Treatment+of+Blacks

by Ellen Ben and Samantha Ben
 * Treatment of Blacks

Treatment of Blacks by Whites:**

In the 1930’s, blacks were not treated with respect. Whites treated them like second class citizens and made it seem like blacks weren’t good enough to have a lot of contact with whites. This included segregation, where the blacks were separated from the whites in most daily activities. There was no equal treatment, though, and blacks were not offered the same quality care as whites. For example, it was unusual to find hospitals for black people, and the hospitals that were around only took whites. Also, the blacks got a worse education than the whites because their school buildings were not suitable for learning, and not many books, if any, were available for the black teachers and their students. Mainly, whites only had contacts with blacks at work (1). In Invisible Man, the unfair treatment of the blacks by whites is clearly evident. When the narrator wants to go to college, the only opportunity he has is to go to an all- black college (2). This shows the segregation that was in effect at the time. Although the narrator goes to college, it was not normal for blacks to receive a higher education at the time. Normally, blacks would get jobs instead of going to school, which shows how they were just trying to make it by rather than focusing on their education. This is the strain that whites put on blacks at the time.

Blacks were treated like servants in a way. They were always doing things for whites, such as yard work, and basically any manual labor (1). In the book, the narrator is asked to show a board member around the college, and he has to oblige, or else there will be serious consequences. He could have gotten kicked out of the school, or forced to do labor around the school just to keep his acceptance (2). This is because the blacks are expected to do what they are told, and the thought of their consequences if they do not comply is enough to scare them into doing what they are told.

As a group in general, blacks were thought of as unintelligent. They were constantly disrespected, and because whites viewed them as unintelligent, there were limited education opportunities. However, even if a black man is going to college or went to college, he was not looked upon as an educated and intelligent man. It was as if a black person could accomplish a lot, but still wont be recognized as doing something great. In the novel Invisible Man, the narrator is chosen to give a prestigious speech. Although this is a great honor, and shows just how intelligent and talented the narrator is, as soon as he steps up on the stage to deliver his speech, the crowd doesn’t pay attention, and the people shout nasty comments (2). This shows that no matter how intelligent a black person really was, it was almost impossible to be recognized as intelligent and receive the respect they deserve.

Blacks didn’t have many rights in the 1930’s. They were denied basic rights, such as the right to vote (1). They didn’t have free speech, because if they made a comment that a white person didn’t like, they would be beaten up and face other severe consequences. They weren’t allowed to use the same public facilities as white people, but public facilities for the blacks, such as restrooms, were never clean or sanitary. Blacks had to live in a society dominated by hatred towards them.

1. Johnson, Claudia Durt. "INTERVIEW: GROWING UP BLACK IN THE 1930s IN McCULLEYS QUARTERS, ALABAMA." __TKM__. 26 March 2008 <[|http://library.thinkquest.org/12111/mculley.html>.]

2.Ellison, Ralph. __Invisible Man__. New York: Random House, Inc, 1952.