Premium Essay

Black Women In The 1960s

Submitted By
Words 1303
Pages 6
In early times, women were viewed inferior to men and were not given equal opportunities in the household, workplace and society. However throughout time, women have led to a change in traditional gender roles and fought for equality. The 1950s were viewed as a period of conformity, where men and women recognized gender roles and followed society’s views. The 1960s were a period of uncertainty, disturbance and social revolution. After the turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s, the 1980s were represented as a period of optimism and vision. In the past decades, women began to find their voice and drastically change their position in society, politics, education and leadership. During these times, the racial divide and unfair treatment of women were …show more content…
In the accounts of Rosemary Bray, Patrice Gaines and Jill Nelson, they all openly reflect on their journey to black womanhood. Each woman has a unique path marked by many hardships and triumphs yet they all seek to find the power within themselves and others. Although Bray, Gaines and Nelson walk different paths in life, each of these inspiring accounts convey the strength in the community of black women and reveal common themes in race, class and gender. Throughout time, black women were challenged and mistreated by the color of their skin which often made them question their identity. Bray reflected on her fathers aggressive nature, envious demeanor and his rage on white peoples superiority which made Bray reexamine who she was. “In our schooling the ideas by Black people about Black people were often marginalized or simply unacknowledged…the hope that their lives would shed light on the pathway to how we can better practice freedom …show more content…
According to Lewin,“The story of black America is, in a sense… a bourgeoning middle class but a much larger poverty class. Even though the absolute size of the black middle class is growing rapidly, the numbers of black poor are increasing so quickly that the increase in black affluence has little effect on black America’s demographic profile” (7). In the 1960s, a black family on the welfare system usually was assumed a future of little hope and success. Despite the many demeaning criticisms of welfare, Bray embodies an African American woman born and raised on welfare yet never returned to the system. Bray connects her dream job of being an editor at the New York Times Book Review and her education at Yale University to the public programs that sustained her family while she was growing up. Bray conveyed admiration for her mother as she radiated strength while ensuring her children were feed with the help of food stamps and the little income from her father. Bray also expresses the security and comfort she felt while having her mother as a present figure in her life. She delivers a message of compassion for future welfare generations and speaks out against the 1996 welfare bill. Bray strongly believed that the federal welfare programs that allowed women to care for their children was more valuable than the programs that forced

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

1960s Cultural Attitudes

...significant and new cultural attitudes that emerged in the 1960s were a reflection of the recognition by the dominant majority that racial and ethnic prejudice had no place in society that drowned itself on equality of opportunity. Martin Luther King Jr., an African American, started the Black Revolution of the 1960s with a nonviolent civil rights movement. In August 1963, some two hundred fifty thousand Americans, black and white, came together on the nation’s capital to achieve racial justice in what was known as the March on Washington. There, King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, one of the most well known events in history. Northern blacks in cities campaigned against segregated public schools, demanding that their kids be accepted...

Words: 850 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Women In The Civil Rights Movement

...civil rights movement of the 1960’s when speaking of social movements, however, another major social movement was taking place during this time period. The fight for women’s rights. The women’s movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s sparked the second-wave of the “feminist movement.” Feminism can be defined as “a theory and/or movement concerned with advancing the position of women through such means as achievement of political, legal, or economic rights equal to those granted men (Offen, Pg. 123).” There are still no clear origins for the word feminism...

Words: 1487 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Status of Ethnic Minorities and Women in 1960's America

...Did the status of ethnic minorities and women change in the 1960’s? There is little doubt that the 1960’s was a decade that changed American culture in a huge way. Not only did the black community gain large amounts of equality but other minority groups such as Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, the Asian community and although not a minority group Women. There two main types of feminists in the 1960’s; liberal feminists that aimed to address economic issues and radical feminist who focused on female identity. Arguably the main issue for women was the limited opportunities in the workplace for women. In 1960 there were just 23 million employed women meaning that over sixty percent of women were unemployed. Income was also a big issue as the average income for a man in 1961 was $27000 compared to $15000 for women. In addition women accounted for 79% of unpaid work in America. In terms of female identity, radical feminists such as Ti-Grace Atkinson believed that heterosexual relationships were patriarchal and led to women being submissive. Therefore Atkinson advocated celibacy or lesbianism which received success in that it promoted gay rights campaigns in the late sixties. In 1966 the National Organisation for Women (NOW) was formed and aimed to achieve “truly equal partnership with men.” NOW was the biggest feminist group and primary aim was to focus on employment by lobbying Johnson’s government in the mid-sixties. This resulted in a number of victories such as...

