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black people political status
Better representation as more black congressmen 45 in 1990, 69 in 1992
1983 first black mayor in Chicago, Harold Washington
limit of black people in politics
Rarely won statewide elections
1992 only two black governors in Virginia and Illinois
Black people legal status
By 1992 minorities were better represented in police depts. and legal system
Limit of Black people legal status
Police brutality - 1991 - Rodney King - beaten to death by police with the incident caught on camera yet police not guilty. Higher numbers of black men in jail
Economic status of black people
Poorer on average compared to white majority e.g. made up 35% of food stamp receivers in 80s. Black unemployment X2 white unemployment. X2 more likely to be poor than white people
affirmative action for black people
university entrance quotas - increased since 1960s. Ethnic minority groups access higher income levels BUT affirmative action created backlash - 1989 - City of Richmond V Croson - limited affirmative action policies
black people businesses
1992 black owned businesses had risen to 600,000 from only a few hundred in the 1960s. Oprah Winfrey was USA's first female black billionaire
black people in sport
By 1988 black players made up 80% of the NFL BUT reinforced stereotypes BUT provided hope for way out of the ghetto and access to affluent lifestyle.
social status of black people
More integration- 1992 half the black population lived in neighbourhoods that were more than 50% white. BUT limited as 9% still lived in segregated, impoverished inner city ghettoes. 1988 - 43% of black children attended schools that were more than 50% white but Reagan against bussing
black people in pop culture
More visible and in some areas black people dominated, especially music. 1982 - Michael Jackson's Thriller.
against the extent of racial tolerance by 1992 in politics
Bush's 1988 campaign, he framed an election advert around convicted murderer, Willie Horton, who was released on furlough and then committed violent acts, such as rape. Bush used to criticise the policies of Democrat Michael Dukakis, accusing him of being 'soft on crime'. The advert was condemned as racist, playing on the criminal's race and exploiting prejudice against African Americans for political purposes.
women in politics
better representation. 1984 election - Democrat Walter Mondale nominated a female running mate, Geraldine Ferraro but she faced prejudice. EMILY's LIST, set up in 1984, put more women into national politics. 1992 election- Bill Clinton's wife, Hillary, played a prominent role in his campaign
women in employment
More women in white collar, professional roles. 1972- 1985 - share of women in professional jobs increased from 44 to 49% and in management from 20 to 35%
.33% of doctors were female in the 1980s vs 4% 1970s. BUT gender pay gap. In 2002 women were still earning only 77% of the earnings of men for doing a similar job
women in education
Half of all college graduates by 1985 were female. 1983 - Sally Ride - first female in space.
women social status and integration
By 1990 27% of all births took place outside marriage and 40% of marriages ended in divorce. The religious right succeeded in chipping away at Roe V Wade but didn't overturn
against women social status
Phyllis Schafly led a campaign against Roe V Wade . she influenced the setting up of the National Right to Life Committee which had 11 million supporters by 1980 and opposed the ERA. 1979 - Beverley La Haye formed Concerned Women of America (CWA) which opposed abortion, no-fault divorce laws and the ERA. 500,000 members by the mid-1980s, more than NOW (National Organisation for Women). These conservative groups helped finally defeat the ERA in 1982.
extent of women's progression limited case
In 1980 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) stated that sexual harassment was a form of sex discrimination, prohibited the 1964 Civil Rights Act. BUT case of Clarence Thomas, accused of sexual harassment by Anita Hill
her testimony was dismissed by the 96% male senate
Hispanic Politics
1980s - the 'Hispanic Decade' as largest minority group. 1986 - Immigration Reform Control Act, more sympathetic treatment of undocumented in legal system. 1989 - first Hispanic cabinet member appointed by Reagan
hispanic legal system
Better represented by the 1980s
but were more likely to use stop and search
hispanic economic status
some may have benefited from affirmative action policies BUT one quarter of Hispanics lived below poverty line
hispanic Social Status/Integration
Opposition to desegregated schools increased after 1988. SO numbers in mostly minority schools rose from 55% to 74%. In 1986 Californian voters expressed their dissatisfaction with the 'Hispanicisation' of the state in approving Proposition 63 ('English is the Official Language of California Amendment') , Although in 1989 Los Angeles agreed to bilingual education
native Americans politics success
By 1990 1 in 4 lived on tribal reservations
More assertive about land rights and rights of tribal sovereignty.
native Americans politics limits
Duro v Reina (1990) - Supreme Court ruled that tribal courts did not have criminal jurisdiction over someone who was not a member of the tribe, but that tribes could exclude people from their territory.The Duro case showed that full tribal sovereignty was not possible in the modern US
Native American legal system positives
Increase powers of law enforcement on reservations after 1974, tensions between culture and the legal system
Native American legal system negatives
Use of drug peyote (part of their distinct culture/spirituality) - 1990 the supreme court ruled that employment could be denied to peyote users
Native American Social Status/Integration negatives
Both Chief Justice Rehnquist and President Reagan made derogatory comments about Native American culture
Native American Social Status/Integration positives
Congress showed respect through the Native American Grave Protection and Reparation Act (1990). allowed Native Americans to retrieve remains of their ancestors from museums and universities
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