The 1950s was a time of great change and advancement for American society, but old wounds of the past still festered deep within the country's foundation. The 1950s would be the first time any major headway for integration and equality was made and the refusal of Rosa Parks to adhere to segregation laws was the spark that lit a fiery will for change in many black Americans. However, this is not the first time the discussion has gripped the minds of the American people and government. Although African Americans were physically unshackled in 1865 with the emancipation proclamation, they were still bound by society and never treated as fully equal. Many lived in poverty and were prevented from achieving