Segregation through arts

Oral notes

I. Segregation in the USA

1st, what is racial segregation ? Segregation in the US refers to the legal or socially enforced separation and exclusion of African Americans from the white American population. It involves

• Physical separation in institutions (school or churches) and facilities or services (like parks, playgrounds or restaurants.

It also includes :

• Racial discrimination like unfair treatments in relation to obtain a job or education.

Segregation started in 1865 after the abolition of slavery at the end of Civil War between the Northern and Southern States who didn’t share the same philosophy regarding slavery.

- Between 1865 and 1896, there was a long period of instability from the Government who couldn’t choose between either giving former slaves their freedom or reducing it.

- The Plessy vs Ferguson case in 1896 formalized racial segregation.

- The civil rights movement started in the 1950’s, when black wanted equal rights.

- In 1954, the Brown vs. Board of education case led to the abolition of school segregation

- In 1955-1556, Rosa Parks was arrested because she refused to give up her seat to a white man. To protest againt that, there was a bus boycott in Montgomery.

- In 1963, there was a big march in Washington D. C and MLK gave his famous « I have a dream » speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

- The Civil Rights Act were signed in 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson

- In 1965, the Voting Right Act were signed

II. The Analysis of « The Problem we all live with »

« The problem we all live » was painted by Norman Rockwell in 1964. It’s an Oil on Canvans. The dimensions of the painting are 91 by 150 cm. The painting is currently displayed at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge Massachussets.

Description : - In the foreground, we can see a little black girl wearing a white dress (which is contrasting whith her skin color) with matching shoes and socks. She’s holding in her left hand school supplies, a ruler, 2 copybooks and 2 pencils. Her gait is determined, she seems confident and serious.

- We can see around the girl, 4 US Marshalls, we recognise them by their armbend. They’re walking with firm steps, we can’t see their heads because the painter wants us to focus on the girl.

- In the background, there is a smashed tomato that fell on the ground. We can still see its stain on the wall. There are also inscriptions like « NIGGER » or « KKK » on the wall.

Interpretation : - The girl is actually Ruby Bridges, the first black girl going to an all-white school in 1960. Her white dress symbolizes her purity and her innocence. The small size of the girl demonstrate the fragility of the kid compared to the tall men around her.

- The US marshalls are escorting her to William Frantz Elemantary school in Louisiana. They are representing the authority that is protecting people from the discrimination of the people opposing desegregation.

- The

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