Behind the Colored Eyes “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” Malcolm X. Malcolm X took a civil rights stance against racial discrimination and segregation, leading the colored community to find courage in themselves and stand for what is right. The 1960’s, especially in the south, were filled to the brim with hate in its heart and segregation on its mind. The dawning of the civil rights era was among America, with inspirational leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X who led the colored population to seek equality. With the civil rights movement taking place, colored people around the world began to take their own steps towards racial equality. The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, Stockett recounts
…show more content…
Black people felt an array of emotions, from fear, to helplessness, to anger but didn’t have a safe way to express it. “ If a woman didn’t hold her own ground, and defend herself, she’d be more likely to ‘fear white people and do what they say’ ” (Tucker 23). Women didn’t realize it was even an option to hold their own ground in a white household for fear that they would get fired, which would’ve happened if they voiced their opinion on anything. Black women were looked down upon and viewed as a lesser human being then their employer. “Sometimes white employers talked disparagingly about their domestic workers – even when the women were in the same room (or within earshot). When that happened, ‘the help’ did not appreciate the obvious disrespect” (Tucker 23). Having someone talk behind your back wasn’t what the help experienced; they were constantly degraded and put down in front of the white children they raised. This hit their self-confidence and dignity right in the face. Though, most children were raised by solely their colored maid, eventually these children who once were loved by these women, hire their own, and the vicious cycle repeats of spreading racism through the generations. “It was really hard for black domestics to understand how the white children they loved- and who loved them- ‘turned right around and acted superior’ once they were grown” (Tucker …show more content…
Skin color separated African Americans and White’s enough, but taking the extra initiative to physically place white people in one place and black people in another was everywhere in society. Jim Crow Law’s were laws set in place to treat black people as “separate but equal” and were heavily carried out through the south. “In theory, it was to create ‘separate but equal’ treatment but in practice Jim Crow Laws condemned black citizens to inferior treatment and facilitations. Education was segregated as were public facilities such as hotels and restaurants under Jim Crow Laws” (Hansen). Jim Crow Laws created separate bathrooms, schools, drinking fountains, busses and so on. These laws were the biggest factors in segregating people in the 1960’s. Segregated bathrooms for not only men and women, but for black and white was common in households and public areas. “Every employer for white or Negros must have a separate toilet facility for whites and Negros” (Staff). This suggests the laws in the south and how these laws specifically said that the white employers must have a separate bathroom for their help. Sammy Young Jr. was just one of the many people killed for not conforming to Jim Crow Laws. “While at a Standard Oil gas station, Younge attempted to use a Whites-only bathroom. Station attendant shot and killed Younge after a verbal
Black people felt an array of emotions, from fear, to helplessness, to anger but didn’t have a safe way to express it. “ If a woman didn’t hold her own ground, and defend herself, she’d be more likely to ‘fear white people and do what they say’ ” (Tucker 23). Women didn’t realize it was even an option to hold their own ground in a white household for fear that they would get fired, which would’ve happened if they voiced their opinion on anything. Black women were looked down upon and viewed as a lesser human being then their employer. “Sometimes white employers talked disparagingly about their domestic workers – even when the women were in the same room (or within earshot). When that happened, ‘the help’ did not appreciate the obvious disrespect” (Tucker 23). Having someone talk behind your back wasn’t what the help experienced; they were constantly degraded and put down in front of the white children they raised. This hit their self-confidence and dignity right in the face. Though, most children were raised by solely their colored maid, eventually these children who once were loved by these women, hire their own, and the vicious cycle repeats of spreading racism through the generations. “It was really hard for black domestics to understand how the white children they loved- and who loved them- ‘turned right around and acted superior’ once they were grown” (Tucker …show more content…
Skin color separated African Americans and White’s enough, but taking the extra initiative to physically place white people in one place and black people in another was everywhere in society. Jim Crow Law’s were laws set in place to treat black people as “separate but equal” and were heavily carried out through the south. “In theory, it was to create ‘separate but equal’ treatment but in practice Jim Crow Laws condemned black citizens to inferior treatment and facilitations. Education was segregated as were public facilities such as hotels and restaurants under Jim Crow Laws” (Hansen). Jim Crow Laws created separate bathrooms, schools, drinking fountains, busses and so on. These laws were the biggest factors in segregating people in the 1960’s. Segregated bathrooms for not only men and women, but for black and white was common in households and public areas. “Every employer for white or Negros must have a separate toilet facility for whites and Negros” (Staff). This suggests the laws in the south and how these laws specifically said that the white employers must have a separate bathroom for their help. Sammy Young Jr. was just one of the many people killed for not conforming to Jim Crow Laws. “While at a Standard Oil gas station, Younge attempted to use a Whites-only bathroom. Station attendant shot and killed Younge after a verbal