Words: 1064 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Newleft

...The New Left was mainly used in reference to activists and educators who fought to bring about a wide range of reforms. At the core of this was the SDS. The New Left can be defined as a loosely organized, mostly white student movement that advocated for democracy, civil rights and various types of university reforms and protested against the Vietnam war. A radical leftists political movement was active especially during the 1960s and 70s, composed largely of college students and young intellecuals whose goals included equality, de-escalation of the arms race nonintervention in foreign affairs, and other big changes in the political, economic, social, and educational systems. The 1960s was a time of people around the world struggling for more of a say in the decisions of their society. The emergence of the personal computer in the late 70s and early 80s and the longer gestation of the new forms of people-controlled communication facilitated by the Internet and Usenet in the late 80s and today are the direct descendents of 1960s.The era of the 1960s was a special time in America. Masses of people realized their own potential to affect how the world around them worked. People rose up to protest the ways of society which were out of their control, whether to fight against racial segregation, or to gain more power for students in the university setting. The "Port Huron Statement" created by the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was a document which helped set the mood...

Words: 868 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

The Basic of the Civil Right Movement

...The Basics on the Civil Right Movement Because large segments of the populace--particularly African-Americans, women, and men without property--have not always been accorded full citizenship rights in the American Republic, civil rights movements, or "freedom struggles," have been frequent features of the nation's history. In particular, movements to obtain civil rights for black Americans have had special historical significance. Such movements have not only secured citizenship rights for blacks but have also redefined prevailing conceptions of the nature of civil rights and the role of government in protecting these rights. The most important achievements of African-American civil rights movements have been the post-Civil War constitutional amendments that abolished slavery and established the citizenship status of blacks and the judicial decisions and legislation based on these amendments, notably the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision of 1954, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Moreover, these legal changes greatly affected the opportunities available to women, nonblack minorities, disabled individuals, and other victims of discrimination. The modern period of civil rights reform can be divided into several phases, each beginning with isolated, small-scale protests and ultimately resulting in the emergence of new, more militant movements, leaders, and organizations. The Brown decision demonstrated that the litigation...

Words: 1943 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Timecapsule

...prominent archeologist I have become, I have been summoned to a dig site where a time capsule from the 1960’s has been discovered. After carefully unearthing this delicate finding, my colleagues and I discover five significant things from the 1960’s. First brought out is an antiwar sign, obviously hand made. Second from the capsule is a portrait of our 35th President, President John F. Kennedy. Third is the Woman’s Movement of the 1960’s. Fourth is a portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr. The final, fifth item to be brought from the time capsule, is the Civil Rights Movement. Each item is a significant and defining factor of the 1960’s era; a part of history that remains embedded in the American people’s minds and hearts. The antiwar handheld sign was the first to come out of the time capsule. This sign is still legible. The sign is a wood stick with a thin flat 4X4 piece of wood stapled to it. The flat wood sign has “Stop the War” spray-painted in red on one side. On the other side of the flat wood board is a peace sign spray-painted in yellow. The wood stick had a thin scarf tied to it still. This piece of history has significant meaning to the antiwar era of the 1960’s. This sign most likely was held and waved through the air at many of the antiwar protest often held by the so-called hippies of the 60’s. Many individuals who were against the war in Vietnam during the 1960’s. Individuals voiced their opinions in protests that consisted of sit-ins, marches and radical...

