Black Americans, 1973-80: How Far Had Lives Improved

Question 1

Legal Protections

Answer 1

Equal Employment Opportunity Act (1972)
Equal Opportunity Act (1972)
Affirmative action laws - must hire more African Americans

Question 2

Middle Class

Answer 2

Over 300,000 African American owned businesses by 1982
Quotas for federal jobs (support from Nixon), social security and welfare payments doubled
1/3 black Americans middle class by 1980

Question 3

School Integration

Answer 3

Supreme Court demanded integration
1971 - Swann v Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education - instituted bussing
Children in segregated schools fell 68% to 8% in Nixon’s presidency

Question 4

Challenge to Affirmative Action

Answer 4

1978 - Allan Bakke challenged Uni of California
Bakke vs Regents of the University of California (1978) - split 5-4 decision, upheld support for university’s affirmative action

Question 5

Existing Inequality

Answer 5

Black family incomes declined from 60% of white family income (1971) to 58% (1980)
De facto segregation ingrained in North, white backlash to bussing eg in Boston Irish Americans staged protest marches + sit ins
Riots in Sept 1974 (Boston + Kansas City, Missouri)