Disadvantages of Black Americans in 1950's

Disadvantages of Black Americans in 1950's

Black Americans faced many disadvantages during the 1950's. In short

they were discriminated; from public services, to cafés and

restaurants. After the American Civil War in 1865, black people in the

American south were no longer slaves. But they had never gained

equality with whites. Blacks had remained second classed citizens

throughout their movement to America, with the worst paid unskilled

jobs in farms and factories.

The schools that had been made for black people were extremely poor,

with very books throughout each school and classes ranged from 40 - 50

children per class. This was not the case with white people and their

schools. The white peoples schools flourished with books, equipment

and the classes were kept low with manageable sizes. Good teachers had

been employed to teach each class, but on the other hand with black

schools, teachers who did not have particularly good skills were

taught, and all the teachers would also be black. One of the most

famous cases of segregation that was brought to public attention was

that of the Linda Brown case. The particular issue was whether a black

girl, Linda Brown could attend a local, all-white school. Linda had to

walk over twenty blocks to get to her school in Topeka even though

there was a local school just down the road. Linda's class at her

school in Topekawas big, the classrooms were shabby and their were not

enough books for each child. The all-white school down her road was

much better off, better education with a lot better teaching

materials. The poor quality education and environment at Linda's

school was because the Topeka Board of Education spent much more money

on the white school than on Linda's school for blacks. This frustrated

Linda's father, Oliver Brown so much that he took the Board of

Education to court. He lost his battle. (Possibly a large contributing

factor was he was a black man took the board of education to a court

run by highly paid white judges).