Progress For Black Americans Since The 1960s Flashcards
What three pieces of legislation did LBJ pass? When were they passed and what did they do?
Civil Rights Act 1964 - banned public segregation
Voting Rights Act 1965 - protected the votes of the Black Americans
Civil Rights Act 1968 - illegalised discrimination in the workplace, hosuing etc
What were the Race Riots?
Protests in the north against the situation and lack of opportunity for Black Americans. Despite being equal they still had to live in ghettos, were more likely to be unemployed, got a worse education and were discriminated against by the police.
When were the Watts Riots?
August 1965
How many people were killed in the Watts Riots?
34
How many people were injured during the Watts Riots?
1072
How long did the Watts Riots last?
6 days
What happened during the Watts Riots?
People burnt down buildings while chanting various Black Power slogans and attacking the police.
What was the total value of the damage done during the Watts Riots?
$40,000,000
When was the Inter-racial Marriages Act passed? What did it do?
It was passed in 1967. It deemed that any attempt to forbid inter-race marriages was unconstitutional.
What was the Fair Housing Act? What did it do?
It was passed in 1968. It made racial discrimination in housing illegal.
What was the Kerner Report?
A report of 1968 which concluded that racism was too far embedded into American society to ever be removed.
How did life improve for Black Americans during the 70s and 80s?
Schools became integrated
In 1977, Carl Stokes became the first black mayor of a major city
By 1985, 10% of elected officials were black
What problems did Black Americans face during the 70s and 80s?
In 1980, 13% of black men were unemployed compared to the national average of 7%
Black people still lived in the poorest areas with the poorest housing and were poorly paid
Racism still existed
What sparked the LA Riots of 1992?
Rodney King was caught speeding and refused to pull over for the police. When they were pulled over, King was beaten close to death and then handcuffed to a lamp post to wait for an ambulance. The whole incident was taped on CCTV and was broadcast on national TV. The police officers were prosecuted but were all acquitted.
How many people died in the LA Riots?
53
