"The life of American Blacks has undoubtedly improved since the 1950s." Using the sources and your own knowledge, how far do you agree with this interpretation of the changes in the life of American blacks?

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

US Civil Rights- Coursework Question 5

Q: “The life of American Blacks has undoubtedly improved since the 1950s.” Using the sources and your own knowledge, how far do you agree with this interpretation of the changes in the life of American blacks?

A: We can use sources 13 - 18 to identify that the life of American blacks has improved. However, sources 1 – 12 show us how bad life was for the American blacks, in particular, sources 1 – 5. They highlight various forms of discrimination; political, social and cultural. In sources 1 – 12 we are shown the racism and discrimination endured by the American blacks. In comparing sources 1 – 12 to sources 3 – 18 it is clear that life has improved, but we can also see that there us room for improvement.

From the first five sources, it is clear how bad life was for the American blacks enduring all forms of discrimination. Source 2 shows an example of social discrimination, with segregated drinking fountains and those for American blacks labelled “For Coloured Only”.

From sources 7 – 10, educational discrimination in relation to desegregation is illustrated. We can clearly see from the sources how badly the blacks were treated by the use of racist language and the actions of the white people. In sources 7, 8 and 9 we are introduced to Elizabeth Eckford who tried to enter a previously all-white school. She was taunted and abused by the white on-lookers. Source 10 shows that in the south, only 1 in 4 people approved of segregation.
In source 12, social discrimination is displayed as civil rights supporters are attacked at a restaurant in Woolworths.
Since then, life has seemingly improved for American blacks. By comparing the sources 1 – 12 with sources 13 – 18, it is clear that life is getting better. Source 13 shows us various anti-discrimination laws. In introducing these, it shows the government is trying to put a stop to black discrimination. The Civil Rights Act (1964) outlawed racial discrimination in employment, hotels, restaurants and amusement areas. Also the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was set up to investigate complaints.

Source 14 shows definite signs of improvement. Previously this woman, Rosa Parks, would not have been allowed to sit anywhere she liked on the bus. Parks’ actions inspired Martin Luther King to speak out for equality.

Source 15 shows many different ways in which the life of American blacks has improved. The number of discrimination complaints has dramatically risen. This shows blacks are no longer afraid to speak out. Blacks are becoming increasingly confident. Source 16 seems unreliable. It was written in 1963, the same year of the death of Hattie Carroll (Source 5) and Martin Luther King’s ...

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From source 18, it is suggested that there is a black middle-class. Blacks are now more confident to carve opportunities for themselves, “Those blacks who have prospered are members of the black middle class...” However, the source goes on to say that for a majority of blacks, life still has not improved, “Many blacks remain trapped in dreadful conditions in the ghettos…soaring crime rates and drug problems…”
In reading and comparing the sources, it is obvious life has improved. By using my own knowledge I can also support this argument.
Job discrimination has undoubtedly decreased but has not completely gone. There are many more black senior managers than before. By 1970, more blacks had jobs in engineering and college teachers rather than clergymen. This shows that blacks were now confident enough to access more skilled work. In 1945, only 5% of black men and 6% of black women held white collar jobs. By 1970, these figures had increased to 30% of black men and 60% of black women.
In 1955, 1/3 of blacks lived in suburbs. This figure had doubled since 1970. This tells us there is a bigger black middle class with better jobs. And in 1964, 20% of white Americans had black neighbours.

Although life has gotten better for the blacks, there is still room for improvement. In source 13, we are shown a number of anti-discrimination laws. Even though there has been a change in law, there needs to be a change of heart. It is one thing to introduce these laws, but it is another to put them into practise. In source 18, we are still hearing of a majority of black people living in ghettos even though the 1968 Civil Rights Act (Fair Housing Act) made illegal the racial discrimination in housing.

Source 15 still shows a high level of black unemployment. This may be because previously, blacks settled for jobs requiring less skill but now they have set their standards higher. We can see that their household income has increased but because of inflation in the economy, the level of income now compared to the previous years is roughly the same. Although the number of discrimination complaints has gone up because blacks are now speaking out, this shows that discrimination is still present.

Source 17 shows us that although blacks and whites work alongside each other, they do not socialise with each other. Source 18 is describing blacks in America from 1945 – 89. However, we are told that 50% of schools are still all-black. We are also told of the ghettos, crime rates and drug problems. Even under the 1968 Civil Rights Act (Fair Housing Act) nothing much has changed for a majority of blacks.

From my own knowledge I can add to the fact improvements must still be made to ensure equality for all.
12% of the population in America were black yet only 0.6% of managers are black. Black business owners are twice as likely to be denied loans from banks. However, borrowing from visa/credit cards was no different as companies were not aware of the card holder’s colour. Black college enrolment went up to 7% of all students but this figure should be higher.

Certainly life has improved for the American blacks but a “them and us” mentality still prevails today.