Post War Steps Towards Post War Steps Towards Desegregation from the Desegregation from the Ball Field to the Battle Ball Field to the Battle

FieldFieldDeborah JohnsonDeborah Johnson

In your notebooks…In your notebooks… List as many star major league List as many star major league

baseball players as you can!baseball players as you can!

How many are white? How many How many are white? How many are black?are black?

Chart resultsChart results

Read chapter 2, pages 18-22Read chapter 2, pages 18-22 In All the People….Jackie Robinson.In All the People….Jackie Robinson. Take notes on what you have read.Take notes on what you have read. What were the struggles Jackie Robinson What were the struggles Jackie Robinson

encountered to break the color barrier in encountered to break the color barrier in major league baseball?major league baseball?

How many of you would not only be How many of you would not only be willing, but ABLE, to withstand the willing, but ABLE, to withstand the constant harassment that Robinson had to constant harassment that Robinson had to endure?endure?

Harry Truman signs…Harry Truman signs… On the heels of Robinson’s tremendous On the heels of Robinson’s tremendous

victory for black equality in sports. victory for black equality in sports. President Harry Truman signed, in 1948, President Harry Truman signed, in 1948, an executive order that integrated the U.S. an executive order that integrated the U.S. Armed Forces.Armed Forces.

Read Appendix G the thoughts of a Purple Read Appendix G the thoughts of a Purple Hearts veteran Howard Stretch Johnson on Hearts veteran Howard Stretch Johnson on his military service as a black man at that his military service as a black man at that time.time.

Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

Adam was the son of a very Adam was the son of a very charismatic and successful minister charismatic and successful minister in a NYC church. Adam served his in a NYC church. Adam served his father as an associate pastor of that father as an associate pastor of that church. In 1936, Adam took over the church. In 1936, Adam took over the senior pastor’s role for his father and senior pastor’s role for his father and continued his wonderful work within continued his wonderful work within the community to provide assistance the community to provide assistance for the poor. for the poor.

Powell held a bachelor’s degree from Powell held a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and a master’s Colgate University and a master’s degree from Columbia University.degree from Columbia University.

In 1944, he was elected for the first In 1944, he was elected for the first time as a U.S. congressman.time as a U.S. congressman.

He was elect seven more times and He was elect seven more times and continued his work time to improve life continued his work time to improve life for the poor and unrepresented groups, for the poor and unrepresented groups, serving on such congressionalserving on such congressional

committes such as the Bureau of committes such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs.Indian Affairs.

When serving as a congressman, Powell When serving as a congressman, Powell insisted on the same privileges as a insisted on the same privileges as a white congressman, such as eating in white congressman, such as eating in the whites only dining hall and he the whites only dining hall and he insisted that his staff eat there as insisted that his staff eat there as well, even if they were not hungry!well, even if they were not hungry!

His point was well taken.His point was well taken. More legislation providing more More legislation providing more

standards of equality for blacks was standards of equality for blacks was pushed through largely on his pushed through largely on his account.account.

However….However…. However on his 12However on his 12thth re-election, he re-election, he

refused to take his seat in Congress refused to take his seat in Congress because Congress, still white-because Congress, still white-dominated, refused to afford him his dominated, refused to afford him his 22 years’ seniority as a member of the 22 years’ seniority as a member of the house.house.

Powell returned to his church after 24 Powell returned to his church after 24 years in public service in Congress years in public service in Congress and he retired as its pastor in 1971.and he retired as its pastor in 1971.

Brown vs Board of EducationBrown vs Board of Education Linda Brown of Topeka, Kansas was Linda Brown of Topeka, Kansas was

refused admission to her local public refused admission to her local public school because she was black.school because she was black.

However, the U.S. Supreme Court However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the previous interpretation ruled that the previous interpretation of the 14of the 14thth Amendment ( separate but Amendment ( separate but equal) was in fact, errant and equal) was in fact, errant and unconstitutional with respect to public unconstitutional with respect to public school facilities.school facilities.

Continued…Continued… Two weeks later, the court issued an Two weeks later, the court issued an

order that desegregation of public order that desegregation of public schools must happen “with all deliberate schools must happen “with all deliberate speed” since they did not go as far as a speed” since they did not go as far as a “do by” date on their order, states found “do by” date on their order, states found all manners of ways of delaying the all manners of ways of delaying the process of school integration.process of school integration.

It was not until three years later that 9 It was not until three years later that 9 students were selected to do this. students were selected to do this.

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Read pages 68-73.Read pages 68-73. Answer questions.Answer questions.