When discrimination appears, prejudice, an aspect of racism will appear. Prejudice is defined as an attitude, usually emotional, acquired without, or prior to
educate against socially defined races The New Encyclopedia Britannica360. So, it means that prejudice is a part of discrimination. Prejudice is also an aspect
of racism so it will appear when discrimination appears in society. David Milner states that, if prejudicial attitudes have almost certainly
existed since groups of people first distinguished themselves from one another. Essentially, they are irrational, unjust or intolerant dispositions towards other
groups 5. So prejudice is naturally appears in society if there are different groups of people that have differentiate.
According to Beteille prejudice and discrimination based on race seem to be a common feature of many societies of both the past and present. The
importance of race in race stratification has been tightened by some factors. One of them was slavery 295. Thus in the past or in the present, prejudice and
discrimination known as slavery are a common trait in society.
B. The American Society in the 1930s
In the 1930’s the southern American social situation was dominated with the feeling of great depression, racial discrimination, and terror against the
minority groups. During the 1930’s the Agricultural sector was busy with over production, declining price for farm products increasing debts, bankruptcies, and
small bank failures. What all these weak point meant by the 1930 was that major sectors of economy were not increasing, business people were not investing
finances to make new plans, rent more workers and produce better. Indeed, the opposite was true. Unsold inventories were stacking up in warehouses,
investments were lessening, laborers were being sent home, and consumer purchases were reducing off. At that time, both black and white people
experienced many hardships Ku Klux Klan. During the time period preceding the American Civil three groups of
white people appeared with three very different views on the social placement of African Americans in the 1930’s society. Some called for never-ending
discrimination against a lesser race, others wished for equal legal rights but no political rights, and an even smaller group hoped for total equality for all races
and colors. Black people also had three extremely different views on the role they should play in the social order. A large group of “low class” blacks just wanted to
get by, the older generation was content with the current societal arrangement, while the majority desired equality but went after it in a peaceful manner Jennifer
Briggs. During the depression of the 1930’s, in the southern part of America, the
Whites and the Blacks were fallen apart. They had significant differences. They had their own groups. The South saw the majority of the problems because of its
extremely low economic status. Since there were no factory jobs that can be gotten except in the larger cities of Charleston and Birmingham, finding a job was
next to impossible. However the depression in the best position of horrible race relations made the suffering of African Americans much worse. Because of the
economic disasters were created by the Great Depression, most of the ex-slaves
were poor and dependent upon the help of family, white people, or government officials. At that time the Whites had better life than the Blacks. Social status of
the Whites was higher than the Blacks; it was seen in their job position. The Whites could get a job easier than the Blacks; they had more opportunities to
work as employees. Besides, a large majority of the white men in the South believe blacks needed to learn their place and remain there. Though whites never
said just what this place was, they showed it to them by limiting education, by discrimination on the streets and railroads, and barring them from public parks,
public libraries, and public amusements of all kinds Jennifer Briggs. Besides, during the great depression, Black Americans almost fell apart.
Business tightened their belts and fired the Black employees. The depressions hit the Black hardest of all Americans since they had always been on the lowest rank
of the economy. One problem seemed to show itself quite often among African- Americans and that was a complaint of extreme hunger. Many ex-slaves
commented on how much better and more they had to eat previous to the liberation. Because many of black population were suffering from malnutrition
and starvation, it was very hard for them to enjoy this newfound freedom. Another common complaint was the lack of housing. Some of the older blacks who
worked inside the houses of their masters were able to stay there as hired workers, but those who were strictly farm hands, the vast majority of the slaves, had no
place to go except in inhumane and unhealthy huts. According to a political cartoonist and author, Charles Johnson, in 1932
the economic status of Black employment in Philadelphia rate was higher than
Whites. For example in 1935, in Detroit, St. Louis, New York, and Birmingham the amount of Blacks on liberation was much higher than Whites, in Detroit four
times as many, and in St. Louis, New York and Birmingham three times as many. Every one was hit by this condition. This condition was very hard for them,
especially for men. Because they had to responsible to provide for their families, it was embarrassing to keep on ask for assistance. In that situation the percentage
of women working increased slightly during the depression. Traditionally female fields of teaching and social services grew. Blacks, women and unskilled lost their
job first; Whites and managerial personnel were next Issues of Race in the
1930s. Discriminatory practices based on race and gender was forced. In the
South, signs went up “No Niggers, Mexicans or Dogs allowed”. Blacks and other racial minorities suffered more than the Whites. In 1930’s, fifty percent of Blacks
was jobless. Nevertheless, Elanor Rooselvelt championed black rights, and New Deal programs prohibited discrimination. It continued in the South. However, as a
result a large number of black voters switched from the Republican to the Democrat party during the depression. The great depression and the New Deal
changed forever the relationship between Americans and their government. Government participation and responsibility in caring for the poor and regulating
the economy came to be expected Black Protest 289.
C. The Criticisms on Maya Angelou and Her Work