Words: 1544 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Civil War

...American community and beyond rose to prominence during the Civil Rights era, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Andrew Goodman and others. They risked—and sometimes lost—their lives in the name of freedom and equality. Advertisement Freedom MarchPlay video Freedom March Bet You Didn't Know: Rosa ParksPlay video Bet You Didn't Know: Rosa Parks Condoleezza Rice: Memories of Dr. KingPlay video Condoleezza Rice: Memories of Dr. King BACKGROUND Because large segments of the populace–particularly African-Americans, women, and men without property–have not always been accorded full citizenship rights in the American Republic, civil rights movements, or “freedom struggles,” have been a frequent feature of the nation’s history. In particular, movements to obtain civil rights for black Americans have had special historical significance. Such movements have not only secured citizenship rights for blacks but have also redefined prevailing...

Words: 2087 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

The Help

...freedom, equality, and opportunity held to be available to everyone living in the U.S... But this was not the case in the 1960’s for African Americans. This chance was taken away from them because of racial prejudice. Slavery still did exist in a sense. Blacks had been discriminated against for generations and separated from whites by law. Segregation had oppressed blacks for so many years. Kathryn Stockett, the author of The Help, shows how racism and discrimination destroyed the chance for African Americans to achieve the American Dream. In her book, The Help, Kathryn Stockett writes a realistic fiction story about the life and roles of black maids in the 1960’s in Jackson Mississippi. Skeeter Phelan, Minny Jackson and Aiblieen narrate the story. Skeeter is a 23-year-old educated white woman who is coming home from college. She lives at home on her family's cotton plantation. She is different from most women in her town mainly because of the maid that raised her, Constantine. “All my life I'd been told what to believe about politics, coloreds, being a girl. But with Constantine's thumb pressed in my hand, I realized I actually had a choice in what I could believe.” She slowly realizes she does not to be a part of the racism her town holds. She loves to write, so she soon devotes herself, at a high risk, to write a book featuring the real stories of the black women who work for the white families in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. The book will be published if she meets a deadline...

Words: 955 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

The 1960's

...and my highly skilled archaeological team. This is such an amazing discovery. We have been taught over the years how important the 1960’s were and how they brought about many changes in our nation leading up to its present day success. Inside the time capsule we have found a newspaper article dated February 2nd, 1960 with the headline “A&T Students Launch ‘Sit-Down’ Demand for Service at Downtown Lunch Counter”. (International Civil Rights Center & Museum, 2014) The next item within the capsule was a small package labeled Enovid and appears to one of the first brands of oral contraceptives. Continuing to look further into the capsule we then found 2 tickets from the Washington Coliseum with a date of February 10th 1964 featuring The Beatles. Also included among these items was a flyer dated August 28th 1963 with the heading “March on Washington”. The last item we removed from the time capsule was a small patch with an eagle on it landing on what appears to be the moon with the words “Apollo 11”. I will now go onto write a little history on these items as well as their importance to us in the present day. In 1865 slavery ended and African-Americans were free to live their own lives. Although this was true African-American were still treated poorly. Segregation was used to separate the African-Americans from the white Americans. Coloreds or blacks were popular terms during this time and every public place including diners, schools transportation and restrooms were divided and...

Words: 1393 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Racial Discrimination In The 1960's Essay

...The African American community during the 1960’s continued to struggle with racial inequality. Martin Luther King Jr. attempted to get rid of racial discrimination by leading a series of peaceful protests. Police Commissioner Eugene Conner did not tolerate the protests and sent his men to stop them from protesting by using violence. This and the continuing of protests forced President Kennedy to put an end to the injustices towards African Americans by proposing a bill that desegregated public areas and provided them with more job opportunities. In 1963, the March on Washington took place, with approximately 250,000 people, including whites.*Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on that day, but segregation continued...

Words: 950 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

History

...Assignment/Dissertation Submission Form Student Information Please complete all parts of this form and submit with your assignment. All parts of the assignment must be stapled together before submission PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS Student Registration Number | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 | Class Code and Title - PRINT the code and title as it appears in the student handbook V | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | | History of the USA since 1877 | Tutor’s name | Mark Ellis | Submission date | 17/11/13 | | | Extension/Re-submission Yes No | Extension/Re-submission date: | Where appropriate please √ your year, Now √ the attempt. 1st | 2nd | √ | | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yr4 | | Postgraduate | | √ | | | | | | | ...

