Mistreatment of African-Americans
"The Children's Crusades." http://www.crmvet.org/images/imgbham.htm
African-Americans were mistreated for much too long. Even after slavery was abolished, and the Emancipation Proclamation had been passed, prejudice amongst African-Americans was still very prevalent especially in the Deep South (Hoose, 2001). For years, the United States had the Jim Crow laws which prohibited the integration of blacks with whites. These laws started sometime in the 1880s and lasted well into the twentieth century (National Park Service, 2012). African-Americans were often attacked and in danger simply because of the color of their skin. The Jim Crow laws prohibited African-Americans from attending the same schools as whites, using the same bathrooms and riding on the same trains among many other things (Clayborne, 2010). In Florida, even juvenile delinquents were separated based on their color, and in Georgia, mental hospitals were segregated, as well. In Georgia, along with many other states in America, it was considered a crime for a white person to marry any other race except for their own. Jim Crow laws stated, “Any marriage in violation of this section shall be void” (National Park Service, 2012). The laws separating whites and blacks went on and on.
African Americans were tired of being viewed as lesser citizens than Caucasian- Americans. They wanted their civil rights, as well. In the 1950s, African-Americans started speaking up and standing up for what they believed in. Many important historical figures and leaders rose during this time including: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcom X to name a few (Clayborne, 2012). However, it was not only African-American adults who were tired of being mistreated and belittled. Many African-American children and teenagers stood together during this time period, as well. Young African-Americans also noticed they were not being treated equally. While many white children were benefiting from the economy rising due to the end of World War II, the majority of black children were living in poverty. It was not uncommon for a white American teenager to be receiving an allowance at this time. It was also not uncommon for a black teenager to be put down and even in danger because of the color of their skin (Hoose, 2001). Ben Chaney, a young African-American boy at the time from Mississippi, recalls not being able to play with his white neighbors anymore once he turned ten. He recalls,
“Their parents came straight out and told me they didn’t want me playing with their kids no more. Their mama told them they were better than I was, and told me I couldn’t associate with her son, and I had to call him ‘Mister.’ And the kids themselves adopted that attitude” (Levine, 1993).
As a young child, imagine not being able to play with your neighbor anymore just because you aren’t the same color as him or her.
African Americans were tired of being viewed as lesser citizens than Caucasian- Americans. They wanted their civil rights, as well. In the 1950s, African-Americans started speaking up and standing up for what they believed in. Many important historical figures and leaders rose during this time including: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcom X to name a few (Clayborne, 2012). However, it was not only African-American adults who were tired of being mistreated and belittled. Many African-American children and teenagers stood together during this time period, as well. Young African-Americans also noticed they were not being treated equally. While many white children were benefiting from the economy rising due to the end of World War II, the majority of black children were living in poverty. It was not uncommon for a white American teenager to be receiving an allowance at this time. It was also not uncommon for a black teenager to be put down and even in danger because of the color of their skin (Hoose, 2001). Ben Chaney, a young African-American boy at the time from Mississippi, recalls not being able to play with his white neighbors anymore once he turned ten. He recalls,
“Their parents came straight out and told me they didn’t want me playing with their kids no more. Their mama told them they were better than I was, and told me I couldn’t associate with her son, and I had to call him ‘Mister.’ And the kids themselves adopted that attitude” (Levine, 1993).
As a young child, imagine not being able to play with your neighbor anymore just because you aren’t the same color as him or her.