pwd+quotes

AVG – “We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.”

This quote was written by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Earl Warren was the governor of California during the “zoot suit” riots in Los Angeles during World War II, and Warren appointed a committee to investigate injustices against Mexican-Americans during and after the riots. After being appointed to the Supreme Court, Warren continued to advocate racial equality.

This quote comes from the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in //Brown// v. //Board of Education of Topeka// in 1954, in which the Court essentially overturned //Plessy// v. //Ferguson// and declared that segregation in public school systems violated the Fourteenth Amendment, even if (as in the case in Topeka, Kansas), the segregated schools were equal on objective grounds. The phrase “separate but equal,” although not actually used in the ruling in //Plessy//, was applied to the ideology that stemmed from this case and is therefore a reference to the previous government policies of allowing segregated facilities if those for blacks and whites were objectively equal. Thus, the decision in //Brown// reflects Warren’s argument that separating children on racial grounds will cause unequal psychological effects, particularly a feeling of inferiority among blacks, that would be unjust to these children.

The ruling had the greatest effect in the South, in which blacks were legally segregated. In the South, the decision was opposed by about eighty percent of whites, and all but three Southern Congressmen signed the Southern Manifesto, which condemned the Court’s ruling. Both legislatures and the Ku Klux Klan tried to prevent the desegregation of schools, even resorting to drastic measures such as violence and school closures. However, in the North, especially after Northerners were able to see racist southerners depicted on television, the majority endorsed the federal government’s desegregation policies.

The Supreme Court presents a written explanation of every ruling it makes to defend its decision. Because the decision in //Brown// was controversial and overturned the Court’s earlier ruling in //Plessy//, a justification of this drastic change was necessary to defend the Court against criticism. The decision in //Brown// essentially argued that blacks and whites were no different under the law and should therefore not be subject to different treatment, even if such treatment was nominally equal.

The ruling in //Brown// ruled that segregation on the grounds of race was unconstitutional, but such segregation persisted due to the federal government’s refusal to integrate by force unless necessary and the South’s ardent opposition to integration. However, the decision in //Brown// was followed by a series of Civil Rights Acts passed by Congress over the following decades, which gradually led to integration and federal protection of African-Americans’ legal rights.

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LM - "McCarthyism is Americanism with its sleeves rolled up." - Joseph R. McCarthy

Later humiliated senator McCarthy gave this quote to a journalist at the height of HUAC's investigations in early 1959. Speaking immodestly about his own appellation-ism, McCarthy was seeking to pose his investigations into what was believes as the grave national communist conspiracies. His constant efforts to gain p[publicity and respect as a patriot from voters pervaded his action, and as many agree were superficial sound bites he used to campaign. McCarthy portrayed his efforts as a congressional investigator as those of an active politician, loyal to American ideals and citizens. However, his positive tone concealed what was a paranoid investigation and hearings in which HUAC chased its tail with pursuant of non-existent communists with in the system. Referencing the common notion that politicians frequently are too passive, McCarthy portrays himself as a vigorous and involved politician who pursues American interests - ideally those of Americanism - for the sake of the nation. His appeal represented above did not reflect his true nature, as his loyalties lied to votes and only votes, as Americans would find out in 1959. Not only is self-promotion evident in this quote, McCarthy also plays off of American fears that communism was a principal that Americans must combat actively in order to remain American. His early success, gaining support and credence from many individuals and branches of government, represents widespread American support for his anti-communist endeavors which are characterized by McCarthyism. National fears of communist expansionism fueled his initial popularity, but also contributed to his later downfall as a national leader.

