Race Relations in the US since 1954 Essay Example

particularly kissing, as it was deemed offensive to white people. Despite the existence of the Civil Rights movement starting in approximately 1945, some argue that President Harry Truman endorsed the movement. As proof, the President established a committee in 1947 to investigate instances of violence against black people. The resultant report concluded that America could not assert its global leadership while perpetuating inequality towards its black population.

Despite the various campaigns taking place in the northern states, the south remained under the oppressive Jim Crow Laws, where discrimination was rampant and racist organizations still thrived. As a result, racism continued to pose a significant threat. This was exemplified by the tragic events that took place when Emmett Till arrived in Mississippi on August 21, and participated in a trip to purchase candy with other teenagers. As Till left the shop, he reportedly whistled or shouted at Carolyn Bryant. Given the prevailing racial tensions, it was impossible to tell what tragedy might befall a black person who offended a white person in any way.

Till's fellow participants were frightened and ran away upon realizing the racial tensions in Mississippi. Once Roy Bryant became aware of Till's actions, he was infuriated. According to Carolyn Bryant, Till had put his arms around her waist and requested to go on a date. Contrarily, Till's cousin, Wheeler Parker Jr., attested that Emmett had merely whistled at her. In less than 72 hours, nearly all inhabitants of Tallahatchie County were informed of this event.

Bryant and J.W. Milam made a pact to give Emmett Till a punishment. In the early hours of August 27th, at around 2:30am, Roy Bryant along with J.W.

Emmett Till was

abducted by Milam from his great-uncle's residence and was taken to a nearby County, where he was savagely beaten in a shed. The perpetrators then attached a fan to Till's neck before disposing of his body in the Tallahatchie River. The murderers, along with law enforcement officials, attempted to convince people that Emmett Till was still in Chicago and that the victim was someone else. However, Till was identified by his father's ring that he wore on his finger.

On August 29th, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam were apprehended under suspicion of committing a murder. The incident was not merely a result of Emmett Till's perceived impudence in whistling at Carolyn Bryant, but a brutal and inhumane racist lynching. Bryant and Milam exercised their belief in unrestricted power over Till due to their skin color, which tragically led to his demise.

This is a regrettable fact, but it encompasses the killing of a boy of tender age. James Byrd was from the southern state of Texas, born on May 2nd 1949. He had graduated from Jasper's Rowe High School as part of the final segregated class. Byrd later moved to Dallas after having lived in Houston with his wife Thelma Adams since 1970.

Despite having three children together, the couple divorced in 1993. Over the course of three decades, Byrd experienced multiple periods of incarceration albeit being regarded by a Jasper Police Chief as more unlucky than inherently bad. As Byrd did not own a vehicle, he was frequently observed walking around town. Unfortunately, on June 7th 1998, three men offered him a ride, which led to a far more dire outcome than Byrd could have

anticipated.

James Byrd was subject to a brutal beating before being tied to the back of a pickup truck with a chain, and dragged across a road for three miles. Evidence shows that Byrd tried to keep his head up during the ride, but ultimately died upon impact with a culvert that severed his arm and head. One of the perpetrators, Lawrence Russel Brewer, claimed that Byrd's throat had been cut prior to the dragging. Shawn Allen Berry, Lawrence Russel Brewer, and John William King were identified as the three individuals involved in the murder.

It is evident that King and Brewer, known white supremacists, were highly prejudiced individuals. While serving time in prison, they were affiliated with white supremacist organizations and frequently made jokes about violently attacking and killing African Americans. It comes as no shock that they are potentially involved in a racially motivated homicide, prompting the FBI to promptly investigate the matter.

John William King and Lawrence Russell Brewer, identified as white supremacists for their tattoos promoting Nazism, Aryan supremacy, and a black man being hanged from a tree, were found guilty of the killings. The FBI's investigation initially focused on Shawn Berry's possible involvement but this remained unconfirmed. Despite some similarities and differences between the murders of Emmett Till and James Byrd, one key factor they share is that both victims were African-Americans.

Both Emmett Till and James Byrd were targeted for the same reason, and their killings took place in similar areas. Specifically, Till was lynched in Mississippi while Byrd died in Dallas - both of which are situated in the southern part of America.

Evidence suggests that racism was more prevalent in

the southern states of America compared to the north. This is demonstrated by two incidents where witnesses were scarce and those who did testify refused to do so, as well as the extensive media coverage of both killings. Look magazine even published a statement from Milam and Bryant confessing their involvement in Emmett Till's murder as an illustration of this point.

