History of Racism in the United States

History of Racism in the United States

Strom Thurmond was a Democrat? George Bush was a strong opposer of black voting rights? Times

have certainly changed. Key events in US history; have led to moderate desegregation that encompasses

our nation today. One must thoroughly investigate dates, and legislation between 1948 and 1980 to fully

comprehend the nature of racism today. When investigating periods of African American history one must

not only look at the superficial data, but undermining factors, which may have gone unnoticed by the

public eye. These events are equally important to the legislation, which passed that will forever change the

history of the United States.

1948 will be inscribed in time as the year that changed presidential politics, as we know it. Blacks

had recently returned from WWII, were they fought to preserve human rights. When blacks fought over

seas they came to the realization that they did not have equal rights in the country, which they called

home. The NAACP and other black civil rights organizations were platforms where blacks could voice

their disapproval with racism. The NAACP?s membership grew 900% from 1941-45(Tyson, Oct. 13).

Separate was not equal, and blacks were going to tell the world of the atrocities which were going on in the United States.

The World began to learn the deficiency of equality when rivals throughout WWII began dropping leaflets

throughout Africa. These leaflets showed newspapers where African Americans rights were being clearly

abused. ?As long as the United States sanctioned racial discrimination, it remained vulnerable to charges

from the Soviet Union that while preaching freedom and democracy in foreign affairs, it did not practice

either at home (Lawson, 9).? The United States countered this action by applying the Mingus Briefs.

These Briefs were actions taken by the govt. to convinced allied nations that racism was not a part of

American culture. Truman, the President re-elect hopeful, responded to the growing importance of race by

issuing the Presidents Committee on Civil Rights. Truman reacted, not only for the reason that he had a

strong opposition of racism, but because by 1948 4 northern states out numbered the electoral votes of the

South. A. Phillip Randolph was another main contributor to the birth of the Committee ...

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...put in during their short term in power. Reagan had no

regards for the lower class society, which was mostly black. Reagan began a tax plan that the lower 50%

of Americans would receive an increase in taxes, the top 50-90% would receive little change, and the top

1% would actually receive a 60% increase in net income (Tyson, Dec. 13). Reagan told the public he did

not differentiate between races. ?I have black friends (Tyson, Dec. 13)?. His platform shows he had total

disregard for the betterment of African American?s in regards to their economic well being. Disgust with

the Reagan campaign was apparent in 1984, when 89% of African Americans voted for Walter Mondale

(Tyson, Dec. 13).

Racism is still apparent in the United States in this year of 1999. We have made several strides, but it is

clear ghettos are filled with African Americans and other minorities. Until an integrated middle class is

established the battle for racial equality will not end. Programs such as Affirmative Action and Welfare are

making significant differences, but more needs to be done. We must do everything in our power to heal

the scars, which slavery and racism created.