In 1967’s Chaos or Community, by Martin Luther King, King provides some information that makes several points about civil rights. He says that when the constitution was written “the negro was only 60 percent of a person” (6). This means that they were considered half of a person. They weren’t being treated as equals. King continues, and states that the infant mortality rate of the African-Americans is doubled compared to the whites. There were twice as many African Americans fighting in Vietnam, and twice as many deaths. He also mentions that the African Americans fell behind in school compared to the white Americans by 3 years. I wasn’t because the African Americans were dumb or anything, just that they didn’t have the same resources the white Americans had. Also 1 out of every 20 African Americans compared to the white Americans attended college. King states that 50 percent of the white population didn’t want any “negroes” living around them. The other 50 percent either didn’t care or just didn’t associate themselves with the African Americans.
In May of 2012 a NY Times article, In May of 2012 a NY Times article, Whites Account for Under Half of Births in U.S., Whites Account for Under Half of Births in U.S., states that White America doesn’t account for the majority of births anymore. The white Americans are now considered the minorities, but only due to the birth rates. Hispanics, blacks, Asians, and those who are of mixed races now account for more than half of the births in the United Sates. This has been the first time in history where the majority of births aren’t white.
It has been about 45 years since African-Americans were fighting for civil rights and equality. African-Americans do not account for 60% of a person like they did 45 years ago. They are now considered people and aren’t treated as animals. Now in the year 2012, everyone is some-what treated as equals. There are still those people that feel that they’re inferior to others. Now that minorities are now being considered the majority, things will slowly start to change.
