Final answer:
The central issue for African Americans after WWII was the Civil Rights Movement, which aimed to end racial segregation, secure equal rights and expand economic and educational opportunities for African Americans. Despite successes, maintaining public support and changing societal attitudes remained challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
A central issue for African Americans following World War II was the Civil Rights Movement. This movement aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination and secure federal protection of the rights enshrined in the Constitution and federal law. During the 1960s, significant gains were made through grassroots activism and legal challenges, despite resistance, including violence, from those opposing integration and equal rights. The federal government’s role expanded during this era, influenced by domestic concerns and the international context of the Cold War. By the 1970s, the effects of the movement began to manifest with an increasing black middle class and improved access to education and employment for African Americans.
The advancements made by the Civil Rights Movement were pivotal, but the fight for equality extended beyond the repeal of discriminatory laws. Challenges such as housing, job discrimination, and educational inequality demanded changes in societal attitudes and behaviors, which proved to be a complex undertaking as public support began to waver in the face of civil unrest and the emergence of more militant perspectives like those of the Black Panthers. Despite this, the strides made during the 1960s set the stage for ongoing efforts to overcome economic inequality and racism and to further the causes of educational reform and inclusive economic opportunity.