During the Great Depression, was life better or worse for African Americans than it was for the lower class?

Question

Jacquelyn Hopkins

Social Studies

2 May, 22:03

During the Great Depression, was life better or worse for African Americans than it was for the lower class?

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Answers (1)

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Jasmine Hammond · Answer 1

During the Great Depression, life was worse for African American than it was for the lower class.

Explanation:

The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the United States. Its start was signaled by the stock market crash that led to a panicked selling of assets. Followed by deflation in commodity and asset prices and a lowering in demand and credit, it generated a process that resulted in severe unemployment (13 million people by 1932). For African Americans, that time was even harder than it was for white people. They were the first ones to lose their jobs - and at a higher rate, due to pervasive racism -, and received less aid from public assistance programs than white people did. As a matter of fact, even some charitable organizations would not serve African Americans in their soup kitchens.