Question

What was life like in the 1950’s for African Americans?

Answer 1

Answer:

Many blacks were regularly forced to attend all black colleges. High schools and elementary schools were located in the most run-down locations, surrounded by poverty, forcing the standard of living and the standard of education to be obviously lower than that of the whites'. Some whites claimed that African Americans "weren't intelligent enough to even have the privilege of an education at all". The main issue that the terrible schooling system generated was that it was nearly impossible for blacks to fit in with society, because without an education, they were lost, without a decent paying job.

Explanation:

Life as a black man, woman, or child was guaranteed to be rough in the 1950s. Blacks' Constitutional right to vote was infringed upon until 1965. It was evident that discrimination was present; for example, it was more difficult for blacks to purchase houses in certain neighborhoods or developments. Sometimes, blacks weren't even permitted in specific public facilities or spaces.  

African Americans weren't allowed to join the YMCA nor the YWCA. Surprisingly, full-grown black men were never talked to as adults; they were talked down to and treated like children. All blacks were expected to respond to whites with a "yes ma'am" or "yes sir" to show respect, no matter what the age of that white was. Discrimination was most commonly known to relate to bus stops and water fountains; blacks had a separate water fountain and were forced to sit in the back of the bus if seats were scarce