Question

What social, economic, and material gains did African Americans make after the civil rights era? Why did some black Americans do better than others during this period? How are tensions surrounding class stratification manifested within the black community?

Answer 1

• After the Civil Rights Era, many black people were able to thrive and make significant social, economic and material gains. Many African-Americans moved to cities in order to find better work opportunities. Others decided to pursue higher education, as institutions were more accepting of their enrolment. Many African-Americans joined the middle class and were able to buy houses in desirable areas.

• There are many reasons why gains were not the same across the board. While many African-Americans took advantage of these opportunities, others were stuck in a cycle of poverty and oppression that originated during slavery. Others lived in communities where these opportunities were not available, or faced high levels of discrimination and racism.

• The black community, as many other communities, has a class stratification. This means that many within the community belong to high classes, many others are middle class, and many are from the lower classes, regardless of the fact that they share the same skin colour. Because of this, sometimes tensions can arise within the community. Many people from the lower classes might resent higher ones, while people from the higher classes can sometimes fail to see the constraints that the lower classes have.