The MAJORITY of people in the USA supported segregation 50 years ago, Why not now?

Question

Was the MAJORITY of the USA wrong about this? And if they were then is it possible the MAJORITY of the USA is wrong about something right now?


( I believe they were wrong but I think it makes a great point about how wrong we in the USA can be without even knowing it, but thats just my opinion )

" If you know your history
then you would know where you coming from,
Then you wouldnt have to ask me
Who in the heck do I think I am "

Answer 1

Because the Supreme Court decided it was wrong, and enforced that decision, and people eventually came to agree with them.

Same with most other civil rights issues over the past two centuries.

Answer 2

That is a great point. I do believe it is possible we are wrong about things right now..more than possible. But, is there anything to back up what you are saying about "the majority of people in the USA supported segregation.." ? If it was up to the USA to make many of the decisions about the laws and actions of our country, things might not be going the same way. Just like 50 years ago, if it really was up to "the MAJORITY of the USA"...then would segregation of lasted so long? You really can't say..

Answer 3

The majority of the people in the South owned slaves 100 years before that, it was a constitutionlly guaranteed right. Slaves were not considered human, but "property". This country has been wrong about a lot of things, and will always commit atrocities in the name of the law. I don't know if anything comes to mind at the moment, wait now, hold on I'm thinking. Oh, how about that war to get the weapons of mass destruction. How'd that turn out? I haven’t heard lately.

Anyway, 70 years ago many doctors and athletes promoted smoking as being good for your health. Menthol cigarettes were said to help a sore throat. Fred Flintstone sold Winston cigarettes in television ads during commercial breaks of "The Flintstones" as late as 1962.

So yes, we can be wrong. There will never be a perfect society, but it is up to The People to do their best. It's unfortunate that the rest of the world only usually sees the worst in us. I wonder why that could be. Let me think. I don't know, but maybe it's partly because this administration has disregarded the rights, views and opinions of virtually every other nation in the world. No that's not right. I'm just saying that cause I'm a 'liberal.

lib·er·al (lbr-l, lbrl) KEY

ADJECTIVE:


Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.
Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.

Tending to give freely; generous: a liberal benefactor.

Answer 4

(Not sure that I accept your premise, but I will make believe that I do.) I am going to take your question in a little different direction.

It has to do with education and the disemination of information over time. A lot of people clung to old, outmoded thinking, and our society was much more structured, closed and many people did not have the kind of exposure to people of other races, religions, cultures, etc. that we have now. TV, movies, pop culture exposes us to much more than it did back in those days. History has a way of showing how in many ways what is popular or nearly universally accepted at one moment in time, can be viewed as ridiculously old fashioned and unreasonable just a generation later. Look at how it was fashionable, in the 1960's to hate everything about the Vietnam War. By the 1980's, we realized how badly we had mistreated the men and women who had served in that war. They got a war memorial in Washington, DC before the men and women who served in a much bigger and probably much more important conflict, World War II.

It's why polls are really short sighted and most of the time get things wrong. I support the war and Iraq and the war on terror, but I dare say I am in a minority feeling that way. 10, 20 or 30 years from now, it will be interesting to see how all this anti-war hysteria, and the vehement hatred of President Bush is viewed from those perspectives, after some time has passed. I have a very strong feeling, as a pretty serious student of history, that the President will be vindicated by history, and that the war on terror will be viewed as a battle we waited too long to engage.

The majority of the people in this country have been wrong before, and on many issues. How else can you explain Jimmy Carter's election? The majority of Americans tried to blame Watergate on Gerald Ford.

Answer 5

I don't think you have any basis for stating that the MAJORITY supported segregation. Segregation was primarily a phenomina in the South. And it is gone now because it was wrong. So, it doesn't imply anything.

However, of course a majority can be wrong at a given time. It's probably not as likely, but it can happen.

Answer 6

Uh .. are you sure that was the majority view?

Segregationist political candidates consistently lost outside of the Deep South (and south Boston).

Integrationists like Hubert Humphrey, on the other hand, did quite well at the ballot boxes.

Answer 7

The public is often wrong. That is why we elect representatives that can help guide us correctly. Most people make decisions based on what they know. Hopefully we have a much better understanding of race issues today, but there is still much ignorance.

Answer 8

It has to do with how and why africans were brought here. They were used as laborers, and sold as commodies, so that was included in the social norm for the time. Now, we have technology I think this fills the gap of low cost labor alternatives.

Answer 9

We sure can be wrong, can't we. It's good to remember that from time to time, that way when it's our turn to be wrong, maybe we'll be able to respond with alittle grace. I guess we will all just have to live and learn together. And try to hurt as few, and help as many as we can in the process.

Hoping the best for you...

Answer 10

You're not being very clear about what you're implying. So what are they wrong about now? "They?"

Trouble with vague statements like the above is they can be twisted by people to mean whatever they want.