How Did Truman Progress Towards Equality For African-American

“To what extent was progress towards equality for African-Americans made under President Truman?”
President Truman adopted a Civil Rights Activist label during his presidency and is widely known for his efforts in fighting for equality and eliminating segregation. This essay will examine the depths of whether Truman’s actions were really as progressive as they seem.
Socially, Truman became increasingly involved in the rights of African-Americans as time went by. From Truman’s private life, it is insinuated that the progress made towards equality for African-Americans under Truman’s presidency would have been minimal: The fact that he originated from a pro-slavery town (Missouri), where most of black people over 40 had been born into slavery
This confirms that Truman’s attitudes were shaped by his youth, as reinforced by the historic fact that he developed an ‘abiding belief for white supremacy’. This demonstrates the assumed lack of progress in Truman’s potential to change the lives of black people. In contrast, it could be argued that his personal, instinctive views towards black people did not hinder his intentions to achieve equality in general. For example, Truman’s involvement in the armed forced illustrates a progression in seeking and implementing equality. Although he was privately racist, he tried to be fair – He said that equality for black people was a black man’s ‘basic right because he is human’. In addition to this, the destruction that World War Two inflicted upon black people’s lives affected Truman massively. He was horrified by attacks on black service men returning from WW2. This emotional attachment led to a legalised progress when Truman sparked the Desegregation of the
The President seemed hesitant to make a speech to the Society for the Advancement of Coloured People as he quotes, “Mama won’t like what I say” in a letter to his sister. However, Truman seems to dismiss this view, as backed up with his direct quote, “I believe what I say and I am hopeful we may implement it”. Progress was sparked further through his speeches as public views were altered, creating a slight political shift. Truman gave the first presidential speech to the NAACP saying that all Americans were entitled to full civil rights and freedom. Furthermore, his urge to end lynching, the poll tax and inequality in educational employment implies that he was sympathetic for black people, indicating a progress in terms of human rights for African-Americans. This is emphasised in Truman’s quote, “Our first goal must be to secure fully the essential human rights of our citizens” which shows that Truman’s personal motivational drive to achieve general equality was progressive and influential. However, it could be argued that his intentions were not progressive as he claimed that it was important to set a good example during the Cold War against Communist Russia. This implies that he may have only supported Civil Rights for his own reputation and benefit. As historians, one must consider the context of his intentions, and although the implementation was active and thus progressive,