FYS The Fifties

Brown v Board of Education was a huge court ruling for the United States, which helped the civil rights movement and the way blacks were treated. This court ruling changed life in America, especially the South, as time would go on. During the time before the civil rights movements started the colored race was not treated even as close as good as the white race. The blacks were separated from whites in everything they did, including transportation, hotels, schools, and even drinking fountains. With this all of the accommodations for the whites were a lot better than those for the blacks. Continuing blacks were treated so badly that if they did anything questionable to a white they were persecuted and often times murdered. With this being said pre-Brown v Board of Education was a dark time in America and included much pain, agony and worry for the black race as a whole. Continue reading →

When one thinks of the culture of the 1950s, the first thoughts that usually come to mind entail the television, music, or clothes. Movies, however, at the beginning of the decade had become a dying breed that faced a drop in appeal. What could cause such a popular form of media that had previously been viewed as so alluring for years? The answer can be found in the very invention of the television, with which the public could easily find entertainment without leaving the comforts of their home and for no money. Film companies slowly began to lose money as their product was suddenly become less and less popular, and they needed to find a way to bring movies back into the eye of the public. Continue reading →

The 1950’s was the beginning of the large and countrywide movement that was the civil rights movement. At the tail end of the decade, more and more violence towards black people was occurring, leading to protests and changes. One small little girl that contributed to the movement was Ruby Bridges. Ruby Bridges, born on September 8, 1954, was the first African American child to attend an all-white elementary school, William Frantz Elementary, in the south. She and her family lived in New Orleans, Louisiana. When she was six years old, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) asked her parents if they would be interested in volunteering Ruby to participate in the integration that was occurring in the New Orleans school system. Ruby was one of six black children that passed the test that determined whether or not the back children be able to go to the white school. Ruby was assigned William Frantz Elementary School while the other selected African American children went elsewhere. Ruby’s father was reluctant in letting her go to an all white school, but her mother strongly believed that this was a step needed to give her daughter a better education and to take a step forward for all African American children. Continue reading →

Proms, or “receptions” as some schools call them, are formal dances sponsored by the school. They usually take place in May or June and are generally not a cheap endeavor. The boys have to rent tuxedos, the girls get their nails, hair and makeup done and buy long elegant dresses that they will probably wear once and then hang up in their closet for a few years before they donate it to Salvation Army. Flowers are bought, limos are rented and couples head off to whichever venue they have just paid $100 dollars for tickets to.
Couples arrive at the prom and take formal pictures, admire each other’s dresses and sit down to a nice dinner. Once plates are cleared, the youngsters migrate to the dance floor, where they do anything but dance. The popular form of dancing known as “grinding” has become the go-to dance style for most teenagers of today, and frankly it’s a little discomforting! Continue reading →

Growing up, I always said that I wish I had been born during a different time period when the world was a simpler place. The fifties seemed to be the ideal decade from my point of view, and I looked upon fifties culture with fascination and idolization. I truly believed that people were so much happier back then, and I thought that modern day America could revert to many of the practices of the fifties to solve today’s problems. It was not until I began this course that I realized I had a very warped view of life in the fifties. While many could argue that some things were better back then, this decade contained an immense amount of difficulties and restrictions. The fifties were not just a time for drive in movies and poodle skirts. Continue reading →

Fashion During the 1950’s

Thus far, during the course of our 1950’s seminar was have discussed many different aspects of the era but we have only briefly talked about the topic of 1950’s fashion. The fashion of the time is, in my eyes, quite interesting. It is fascinating to see and read about what people wore back then and how much fashion has changed to where it is today. When many people think about the era of the 1950’s, they imagine cookie-cutter houses and everyone dressing exactly the same, or at least that’s what I pictured before I did my research. Continue reading →