Look magazine paid $4000 for the story they had sold, while also covering James Byrd's case. Despite their similarities, there are several contrasts between them, the most significant one being the date of the murders. Emmett Till was killed on August 27th, 1955 and James Byrd on June 7th, 1998.

Although only 43 years separated these racist killings, there was a significant advancement and progress achieved during this time. Nevertheless, the motive behind the lynching was very similar. Another disparity is that the Jim Crow Laws were implemented from 1876 to 1965, specifically designed to keep Blacks in a lower status than Whites.

During the era of the laws, Emmett Till was killed in a racist murder. In the southern region of the USA, such murders were not uncommon in the span of 89 years. However, James Byrd was lynched much later, 33 years after the Jim Crow laws had already ended, during a time when racist murders were exceedingly rare. The trials for King, Brewer, and Berry took over a year to arrange and conclude, while the trial for Emmett Till's killers did not require extension due to the clear outcome. The trial of Roy Bryant and J.

During the trial of W. Milam, who was responsible for the death of Emmett Till, the jury was composed

of 12 white males. This decision was widely considered unfair, given the prevalent support for white superiority in the southern United States. In contrast, the jury for the James Byrd trial included individuals from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.

The time it took for the juries to come to their final decisions had a significant impact. Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam's trial jury took only an hour, reportedly taking a soda break to stretch out the time. By comparison, Byrd's jury deliberated for several hours on each of the three participants.

The outcomes of the two cases differed, with Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam being promptly acquitted.

All three individuals, Shawn Allen Berry, Lawrence Russel Brewer, and John William King, were convicted for their involvement in the murder of Byrd. King and Brewer were given the death penalty through lethal injection, while Berry received a life sentence. The reason behind Berry's comparatively lenient sentence was due to his absence of past racial offenses and white supremacist tattoos, unlike his accomplices. The verdict was welcomed by Americans from diverse ethnicities as there were no instances of punishment being avoided.

Despite the lack of surprise among most Americans when Emmett Till's offenders were declared not guilty, this highlights the immense progress made in the time between the two murders. It also demonstrates that by 1998, racism's negative effects had been acknowledged, accepted, and supported in America. There are numerous similarities in the lead-up to the trials; however, their structure and verdicts are nearly opposite. Emmett Till's death significantly increased public and media awareness of racism.

Various initiatives and groups emerged, with one being formed in Montgomery, Alabama in December 1955. Rosa

Parks, a 42-year-old African American woman, declined to give up her spot to a white man on a segregated bus. Despite feeling exhausted from work, Parks would have typically relinquished her seat for an elderly individual or child. Nevertheless, she had grown tired of experiencing racial prejudice and opted to stand firm in support of her convictions. She was requested to vacate her place solely due to the ethnicity of her family and the tone of her skin.

Although she faced segregation and Jim Crow laws, Rosa Parks remained resolute in her opposition to discriminatory practices. This unwavering stance led to her act of defiance for which she was charged and detained for breaking Montgomery city bus segregation rules. However, the severity of this punishment was overshadowed by the importance of standing up for herself and the black community. Prior to this event, Parks had become a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) due to her steadfast anti-racist beliefs. She was ultimately chosen as a representative for the Montgomery branch.

The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People collaborated with black students from Alabama State College to back Rosa Parks' protest. They circulated flyers, collaborated with media outlets, and coordinated with religious leaders like Martin Luther King to organize demonstrations and a prospective bus boycott that could increase public awareness. Similar initiatives had already been executed in Baton Rouge and other southern states.

The Montgomery bus boycotts succeeded due to the economic power of black people, who made up the majority of bus riders. Martin Luther King was chosen as the leader and renowned for his motivational speeches. The boycott utilized

nonviolent tactics and violence was strictly forbidden.

Support for the boycott from black taxi drivers led to a decrease in fares for black people. But officials warned that if the reduction continued, fines would be imposed. Those participating in protests faced $500 fines or a year in jail for non-payment. However, this approach only seemed to increase public interest. By 1960, sit-ins had spread to places such as Woolworths.

Black people demonstrated nonviolent protest during the sit-ins by refusing to relocate despite being mistreated, verbally abused and spat on by white individuals. Martin Luther King played a crucial role in coordinating and participating in bus boycotts as well as joining the "Freedom Riders" initiative in the civil rights movement.

Multiple individuals were detained as a consequence of the campaign that aimed to end bus segregation in the southern region, including MLK. His speeches, notably his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, played a pivotal role in his endeavors.

Martin Luther King's speeches were instrumental in the success of the civil rights movement, as he strived to attain equal rights and abolish segregation. The Civil Rights Act was enacted in 1964, which not only prohibited public discrimination but also granted black Americans equal opportunities for education and employment.

