February 19, 1963: The Feminine Mystique

05/02/17 • 4 min

“The Feminine Mystique” – February 19, 1963 Background Before the early 1960s, women’s purpose was to take care of their families at home and have children. Many women did follow this way of life, whether it meant cooking homemade meals for their husbands while they were at work or cleaning the house. Although they could attend school, it was harder for girls than boys if they wished to be successful in a high paying job after they finished school. Even if they did get a job, women earned far less wages than men. The more time went on, the more women accepted their role as being the housewife at home. However, nearing the early 1960s, many women became active in fighting for equal rights. Women had to gain support before any hope of being listened to, since they did not have high political power. To accomplish this, many women advocated their views on the unjust rights between men and women through articles. Some of these journalists advocated for their rights in newspapers, such as Gloria Steinem, who wrote for the New York Magazine and created her own publication called Ms. Magazine. Another writer, Betty Friedan, published The Feminine Mystique, which could be considered one of the works of literature that sparked the second effort for the women’s rights movement. Feminine Mystique: The Feminine Mystique, written by Betty Friedan, outlines the problem of the traditional roles that women had become accustomed to for the past fifty years. Women had to live up to standards of the “ideal” American women, which put pressure on many young girls to become that ideal women. She spoke to different women about their experiences in order to understand how those women felt about being a housewife. One of them explained that “all she wanted...was what every other American girl wanted--to get married, have four children, and live in a nice house in a nice suburb.” This idea was considered “the dream image of the young American women and the envy, it was said, of women all over the world.” Friedan advocated for other issues as well, such as the lack of birth control options and political involvement allowed by women. In response, she created the National Organization for Women (NOW), which was designed to gain supporters to obtain equal rights for women. Legacy: Writers such as Friedan and Steinem are credited with starting the second women’s rights movement, whose legacy is acknowledged by women still fighting for equal rights today. Although women are mostly legally considered “equal,” many are still denied of a variety opportunities that men are granted, such as equal pay. Since the 1960s, the amount of progress made by women is substantial, shown through the recent presidential election, where America almost saw its first women president. The women who publicized their views about unequal opportunities paved the way for the women’s rights movement and initiated a long-lasting fight that is still going on today.

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April 15, 1947: Jackie Robinson makes MLB Debut

April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson makes MLB debut Background: Major League Baseball had been segregated since the late 1800s, even though many teams played in cities that were generally regarded as progressive like New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. Some of the most talented players in the history of the game like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson were relegated to the Negro League, which was extremely popular among the African American community but was generally ignored by the majority of white baseball fans. In 1945 Branch Rickey, general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers changed the status quo by signing Jackie Robinson, a Negro League star, to a minor league deal. Robinson was a gifted athlete, lettering in four sports at UCLA: football, basketball, baseball, and track. After a year with the Montreal Royals (where he led the minor leagues in batting average), the shortstop was slated to make his debut at Ebbets Field against the Boston Braves on Opening Day, April 15, 1947. The Rookie Season: Robinson made his debut for the Dodgers, going 0-3 that day. Many Dodger fans and even some players were conflicted about supporting an African American player trying to integrate one of America’s most beloved institutions. Dodgers announcer Red Barber famously considered quitting his dream job over calling a game with an African American player, as stated in an interview shortly before his death. Everywhere Robinson went, there were threats made by opposing players and fans, and when the team traveled south he was forced to face state-sanctioned segregation on buses, in hotels, and even at the ballpark. A 1951 letter sent to the Cincinnati Reds said “ROBINSON WE ARE GOING TO KILL YOU IF YOU ATTEMPT TO ENTER A BALLGAME AT CROSLEY FIELD.” Nevertheless, Robinson played through these hardships, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1947 and National League MVP in 1949. He helped the Dodgers to a World Series Title in 1955. Aftermath/ Legacy: Although Robinson’s debut was a landmark event in American racial history, getting baseball fully integrated was a lengthy conquest. The Red Sox were the last team to integrate, in 1959. Even so it’s clear that Robinson made a major impact, particularly in empowering African American youth, who regarded him as a hero. To see a black man playing on the same stage as white stars dented the idea of white supremacy that had infiltrated the minds of many young African Americans, who would be a part of the generation that would lead the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. Major League Baseball was one of a number of institutions that would integrate in the late 1940s, such as the Armed Services in 1948. Integration in public schools wouldn’t begin until 1954, but Robinson’s debut was certainly a significant early step in the direction of equal rights.

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April 16th, 1963: "A Letter from Birmingham" is released

Martin Luther King held a peaceful, nonviolent protest in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. It is commonly referred to as the Birmingham movement. Because of King’s harmonious approach to the issue, he gained supporters for it quickly, and, although peaceful, his protests posed a high risk for its volunteers. Previous to the Birmingham movement, hundreds were arrested for participating in stand-ins. A temporary anti-protest injunction was passed by the Supreme Court on April 10th, 1963, at regard of officials of Birmingham’s request. It required petitioners to acquire a permit in order to hold mass events on the streets. Most people felt as if the injunction attacked their basic rights. It was discriminatory and it restricted freedom of speech without reason. The law was unjust and unconstitutional. The majority of protesters intended to violate the law and hold parades without permits. Despite the danger of leading a protest, King felt that it was necessary to take a faithful leap. He led one thousand african american people into the business district of the city. On April 12th, 1963, King was arrested for violating Alabama’s law forbidding public parades. He remained in The Birmingham City Jail for eleven days. Following his release on bail, a letter from a birmingham jail was written and released on April 16th, 1963. King outlined the injustices in the city and the extreme actions taken following the nonviolent campaign. He defended his nonviolent campaign to resist racism for everybody. It was published in various articles such as The American Friends Service Committee and Christianity and Crisis, as well as fifty thousand copies printed as pamphlets. The city charged him for being impatient, and he responded by claiming that when they felt the sense of ‘nobodiness’ that he felt, they would understand why he could not wait. He also called the laws unjust and unconstitutional, and claimed that human progress happens over time with hard work and sacrifice. He compared himself to other great extremists, such as Jesus and Abraham Lincoln. King’s letter led many down a path of revolution. Just over a week after King’s arrest and release on bail, one thousand more african american students attempted to march into downtown Birmingham. Hundreds were arrested on site, and hundreds more gathered the following day. Police officers beat protesters violently with clubs and hoses. Violence created an uproar when four young girls died in a bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church. These images appeared on the news, triggering international outrage. King responded by instilling courage into volunteers and their families. He said that participants were not just achieving a job for themselves and America, but for all of mankind. His letter helped reignite the Birmingham movement and campaign. It helped African American citizens gain the recognition and attention that they needed, while acting as a source of courage in the face of brutality. Overall, MLK’s ‘Letter From a Birmingham Jail’ was extremely influential in the progression of African American’s in a racially unjust society.