Author Archives: Victor

Black Tuesday occurred on October 29,1929 which is a vital component that I envision in my screenplay. Prior to the stock market crash, Americans were in a progressive era with great economic prosperity. However, there was great speculation of the ‘bull’ market at the ti me. Hence, Black Tuesday brought an end to the economic prosperity since many investors bought stocks on margin.  Havoc and depression erupted on Black Tuesday in NYC along with the rest of the country as people lost their nearly everything in their portfolios. Although Black Tuesday was not the sole cause for the Great Depression.  banks and businesses began to close and consumer spending drastically declined consequently, which became factors leading to the Great Depression. After the stock market crash, people became frantic about selling the remainder  of their portfolios and rushed to withdraw money out of the banks and it didn’t take long for the economy to go  into a recession. Therefore, I’d like the audience to understand the significance of the day Black Tuesday and the changes it caused subsequently in American history.

1954-Segregation becomes illegal in the U.S. due to Brown v.Board of Ed

Approximately half a century before, in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, the Supreme Court ruled that the belief ‘separate but equal’ was just. However, on May 17, 1954, the ‘separate but equal’ belief which was in essence segregation, was ruled to be illegal.

The ruling on May 17, 1954 for segregation to be ‘“inherently unequal’” was largely due to the case of Brown v. Board of Education. The case was started due to a little girl Linda Brown in Topeka, Kansas, not being able to attend a nearby all white-school. Hence, Brown’s family and supporters brought suit against the board of education, and it was later deemed that ‘separate but equal’ was unjust. The case for segregation to be unfair was greatly supported by two educational psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark, who provided evidence that children at a very small age became habituated to dislike colored people due to segregation. Hence, their evidence allowed the Supreme Court to rule an end to the belief of a justified ‘separate but equal’ society.

The significance of the 1954 Segregations Laws ruled to be illegal was greatly due to the Brown v. Board of Ed case. Although segregation was ruled illegal, it took many years afterwards for the Civil Rights Movement to see victory. Nevertheless, the 1954 rulings for segregation to be eliminated was a great stride for the Civil Rights Movement which helped lead to further subsequent successes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTGHLdr-iak