Question

In the context of the protest movement in the USA, discuss the following:

The significant change in the attitude of the government towards racial discrimination in the USA.

Answer 1

The major change in the attitude of the US government towards racial discrimination, especially after World War II, can be understood through the following important developments:

1. President Harry S. Truman played an important role in beginning this change. In 1948, he issued an Executive Order to end segregation in the armed forces. This was a major step towards racial equality as it challenged the long-standing practice of racial separation in the military.
2. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s was a major force in bringing change. It exposed deep-rooted racism in American society and put pressure on the government to take action. Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks became powerful symbols of the fight for equal rights.
3. The federal government introduced important laws to reduce racial discrimination. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed to remove state and local restrictions that stopped African Americans from voting.
4. A historic Supreme Court judgement declared that separate schools for black and white children were unconstitutional. This decision ended the “separate but equal” doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and marked an important step toward desegregation in education.
5. The Fair Housing Act, passed after the assassination of Dr. King, banned discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of houses based on race, religion, national origin, and sex. This law aimed to ensure equal housing opportunities for all.
6. Media coverage of the Civil Rights Movement, especially the violent treatment of peaceful protestors, helped change public opinion. This shift in the attitude of ordinary Americans was important in supporting government actions and new laws against racial discrimination.