Words: 2640 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

How Does Stockett Use Allusions In The Help

...In the 1960’s, racial tension was extremely intense in the United States. Examples of these racial tensions can be seen all throughout the United States. The Church bombing of Birmingham and Bloody Tuesday are just a couple of the many hundred events during the 1960’s that were the consequences of racial tensions. The novel, “The Help”, by Kathryn Stockett, focuses on the social issue of segregation in the United States, specifically in the south. Stockett demonstrates the issue of racial segregation between blacks and whites in the 1960’s by applying allusions, imagery, and point of view. In “The Help”, Stockett utilizes allusions to focus on the social issue of racial segregation in the United States. Firstly, the setting of the book is an allusion, as it takes place in Mississippi, a place which in the sixties was notorious for being a state full of racism and pro segregation. Furthermore, the book alludes to a significant amount of civil rights movements and figures such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., The March on Washington, sit ins, and Medgar Evers. These allusions bring substantial meaning to the book’s purpose as the book is mainly about maids who are black, such as Aibileen and Minny, who help out ladies which are white, such as Hilly and...

Words: 754 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

The Women's Movement

...The women’s rights movement was a huge turning point for women because they had succeeded in the altering of their status as a group and changing their lives of countless men and women. Gender, Ideology, and Historical Change: Explaining the Women’s Movement was a great chapter because it explained and analyzed the change and causes of the women’s movement. Elaine Tyler May’s essay, Cold War Ideology and the Rise of Feminism and Women’s Liberation and Sixties Radicalism by Alice Echols both gave important but different opinions and ideas about the women’s movement. Also, the primary sources reflect a number of economic, cultural, political, and demographic influences on the women’s movement. This chapter really explains how the Cold War ideologies, other protests and the free speech movements occurring during this time helped spark the rise or the women’s right’s movements. In Cold War Ideology and the Rise of Feminism by Elaine Tyler May, May examines the impact of political changes on American families, specifically the relationship of a Cold War ideology and the ideal of domesticity in the 1960s. May believed that with security as the common thread, the Cold War ideology and the domestic revival reinforced each other. Personal adaption, rather than political resistance, characterized the era. However, postwar domesticity never fully delivered on its promises because the baby-boom children who grew up in suburban homes abandoned the containment ethos when...

Words: 2090 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Improving Social Justice for Minorities and Women from the End of the Civil War Through the 1970s

...Our American History: Improving Social Justice for Minorities and Women From the End of the Civil War Through the 1970s History 1312 The University of Texas at Arlington December 16, 2011 Improving Social Justice for Minorities and Women From the End of the Civil War Through the 1970s I. At the end of the Civil War in 1865, most African American slaves held a renewed hope that with President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 would come economic opportunity and social mobility. There was the expectation that they would have political representation and the assurance of at least the beginning of attaining equality1. After the end of the war in 1865, there were enough states to ratify the 13th Amendment which outlawed slavery. However, it did not provide any equal rights or citizenship. As time passed and minorities began to assert themselves into American society, social justice movements that were led by blacks and whites alike began to become more commonplace. However, the struggle to become fully recognized as equal members of American society has been a battle that was fought through the 1970s—and in some measure, continues today. Like minorities, women have struggled with inequality and social injustice. However, their decision to fight for equality began before the start of the Civil War. The Seneca Falls Convention in New York was held in July of 1848, and can be referred to as the...

Words: 3246 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Maya Angelou Research Paper

...poetry, was a civil right activist and produced most of her poems from the late 1960’s until the early 2000’s. Because of her involvement in the Civil Rights movement and the time period in which she lived, almost all of her poems are about common instances of that time. The message of most of these poems relate to social issues that developed during the middle to late 1900’s, whether they pertain to race, gender, or other matters. These poems are a way of informing people of those issues and hopefully able to cause a change. Some of Maya Angelou’s works address more than one problem and have many different interpretations while others have a more straightforward way of revealing their meaning to the reader. She writes from a certain perspective so that most people can understand the poem’s message and central idea....

Words: 525 - Pages: 3