What were the main developments in race relations in the United States 1945-68?

This is one of the nicest questions that any student can get on their LC exam because there is such a selection of events to choose from. For this sample essay, we have included as much context and content as possible and have given each paragraph a little subtitle so that you know what 'development' each paragraph is referencing. There is no paragraph on MLK here, but you can feel free to substitute certain topics in and out as you desire. Just make sure you are answering the question!!!

The American Declaration of Independence, penned in 1776, famously declares that all citizens are created equal. However, this ideal was far from the reality for black Americans during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Throughout the United States, particularly in the southern states, black people were subjected to systemic racism and treated as second-class citizens. Jim Crow segregation laws enforced a rigid racial divide, pervasive racist attitudes dominated society, and the Ku Klux Klan terrorised African-American communities. Despite these oppressive conditions, race relations gradually improved during the 1950s and 1960s through the efforts of courageous individuals, peaceful protests, and, at times, militant actions.

Desegregation of the US Military

One of the first significant developments in post-World War II race relations was the desegregation of the US military. Historically, the military was segregated, with black units commanded by white officers. Black Americans were excluded from certain branches, such as the Marines and the Air Corps, until the need for manpower during the war led to a temporary relaxation of these rules. In 1946, President Harry S. Truman established a Committee on Civil Rights, and by 1947, he began implementing their recommendations. Truman's actions to integrate the armed forces marked an essential first step toward desegregation, signalling presidential support for black civil rights and initiating the process of dismantling official racial barriers.

The Greensboro Sit-ins

The fight for desegregation extended beyond the military to public facilities, a crucial area of racial inequality in the United States. The integration of public spaces like libraries, restaurants, and cinemas was sparked by the 1960 sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina. Four black students courageously sat at a "whites-only" counter in a diner and refused to leave, inspiring a wave of similar protests across the South. Despite the risk of arrest under Jim Crow laws, over 50,000 young people participated in these sit-ins, ultimately forcing more than one hundred southern cities to desegregate their public facilities. This grassroots movement was a significant victory for the civil rights movement, demonstrating the power of nonviolent protest in challenging racial segregation.

The Battle for Educational Equality

The integration of schools and universities in the South was another pivotal development in the fight for civil rights. The landmark Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954, led by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP), successfully challenged the segregation of schools in Topeka, Kansas. The Supreme Court ruled that the segregation of public schools was unconstitutional, setting a legal precedent for desegregation. The subsequent enforcement of this ruling was often met with resistance, most notably in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957, where President Eisenhower had to send federal troops to protect nine black students attending a previously all-white school. By 1969, the percentage of black students in white schools had risen from 1% to 20%, illustrating the gradual but significant progress made in integrating the education system.

The Role of Bussing

The challenge of school integration was not confined to the South; northern schools, though not segregated by law, were often divided along racial lines due to residential segregation. To address this, the Supreme Court mandated bussing in 1971, a policy that involved transporting white children to black inner-city schools and black children to white suburban schools. This policy aimed to ensure a more balanced racial composition in schools and was crucial in promoting educational equality. Despite resistance from some city authorities and an unsuccessful attempt by President Nixon to ban the practice, bussing played a vital role in integrating schools and reaffirmed the Supreme Court's commitment to civil rights.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott

The Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-1956 stands out as a defining moment in the American civil rights movement, demonstrating the black community's determination to achieve equal treatment. Triggered by Rosa Parks's arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger, the boycott was organised by figures such as Edgar Nixon and Martin Luther King Jr. For 381 days, black residents of Montgomery, Alabama, refused to ride the buses, severely impacting the bus company's revenue and highlighting the economic power of the black community. Despite threats from the Ku Klux Klan and harsh weather, the boycott persisted, ultimately leading to the desegregation of Montgomery's buses and marking a significant victory for the civil rights movement.

The Rise of Black Power and Black Nationalism

While many civil rights activists advocated for peaceful protest, others turned to more militant approaches, which had both positive and negative effects on race relations. Stokely Carmichael and the Black Panthers symbolised the shift towards black militancy in the late 1960s. Carmichael, disillusioned with the slow progress of nonviolent resistance, promoted the slogan "Black Power" and encouraged a more confrontational stance. The Black Panthers, under Huey Newton, took this further by urging black Americans to arm themselves in self-defence against police brutality. These movements led to violent clashes, such as the riots in Harlem and Watts, and, while they fostered a sense of black pride, they also deepened the divide between black and white communities and complicated the broader civil rights struggle.

The Ku Klux Klan and White Violence

Violence from white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan was a significant obstacle to improving race relations in the United States. The Klan, which had officially disbanded after World War II, resurfaced in the 1950s to oppose the civil rights movement. Klan members, identifiable by their white hoods, terrorised black communities in the South, burning homes, committing lynchings, and attacking civil rights leaders. Their actions, including the bombing of Martin Luther King Jr.'s home during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, aimed to intimidate and silence the black community. However, the Klan's violent tactics ultimately backfired, as their brutality embarrassed many white Americans and galvanised support for the civil rights movement.

Conclusion Paragraph - The Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement

In conclusion, the 1950s and 1960s were a transformative period for race relations in the United States, marked by both progress and setbacks. The civil rights movement, driven by both peaceful and militant activists, succeeded in challenging systemic racism and securing significant legal and social changes. While violent opposition from groups like the Ku Klux Klan and internal divisions within the black community posed challenges, the movement's achievements in desegregation, education, and voting rights have had a lasting impact. These developments not only reshaped American society at the time but continue to influence race relations in the present day.