Running Head: EQUALITY IN CHICAGO

Racial Equality in Chicago Today

Matthew J. Misner
Honors English 11. Mrs. Kwiatkowski. 2nd

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Abstract
This is an essay written on the question of comparing and contrasting life in Chicago during the
time of the play A Raisin in the Sun with life in Chicago now, what ways does it seem like race
relations have improved, and how have they remained stagnant? It discusses ways Chicago has
improved in behavior of people, laws, and public places, and also areas that need improvement
like news and social media. This is backed by websites, encyclopedia of Chicago, and an article
from The Chicago Tribune.

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Equality in Chicago?
Racial inequality has been a major problem in our nation since the founding in 1773. It
was also a problem during the 1950s in the time period of play Raisin In The Sun. It was a time
of racial segregation to the extreme. Nothing came close to this type of separation. Whites had
separate everything, restaurants, schools, even water fountains. After the many speeches of
Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and the brave acts of many protesters like Rosa Parks the
U.S government finally passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This ended all segregation based on
race, color, and sex. In todays society we no longer have to worry about being unwelcomed at a
specific place cause of race, color, or gender. However racial inequality sadly still exists today
and especially in areas such as Chicago, but not to the extent of the 1950s. Racial segregation
has improved in behavior of people, laws, and public places, but has also faltered in our behavior
and national news or social media.
Public Behavior
In the 1950s behavior between whites and blacks were hostile, white people were living
completely separate lives than African Americans. Racist whites from this time period verbally
insulted colored people and were even harsh and violent. An example of this type of inequality is
the well known story of Rosa Parks, who was unjustly arrested and thrown in jail because she
would not give up her seat to a white male. Today in places like Chicago, this is no longer a
problem because of people like Parks took a stand. However it is not as obvious nor physically
seen or heard anymore it still does exist as Christopher Ingraham a writer from Chicago Tribune
says, if you flat-out ask someone if they're racist, they will simply tell you no. That's partly
because most racism in society today operates at the subconscious level, or gets vented
anonymously online (Christopher Ingraham, April 29, 2015, 4). Today racism is not verbally

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spoken, or shown in public displays, now its on social media for everyone one to see but no one
to be blamed or punished for.
Laws
Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 there was nothing holding back anyone from being
unfair, blaming, and even violent to colored people. Before 1964 whites passed Jim Crow laws to
prevent blacks from being able to purchase land, farm, own a house, and even vote. These were
not at all outlawed and infact was extremely common in many states and towns. Many were
bitter that inferior races were going to be allowed common benefits that whites got and led to
these segregationalist laws. This also led to lynchings, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, and a violent
society with strong divisions with African Americans. Today Laws do not benefit any races and
has improved greatly compared to the pre-Civil War era.
Public Areas For All
Before the Civil Rights Act, being in a restaurant that only took whites was a common
problem. This also included bathrooms, parks, bars, and even housing. This is clearly still
displayed in the south/downtown parts of Chicago where it seems to be majority African
American occupants. Although this may not be a law, racial division still seems to cut some of
our societies in half. It may not be said or encouraged, but thought in the minds of many who
live in what seems to be a extremely racially segregated city.
News And Social Media
Local news is always informing viewers of events that have happened in Chicago. Sadly
this is very often about a shooting, or someone being wrongfully killed. Gangs also run rampant
in the streets of Chicago creating more havoc and danger in the city. This was also a problem in
Chicago in 1919 when Irish American gangs played a central role in attempting to extend the

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bloodshed (David R. Roediger, 2005, 1). Chicago seems to have only increased in violence
creating more tension between whites who are quick to blame blacks who supposedly caused the
problem, and police officers who supposedly shoot and individual just because they happen to be
black. Not only does this increase racism and encourages it to become worse, but social media
also allows this to get worse by allowing people to say extremely racist and rude things to people
without any consequence. In this aspect Chicago has not improved safety or the quality of their
news to filter out any bias that could cause any problems by offending any races.
Discussion
In conclusion Chicago has all in all improved since the creation of Raisin In The Sun.
Although the city has its flaws in its news programs, social media, and the behavior and opinions
of those who live within the city, Chicago has indeed improved much more than it had in 1950
before the creation on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I firmly believe that this cause could also be
improved further by regulating and blocking for being people who frequently and violently abuse
others verbally because of race, color, and ethnicity. This should also be done about
cyberbullying, this would end the problems completely by digging deep into the tree and pulling
it out by the roots so it can no longer grow.

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Reference
Roediger, D. R. (2005). Racism, Ethnicity, and White Identity. Retrieved January 28, 2016, from
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1033.html
Cohen, A., & Taylor, E. (2000). Richard J. Daley: A Separate World. Retrieved January 28, 2016,
from http://www.wikitree.com/articles/Daley/racism.html
Ingraham, C. (2015, April 29). The most racist places in America: Study. Retrieved February
01,2016,from http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-most-racistplaces-in-america-20150429-story.html