4/3/11

J.R.C. - "I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $20." – Anonymous 50’s Consumer

The period following World War II was a harmonious time in history, reconstructing aspects like war-torn families to reconstruct war-torn America. Despite this period’s generally positive atmosphere, the economy following the war experienced a major increase in inflated prices, causing many to feel burdened in purchasing daily necessities. Groceries in supermarkets were a clear example of the rapid increase in inflation, depicted in the quote above made by an average consumer in the 50’s. Inflation swept the entire nation as prices raised at an alarming rate, ultimately causing many to feel as if the tightly knit fabric of their everyday life was to be completely altered. This quote is slightly humorous today, due to the fact that one cannot purchase a week’s worth of groceries for $20 in any circumstance. Due to the amount of consumer demand and overall inflation in modern markets, groceries today, in addition to other necessities, cost over ten times the amount they did in the 50’s, making this quote both ironic and humorous. Despite the increase in prices, however, many breakthroughs in domestic technology occurred, allowing those who have money left over after paying bills to purchase new phones, new refrigerators, smaller and newly developed portable radios, and even dryers. This transcends what many would seem to believe, because despite the burdens of increased prices of necessities, many people still bought luxury items.

AJJ- "The reason we have such a high standard of living is because advertising has created an American frame of mind that makes people want more things, better things, and newer things."

— Robert Sarnoff, president of National Broadcasting

This quote, by the president of National Broadcasting Company speaks of the desire of the American people to want newer and better things. While the United States was in the midst of the Cold War, consumerism rapidly grew creating an insatiable desire within the American public for better and newer things. This quote epitomizes the spirit of American inventors and innovators who desired to sell new products during this age of consumerism. In this era many things were invented including the electric can opener, washing and drying machines, and the electric tooth brush among many many other things. NBC was on the rise and in the coming years television would soon be in color giving further meaning to the quote as Robert Sarnoff truly knew that consumerism would continue to rise especially in his own industry. Advertising also was on the rise and Sarnoff could have possibly been saying this to please the people who advertised on his network.

CJD-

“I can think of nothing more boring for the American people than to have to sit in their living rooms for a whole half hour looking at my face on their television screens.”

 -Dwight D. Eisenhower

 During the 1950s, the amount of Americans with television sets in their homes rose dramatically, and the sheer number of people exposed to programming made mass advertising possible. Consumerism took advantage of this, providing millions with images and sounds of products, making sales much more effective. In addition to consumer items, ideas were sold on television, and President Eisenhower was one of the first American leaders to have TV as a means of communicating with the nation. From campaigning in 1952 to delivering speeches on national issues in front of the entire country, Eisenhower had a presence in the homes of most Americans. Just as Franklin Roosevelt had used the radio to communicate with most of the United States, Ike used television to relay important matters all while providing a face for people to see. Despite occasions such as the U-2 Incident in 1960, Eisenhower maintained trust with his people for most of the presidency because he could look them in the eye, even from thousands of miles away, and say something that the average American would not question. Although this quote demonstrates the fact that Eisenhower believed it should bore the country, his presence on television was as voraciously consumed as all other programming. Television had overtaken the United States, and it became a staple of society. After Eisenhower’s second term, television showed its political impact, as the debates between Nixon and Kennedy were broadcasted throughout the country. Campaign ads still dominate commercial breaks when elections are at hand, and political debates, State of the Union addresses, and news coverage are extremely popular today. Television is the main source of political information for much of the population of not only America, but the entire world, and the “boring” faces of leaders help people identify nations, debates, and topics as easily as names do.

J.R.C. - "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." (Eisenhower)

President Dwight Eisenhower served as a five-star general in the United States Army previous to his two-termed American presidency. After serving in Word War II, Eisenhower developed a very distinctive hatred toward war. It is fairly obvious that during war, many horrible occurrences take place, both brutal and inhumane, but Eisenhower experienced these troubles first hand during World War II. He developed ideas that were very against war-time brutality and hostility, but these revelations were very ironic. Eisenhower was willing to engage in hostile interactions with Korea, which was decidedly one of the main reasons Eisenhower was elected as president and also epitomizing the actions the majority of Americans were willing to take against communism following World War II.

