1.1: Position Of Black Americans In The Early 1950s Flashcards
What was segregation and discrimination like in the Southern States in the early 1950’s
Black Americans in theory given ewual rights through 14 Admendment
‘Jim Crow’ laws enforced segregation of black americans in day to day life
Segregated public facilities and services included cinemas,toilets,schoold and transport
In 1896 Homer Plessey challenged segregation on trains and stated it was against the 14th Amendment. The supreme courts ruled aginst him. The Plessey V Ferguson case upheld Jim crows laws and stated services were allowed to be ‘seperate but equal’
Serviced for black Americans inferior to those for white people
How did people treact black people in the early 1950’s
White people viewed black people as racially inferior
Racist white officals e.g police and juddges meber of the KKK
Frequent assaults and murder to black people
Black people not allowed do things e.g sit on juries in a court of law
What was votings rights towards Black Americans in the early 1950’s like
White gans attacked and prevented black Americans registering to vote
Southern states (Georgia and Virginia) passed laws making it harder for black people to be able to register to vote such as rigged literacy tests.
Southern states introduced ‘grandfather clause’ where voters had to prove their forefathers had voted. However, many of them were slaves and were barred from voting,
White employers would sack black workers if they had voted
Black people were threatned or bribed to not register to vote
By 1956-20% black americans had registered to vote
What was the NAACCP and when was it set up
National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People
Set in 1909
What did the NAACP work to do
Fought for civil rights using legal systems and the courts
They defended black people unfairly convicted of crimes
It focused to overturn ‘seperate but equal’ ruling
Created legal defense fund in 1940 to campaign for integration and to overthrow Plessy.
What is CORE and when was it set up
Congress of Racial Equality
Set up in 1942
CORE had a smaller membership than NAACP and operated in the Northern states - in the early stages must members were white and middle class
What does CORE do
They used non-violent direct action (boycotts and sit-ins) and trained local activists to not react in the face of extreme intimidation to protest against segregation
