1970s + Flashcards
Describe the LA riots (6)
March 1992
Four white police men acquitted after being videoed seriously beating Rodney King for speeding which sparked the LA riots
Demonstrates there was a long way to go to equality and racism still rife in some parts of the US
National guard used to restore order
Underlying causes of riots were tension between the black and Korean communities in the area, high unemployment, poverty, racism and police brutality, frustration and powerless
Problems from 60s (6)
1990: still faced discrimination when trying to rent or buy houses, average income of a black family is half that of the average white
Many black Americans lived in the poorest areas, the worst housing and were poorly paid
Racism still existed and black people were often harassed by the police
Views deeply entrenched
70s: backlash against bussing children a long way to school so to integrate them with white students
Black Americans worse affected by the republican low gov spending in the 70s
Progress from 60s (6)
Schools more integrated as civil rights were enforced
Black cultural movement in late 60s/70s aimed to make black Americans proud of their racial and cultural heritage, slogan ‘black is beautiful’
Jesse Owens- politics
Colin Powell- first black Secretary of State
Social and economic reforms although not always positive everywhere, some areas less housing and jobs
Developments in sport and media: Muhammad Ali, Spike Lee, Will Smith
Progress in politics (5)
Limited success in national politics (Obama in 2008)
Colin Powell is joint chief of staff in 1989, also first black Secretary of State
2nd most powerful politician after the president, Bush’s Secretary of State was Condalisa Rice
Success at local level and many cities have black mayors and councillors
Success in sport (5)
Muhammad Ali heavy weight boxing champion, influential, most boxing experts view him as the greatest boxer of all time, ‘Sportsman of the century’
Many successful black Olympians
Tiger woods first black american to win masters golf tournament
Success in TV (3)
Many TV shows have created black stars
1990s Fresh Prince of Bel Air with Will Smith
Oprah Winfrey, own TV chat show, one of the richest people in the US, role model for black American women
Success in literature and cinema (5)
Toni Morrison Nobel Peace Prize for Literature in 1993
Film stars such as Eddie Murphy, Samuel L Jackson and Morgan Freeman
Denzel Washington 2nd black american to win an oscar (played iconic roles such as Malcolm X)
Spike Lee very influential director in the latter 20th century: discussed race relations, urban crime and poverty
Success in music (5)
Enormous contributions to the world of music
60s Tamla Motown label: Steve Wonder and Jackson 5
MJ worldwide phenomenon, thriller tops charts world wide and becomes the biggest selling album of all time
1980s: unique styles such as hip hop and rap; Ice T- drug dealing and gang warfare
Gangster rap: expressing political views especially after Rodney king and LA riots, worry to Bush, administration and white middle class parents
Problems still present (6)
Most black people in the poorest third of US society
1990: av income of a black family was less than half that of an average white family
Gov cannot stop private discrimination
Still face discrimination when trying to rent or buy a house and education standards are not equal
