In what ways did black Americans secure improve civil rights during the years 1945-63?

Essay by buzybeeA+, March 2006

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During the years of 1945 to 1963 many black Americans began to gradually work their way into securing their equal rights in America. In order to achieve their aim they went through a lot and many risked their lives in the hands of the whites as they demonstrated against the public segregation imposed on all blacks on services such as the bus, toilets, restaurants etc. There were many factors that needed to be tackled in the minds of many blacks and they began to challenge the system to win their civil rights.

After the second world war the position of blacks barely changed even though many of them were given a new status in the army and there were some integration. However, their rank in society was clearly that of second class. In 1948 President Truman, in an attempt to bring about a civil right plan for the blacks, introduced an anti-lynching bill and a ban on measures designed to stop poor people from voting.

Taking this step of helping the blacks proved too much for Truman as he faced heated opposition from his own party and was forced to drop many of his plans. Even though there was little progress, the armed forces were at least desegregated and the government was told to employ a higher percentage of black Americans.

The blacks sets about trying to do something about the education system of the country as many blacks were given less resources and poorer facilities than whites. This resulted in blacks having a less chance of getting a better job thus earning a meager wage to provide for their family. Hope was given to those blacks who wanted to change the education system when the supreme court issued two decisions made about the education in 1950 which stated...