Segregation In Today's Society

I was born in 1929 in Jacksonville, Mississippi. I went to a small school in our town where I learned reading, writing, and math. In December 1941, America entered World War Two. My oldest brother who was just 18 went to war, along with most of the boys in our town. A lot of the women had to go to work at the textile factories, which were turned into warhead factories. My family was wealthy, so my mother did not work, but a lot of my friend’s mothers did. It was strange having both the father and mother work. My friends were made fun of in school for being poor. When the war ended in 1945 life returned back to normal for most of us. I graduated high school but did not attend college. My father said college was for men only, and I needed to
Of course people tried to keep their businesses white, but it did not last long. People were angry, and rightfully so. As I write this now in the year 2000, it is shocking to see how things have changed. People are accepting of different races, there is such a small amount of racism when compared to when I was a young girl in the 1940s and 50s. Segregation is completely a thing of the past, in fact, if you tried to segregate your business, you would go to jail. Black men and white women get married and no one blinks an eye. Now, women attend college, and in huge rates, not just to find a husband, but to continue their education and get jobs. Both the husband and wife work to support their family and children go to daycare instead of stay home. Now, affluent families have two working members, not just poor families. Men and women are more equal now, women do not just live to serve men. I saw a great deal of change in my lifetime. I used to believe that women were subservient, that whites were the ultimate race, and that only the affluent were those who could prevail and make a difference. As I experienced life and watched the world change, I learned the error of my ways. Black and white people are equal; there are no differences between the two other than the color of our skin. Women are not men’s property. We can work, support ourselves, and live life alone, if that is what we please. Unmarried women are
Racism was rampant, and continued to be long after the 50’s. Men oppressed women, even if the women did not recognize it. They stayed home to care for their children and husbands, did not attend school and ultimately, their entire life was focused on family, rather than having any goals for themselves. The South was full of classism- if you were not the richest you were poor. Working women were looked down upon for being selfish. It is great that we have changed culturally since the 50’s. It is important that we continue to change and give justice and equality to those who still do not have