How Did Truman Progress Towards Equality For African-American

“To what extent was progress towards equality for African-Americans made under President Truman?”
President Truman adopted a Civil Rights Activist label during his presidency and is widely known for his efforts in fighting for equality and eliminating segregation. This essay will examine the depths of whether Truman’s actions were really as progressive as they seem.
Socially, Truman became increasingly involved in the rights of African-Americans as time went by. From Truman’s private life, it is insinuated that the progress made towards equality for African-Americans under Truman’s presidency would have been minimal: The fact that he originated from a pro-slavery town (Missouri), where most of black people over 40 had been born into slavery
implies that he would have been negatively influenced. This early-stage influence can be exemplified by Truman’s quote, “...so long as he is honest and decent and not a nigger”.
This confirms that Truman’s attitudes were shaped by his youth, as reinforced by the historic fact that he developed an ‘abiding belief for white supremacy’. This demonstrates the assumed lack of progress in Truman’s potential to change the lives of black people. In contrast, it could be argued that his personal, instinctive views towards black people did not hinder his intentions to achieve equality in general. For example, Truman’s involvement in the armed forced illustrates a progression in seeking and implementing equality. Although he was privately racist, he tried to be fair – He said that equality for black people was a black man’s ‘basic right because he is human’. In addition to this, the destruction that World War Two inflicted upon black people’s lives affected Truman massively. He was horrified by attacks on black service men returning from WW2. This emotional attachment led to a legalised progress when Truman sparked the Desegregation of the
Armed Forces in 1948, against dissent within his own party and Republican antagonism and for employment in the Civil Service. Although Truman’s attitudes and beliefs were very racist, it is evident that he wasn’t very influenced in the long-term as he showed a sense of sympathy for African-Americans, enabling legal action. This demonstrates a significant social progress.
From Truman’s speeches, it is evident that his political views towards African-Americans shifted.
The President seemed hesitant to make a speech to the Society for the Advancement of Coloured People as he quotes, “Mama won’t like what I say” in a letter to his sister. However, Truman seems to dismiss this view, as backed up with his direct quote, “I believe what I say and I am hopeful we may implement it”. Progress was sparked further through his speeches as public views were altered, creating a slight political shift. Truman gave the first presidential speech to the NAACP saying that all Americans were entitled to full civil rights and freedom. Furthermore, his urge to end lynching, the poll tax and inequality in educational employment implies that he was sympathetic for black people, indicating a progress in terms of human rights for African-Americans. This is emphasised in Truman’s quote, “Our first goal must be to secure fully the essential human rights of our citizens” which shows that Truman’s personal motivational drive to achieve general equality was progressive and influential. However, it could be argued that his intentions were not progressive as he claimed that it was important to set a good example during the Cold War against Communist Russia. This implies that he may have only supported Civil Rights for his own reputation and benefit. As historians, one must consider the context of his intentions, and although the implementation was active and thus progressive,
the meaning behind them may not have been totally supporting Civil Rights.
Furthermore, Truman’s symbolic actions and appointments illustrate a clear active political and social progress in the long term. For example, federal aid for slum clearance and public housing for blacks in 1948 shows this, although full equality was not achieved as some were left homeless as there was more clearance than building, demonstrating a lack of progress in the social category. This also triggers the idea that Truman was possibly only interested in presenting his actions to the public as opposed to actually helping black people, as an act of selfishness. However, it is also significant to consider that Truman reshaped public opinions as he awakened the USA’s conscience to Civil Rights issues. This is a dominating act of progression as without public support, black people would be helpless. Truman also inflicted pressure upon the Supreme Court, showing parliamentary progress. Truman expanded political progress when he established a liberal civil rights committee to investigate increasing violence against blacks. With a few political obstacles, Truman finally succeeded when the committee gave Truman their report in 1947, entitled To Secure These Rights. This report said that the USA could not claim to lead the free world while blacks were not equal. The report advocated eliminating segregation from US life by using federal power. This confirms how Truman’s efforts in manipulating public views on the equality of black people aided the progress.
Economically, advancement in the quality of lives for black people is evident with the 1948 Fair Employment Board, set up by Truman. This was designed to give minorities equal treatment in federal hiring and its existence affirmed federal commitment to the principle of equality. However, shortages of funds and conservative employers limited the effectiveness of the Board which is demonstrative of a lack of progress in the economical equality of African-Americans. It could also be perceived that this was a selfish act by Truman – he calculated that he had lost the extremist white vote, and so may as well secure as best he could the liberal and black vote, implying that the progress was limited as he would only act to the extent of what suited him.
In conclusion, it is now evident that although President Truman triggered a progressive future for African-Americans due to his active, legal actions, his intentions can be argued to have been for his own benefit and not those of black people. This sparks the idea that the progress for the equality of African-Americans was limited in terms of their social position in society, and thus isn’t very significant.