The 1950s and 60s was a time of racial divide among the white and black populations of the United States.
African Americans were facing various socioeconomic challenges which were evident of widespread institutional racism, such as
1. Laws of Segregation - which meant, whites and blacks could not mix in certain public areas.
2. Poor educational standards - Many African Americans could not enroll into some of the countries best colleges which hampered social mobility.
3. Unemployment/Low paying jobs - Many white Americans would not hire African Americans or only hire them for low paying jobs.