President Truman and Civil Rights
What inequalities did the report highlight?
- Widespread lynching - Police used barbaric methods like pistol whipping against black prisoners - Legal obstacles stopped blacks from voting - White workers received 20 cents more on average per hour - Not many doctors for blacks
How many doctors per 3,300 blacks in 1940?
1 doctor
In contrast how doctors were for every 750 whites?
1 doctor
When was To Secure These Rights published?
1947
When was EO 9980 and what did it do?
1948 and it outlawed discrimination jim civil rights
When was the canteen in Washington Airport was desegregated?
19501
What did Truman do in the area if employment?
EO 9980 (1948) outlawed racial discrimination in civil service Committee on Government Contract Compliance (1951) established to ensure that government contracts did not go to racist employers Truman appointed blacks to high profile government roles like Ralph Bunche as ambassador to the United Nations
What did Truman do in the area of desegregation?
EO9981 ended segregation in the army Truman's inauguration ceremony in 1949 was desegregated Canteen in Washington airport was desegregated (1951
What other areas did Truman focus on?
Employment, desegregation and housing
What did Truman do in the area of housing?
Fair deal committed government to build large numbers of new homes particularly in ghettos
What was the impact of Truman's measures?
He did not implement recommendations in to Secure These Rights He did not address segregation in education, healthcare and did not pass anti-lynching laws. The fair deal was underfunded and more houses were demolished than were built However, federal government did take responsibility with the report
What was Truman motivated by?
His experience of segregation in his home state, the heroism of black veterans and the Cold War
Who was appointed to be US ambassador as a black man?
Ralph Bunche
Traditionally, what party did blacks vote for?
Republicans
What EO ended segregation in the army?
9981
What were the suggestions for change?
Anti-Lynching Laws New powers for the federal government to enforce civil rights Government contracts to not be given to racist employers All obstacles to voting should be outlawed Civil Rights act to outlaw segregation in education and healthcare
What was the CGCC, when was it established and what did it do?
Committee on Government Contract Compliance in 1951 and it was to make sure that government contracts did not go to racist employers
What was the impact of the Cold War?
The injustice of segregation undermined America's claim to fight for freedom and justice
