Topic 4 - C4 - Social Change Flashcards
How had the political status of black Americans changed by the 1980s?
- RR appointed a black cabinet member and more black candidates were elected to political office.
- 1988, Jesse Jackson made a good run for the Democratic nomination for presidency but wasn’t elected due to anti semitic remarks.
What helped black Americans gain political status?
NAACP won cases in the 1980s that led to changes in to congressional districts and voting systems = helped black Americans become elected officials.
How did the number of black congressmen increase throughout the 90s?
Black congressmen 45 in 1990 and 69 in 1992.
When were black mayors beginning to be elected and where?
Chicago elected a black mayor in 1984, Philadelphia followed suit in 1988.
What evidence is there that black Americans still rarely won statewide elections?
1992 - sole black governor was Douglas Wilder of Virginia (1990-1994) and the only black senator was Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois.
Why is the 1980s known as the Hispanic decade?
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Mexican American Legal Defence and Educational Fund (MALDEF) became more effective in lobbying.
What legislation did LULAC and MALDEF help pass?
Immigration Reform Control Act (1986) to give more sympathy to the status of undocumented aliens
How did Hispanic political status grow?
RR appointed the first Hispanic cabinet member in 1989 and the no. of hispanics in the House of Representatives grew from 5 in 1970 → 10 in 1980 → 17 in 1992.
How did Native Americans achieve more political independence as in 1990 - ¼ NAs lived on a tribal reservation?
More assertive over sovereignty and land rights in 1981-92. Merrion (1982) SC supported NA tribal sovereignty and tax powers.
What SC ruling limited Native American political independence by not allowing NA powers to override state powers?
Duro v Reina (1990) ruled that tribal courts didn’t have criminal jurisdiction over someone who was not a member of their tribe.
What is an example of police racism in a high speed car chase in 1991 that led to riots in LA, Atlanta, Bham and Chicago where 55 died and 2300 were injured?
White police caught up with black suspect Rodney King and were filmed beating him up, white jury found police not guilty
What is an example of racism in 1992 in the Sheriff’s Department of Volusia County in Florida on the interstate highway?
Blacks and Hispanics only made up 5% of the drivers but were 70% of those stopped and were stopped for longer periods than white drivers.
Why were Asian Americans convinced of racism from 1982 when Chinese American Vincent Chin was clubbed to death?
Clubbed to death in Detroit by two white car workers who thought he was Japanese and responsible for decline in car industry. Killers only given 3 years probation.
What semi racist ruling did the SC rule?
1990 - SC ruled that states could deny employment to peyote users because peyote was an illicit drug not part of an essential religious practice.
How had economic status of minorites not improved?
- 1970-1990 30% blacks lived in poverty
- Blacks 2x more likely to be poor than whites
- 1990 Median black household income as $24,000 while for whites it was $40,100
- ¼ of hispanics lived below poverty line
- NA income was below half of the national average
How had the economic status of black Americans improved?
Black unemployment 2X that of whites and when ⅔ of Chicago’s south side black males had been employed in 1960, only ⅓ employed by 1990
How did affirmative action help minorities after it was used in major corporations and unis by 1992?
- 1983 - 38.2% of black students went to college after high school vs 55% of whites. 1992 - 51.5% of blacks did vs 63.9% of whites
- % of NAs with a college education increased by 20% between 1970-1990
- % of Hispanics with a college education increased by ⅓
What impact did affirmative action have on minorities?
Average black incomes rose by nearly 20% 1981-1992
Average hispanic income in constant dollars was $10,524 in 1975 → $28,822 in 1992