RIL: "the assignment for you, as wives and mothers, has great advantages…you can do in the living room with a baby on your lap - in the kitchen with a can opener in you hand." - Adlai Stevenson Adlai Stevenson said this in his commencement speech for Smith College in 1955 after he had been a presidential candidate in 1952 and while he was campaigning for his presidency for the next election. He believed that women were meant to stay home and focus on their role in the family. He said this September 1955 at Smith College’s commencement speech. This signified that he was trying to instill and reaffirm family values into the graduating class of women. Those at the graduation ceremony would have been the first to hear him say this. This statement addressed the role of women in society. During the 1950s, women were still seen as inferior to men and the cult of domesticity had a very strong influence on society. He references marriage and children and also daily tasks wives and mothers would be expected to do to argue that women’s place was in the home. His statement was for the Smith graduates so it was most likely his honest opinion because he was trying to convince college educated women that they should become wives and mothers and focus on those duties. Women, particularly young women, would have been most influenced by this material because it applied to all young women. Feminists would have reacted negatively, and other men and women could have agreed with Stevenson. This statement was given as part of the commencement speech to influence the graduating women so it was reliably Stevenson’s opinion. This statement was made in 1955 because Stevenson was running for president again. The social need addressed was the advocating of the cult of domesticity. This quote argued in favor of the cult of domesticity by emphasizing the role of women in the home. It agreed with the values of the cult of domesticity and argued that women should focus on their role as mothers and wives. The main point conveyed was that women’s most important role was as mothers and wives. This statement was significant because it displayed a dominant opinion on the role of women during the 1950s. The social implications were that women were meant to be wives and children first and foremost. His statement could have convinced some women that he was right, but it could also have acted as a catalyst to prompt other women to disagree with him.

JT “Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion”. – Dwight D Eisenhower

President Eisenhower’s statement is full of loaded terms to trigger thoughts of the supposed communist threat of the 1950’s. The “accepted doctrine” represents the communist form of government, where questioning authority and laws is not acceptable. The “disloyal subversion” reminds people of the fear that there are communist spies in the United States, trying to undermine democratic practices. This quote took place during the Cold War, a time when fear of a domino effect of communism falling upon the US was a terrifying possibility to many Americans. Senator McCarthy took advantage of this fear, and used the idea of “disloyal subversion” to prosecute many innocent people of being communists with practically no proof. The ideas that President Eisenhower suggests in his quote put emphasis on what he considers to be a good American. “Honest dissent” in both government, and possibly when questioning the loyalties of your neighbors, is pointed out to be an American thing to do. While it is true that the United States was founded based on rebellious intents, people should not have been encouraged to view communism as the British Empire we rebelled against. Nikita Khrushchev made it clear that his intent was to win the Cold War, but this war was not going to determine the fate of the United States’ government, but more of a global trade influence. Statements like Eisenhower’s and McCarthy’s added fuel to an unnecessarily growing fire of fear in the US.

SFH - “In dealing with a male, the art of saving face is essential. Traditionally he is the head of the family, the dominant partner, the man in the situation. Even on those occasions when you both know his decision is wrong, more often than not you will be wise to go along with his decision.” Advise from //Seventeen// Magazine, 1957.

During World War II an unprecedented number of women had gone to work; however when the war ended women were expected to return to their subservient roles. Popular culture in the 1950’s glorified marriage and parenthood more than ever before. Bolstered by developments, prosperity, suburban growth, and the baby boom, domesticity emphasized woman’s role as a helpmate to her husband and a fulltime mother to her children. No aspect of life in the 1950’s seemed more clearly to expose the durability of traditional cultural norms than the images and status of women. Magazines offered career women of the 1950’s especially cold comfort. The quote from //Seventeen// Magazine demonstrates this return to subservience. Women’s magazines of the time, which were largely run by men printed story after story extolling motherhood and domesticity. //Seventeen// Magazine was published by men, for women resulting in the major publication of male perspectives as to women’s roles within society. This re-emergence of the Cult of Domesticity can be seen with these publications with other articles such as ‘Femininity Begins at Home’, ‘Cooking to Me Is Poetry’, and ‘Don’t Be Afraid to Marry Young’. Although the majority of women of the time accepted the return to subservience with grace, there was an underlying tension and desire to maintain their World War II independence. The article reflects the extent to which women were expected to support their husbands; even in the event the man was wrong the woman was expected to follow his decision and submit to the ‘superior race’.