Final answer:
In the 1960s, whites were more openly prejudiced, especially as the civil rights movement progressed. The movement led to improved rights for minorities but also triggered a backlash among many whites. Transforming deeply entrenched attitudes and behaviors towards race proved challenging, reflecting the tension between societal norms and equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1960s, it was more socially acceptable for whites to be open about prejudices compared to today. The civil rights movement heightened awareness of and opposition to racial discrimination, leading to greater educational and economic opportunities for African Americans and other minorities. However, this progress was met with anxiety by many whites, who felt their status threatened and subsequently asserted their own rights in opposition to affirmative action and other integrative policies. These events reflected a societal norms shift.
Despite the abolition of slavery and the progress during the civil rights era, attitudes ingrained over centuries proved difficult to change. The period saw a growing acknowledgment of the rights of various groups, but also a backlash that resulted in claims of 'reverse discrimination' by affirmative action programs. It demonstrated the complexity of addressing not only institutional discrimination but also the personal prejudices held by individuals.
The historical context underscores the challenge of reversing prejudiced attitudes and practices prevalent for hundreds of years in just a few decades. Full equality was hindered by both overt and covert forms of discrimination, and the civil rights legal battles and actions of various movements during this time were crucial in challenging the systemic inequality and norms that perpetuated discrimination.