Question

how did the Social Security Administration discriminate against African-Americans when the benefit first rolled out ​

Answer 1

The Social Security Administration initially discriminated against African-Americans by excluding agricultural and domestic workers, who were predominantly Black, from receiving benefits. Over time, under pressure from civil rights advocacy, later administrations expanded the inclusivity of Social Security, with significant amendments in 1965 under President Lyndon Johnson that introduced Medicare and Medicaid.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the Social Security program first rolled out, it exhibited discriminatory policies against African-Americans. Initially, the program excluded agricultural and domestic workers from its benefits, which directly impacted the Black population. The majority of African-Americans at that time worked in these sectors, rendering approximately 60 percent ineligible for these social welfare benefits. Additionally, the wider context of the Jim Crow laws and systemic racism meant that African-Americans faced discrimination in many aspects of society from employment to military service.

Policies and programs launched during the New Deal era, while meant to alleviate the suffering caused by the Great Depression, often neglected the needs of African-Americans. For instance, federal job programs had discriminatory hiring practices, and the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) provided no support for tenant farmers and sharecroppers, who were predominately Black. These practices were partly addressed as the Roosevelt administration made some efforts to integrate employment practices and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) began to hire more African-Americans.

The legacy and reforms of Social Security evolved over time, including the significant Social Security Amendments of 1965 under President Lyndon Johnson. These amendments included the creation of Medicare and Medicaid, thus expanding the program's inclusivity. Still, it took continued advocacy and legal action, coupled with broader civil rights legislation, to correct systemic disparities in federal programs and society at large.

Answer 2

Answer with Explanation:

The Social Security Administration discriminated the African-Americans by excluding them from the program's beneficiaries. A large number of the African-Americans worked in the areas of domestic and agriculture. People who worked in these areas were deliberately excluded as a result of the racial biases that occurred during those times.

The primary reason behind this was the fact that the Congress (the lawmakers/ legislative branch) acted as puppets of the wealthy people (Southern Democrats). So, the laws that they made were very supportive of the rich rather than the needy. They also didn't support any welfare system for the black people.

Thus, this explains the answer.