terms of economic opportunities, educational provision and their portrayal in the media. The greatest gains were made in political rights, thanks to the Voting rights 1965, but even here minorities, particularly in the south, were still at a disadvantage in 1968.
