Explain The Social Situation Of African Americans In The 1960's

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One way the social situation in 1960’s America restricted black Americans and other minorities from having equitable access to opportunities in American society was through false stereotypes and misconceptions. As shown in the movie, many white residents of Jackson, Mississippi believed in many different stereotypes and misconceptions regarding people of African American descent. These thoughts about African Americans led to the ideas that they had different diseases, they were inferior to white Americans, and they should always be kept separate. Ideas like this are the reason that black Americans were unable to achieve equal and impartial treatment in the 1960’s.
One of the biggest misconceptions and stereotypes about black Americans was the …show more content…
Two quotes from Aibileen stand out as descriptions of the situation. Some of the very first lines of the movie do a good job of describing the African American state of mind. When she was asked if she had always known that she would be a maid Aibileen replied, “Yes ma’am I did… My mama was a maid, my grandmama was a house slave.” (The Help) This shows that Aibileen always expected to be a maid because it was what was expected of her, and despite dreaming about doing something else the social situation of the 1960’s didn’t allot her many options. Another Quote from Aibileen really shows how big the effect of social standards was on black Americans. “I do this with you I might as well burn my own house down...This already ain’t careful Miss. Skeeter! You not knowing that is what scare me the most. Scare me more than Jim Crow.” (The Help) When Aibileen mentions that Skeeter’s “ignorance” scares her more than Jim Crow it shows that the social repercussions of their actions was more frightening than any that would be imposed on them by the law. This truly shows how the social situation in 1960’s America restricted black Americans and other minorities from having equitable access to opportunities in American
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