Hello, I'm a Canadian highschool student taking an American History class. For my culminating project (15% of my final mark) I had the choice to do an essay or 30 minute seminar on a topic of my choice in between WWII and the present. I elected to argue that sports and music were the most important influences in breaking down the racial barrier in America. Any help, ideas or music you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Your premise and conclusion is wrong. Intergration in sports and in music didn't bring about intergrating of American society, they were symptoms rather of the breaking down of the racial barriers.
The integration and "breaking down racial barriers" came, little by little, step by step, over many decades of time.
The separation of the races, or segregation was a part of America, though WW2, where we fought for freedom and rights only to have minorities return to a very segregated society. The black veterans were still second class citizens. Many of the vets of both colors saw this irony and hated it. The armed forces was one of the first parts of society that was integrated in 1948 by President Truman. This was one of the first big steps.
Sports, especially Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball and the rise of Bee-bop Jazz, which lead to Rock-n-Roll were public signs of an acceptance that African-Americans were part of American Society, but not really. This was still the role of "entertainer" which had been acceptable role for African Americans. It did help, as it's hard to hate someone you are yelling for, but again the role of "entertainer" was around for along time. These were still, small steps forward but not the barrier breakers you seem to imply.
But, It was really when schools became integrated that real barriers started to fall. When white kids and black kids never knew the others as different, but just kids in school together, did the racial barriers start to fade. Those kids grew up to be adults that never knew segregation, the concept of separation of the races of the barriers of skin color really start to fade. That integration was a shock to many people both white and black, music and sports really didn't seem to ease people into the idea of having a black and white kid sitting next to each other. This was when it became normal for the races to mix, and to do things together.
Those kids of course grew up to be adults. They didn't see separation or races the same as those just a few years older. They were used to being around each other all their lives, in school and playing little league, etc together.
Now. I'm not going to give you all the answers. There are things you need to look up and read: 1948 Integration of the US Military The Little Rock Nine/Central High School Separate But Equal/"Brown Vs Ferguson" Black Minstrels Bee-Bop Jazz and the Beat Generation (mostly so you can hear the cool pre-rock sounds!)
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