Despite Martin Luther King's efforts to change attitudes towards racial discrimination, he faced increasing opposition which ultimately resulted in his assassination on April 4th, 1968. Some members of the black community rejected nonviolent tactics and advocated for violent methods to achieve their objectives, leading to the emergence of Black Nationalism. This ideology sought segregation rather than equality and was championed by influential figures such as Malcolm Little, also known as Malcolm

X, who called for violence to gain autonomy for African Americans.

In 1965, Stokely Carmichael, who had become influential, was assassinated. The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Council, known for sit-ins and Freedom Rides, shifted towards Black Nationalism when Carmichael took over leadership. Carmichael coined the slogan 'black power' that meant the ability of black people to exceed whites. He eventually changed the name of the organization by replacing 'Non Violent' with 'National'.

This indicates that Carmichael shared Malcolm X's perspectives. Carmichael often commented, "This country is racist from top to bottom and operates on power rather than morality, love, and non-violent means." This statement encompasses his beliefs about the issue. Additionally, "The Black Panthers" was another group that used intimidation tactics. It functioned as both a political party and a small private military force, with roughly 2000 members.

The idea was that white people needed to grant black Americans equal rights, while the black community should arm themselves to ensure this equality. The organization frequently had confrontations with law enforcement and were accountable for killing nine officers in just two years. From 1965 to 1967, race riots afflicted cities throughout America. These outbreaks of violence were triggered by allegations of police mistreatment towards black citizens during their clashes.

In 1967, Detroit witnessed the largest race riot in which 43 people lost their lives, over 1000 shops were looted and 300 fires were ignited. President Johnson attributed the cause of the race riots to racism and discrimination and inferred that America was divided into two parts- one black and one white. Overall, Emmett Till's demise appears to have instigated a cascading series of anti-racism movements.

Through a diverse

range of effective strategies, the civil rights movement achieved considerable success, beginning with Rosa Parks' impactful act of refusing to surrender her seat. Ultimately, I attribute the attainment of black equality to Martin Luther King's activism and powerful oratory. Thanks to the bravery and determination of countless individuals, as well as substantial public engagement, the civil rights act was ultimately signed, bringing the dream of equality closer to becoming a tangible reality.

The homicides of Emmett Till and James Byrd in the USA since 1954 have both similarities and differences. Both were African-American, which was the main reason for their killings. Nevertheless, they happened in distinct places - Emmett Till was lynched in Mississippi while James Byrd was murdered in Dallas.

The fact that both states are situated in the southern region of America supports the idea that racial discrimination was more prevalent in this area compared to the north. Moreover, gathering witnesses proved to be extremely difficult in both situations, and even when some were found, they declined to give evidence.

Both murders garnered significant media attention, which is another similarity between them. In the case of Emmett Till, Milam and Bryant confessed to Look magazine and received $4000 for selling their story. The press also covered James Byrd's case extensively.

However, there exist several distinctions between the two instances. The initial and perhaps most significant dissimilarity is the timeframe. Emmett Till's assassination occurred on August 27, 1955, unlike James Byrd's demise on June 7, 1998. A massive span of 43 years was responsible for these racist killings. However, the rationale for the lynchings was nearly identical, leading to the second variation.

From 1876 to 1965, the subordination

of black people to white people in the southern USA was enforced by the Jim Crow Laws. Emmett Till's murder and other racial murders were frequently occurring during this time period. Even though the laws ended 33 years earlier, a rare but appalling incident of racism took place through James Byrd's lynching. Roy Bryant and J were prosecuted for his murder.

The jury for W. Milam, who murdered Emmett Till, comprised of 12 white males. As many Southern Americans supported white superiority, having a predominantly white jury was not a just decision. In contrast, the James Byrd trial had a diverse mix of races and ethnic groups on its jury.

The disparity had a significant effect on the juries' ultimate verdict. During the trial of Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam, the jury reached a decision after only an hour of deliberation, supposedly taking a break for soda to extend their deliberation time.

In contrast, it took Byrd's jury several hours to deliberate on each of the three defendants and the outcomes of the two cases differed. Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam were both found not guilty and received no form of punishment.

On the contrary, Shawn Allen Berry, Lawrence Russel Brewer, and John William King were convicted of murder, but their sentences differed. Brewer and King received death sentences via lethal injection, while Berry was given a life sentence due to his lack of prior racist behavior and absence of white supremacist tattoos unlike Berry and King. Although the trials shared similarities, the structure and outcomes were essentially opposite.