Assess the degree to which African Americans were denied Civil and Human Rights in the southern states of the USA in the decades leading up to the 1950s.

In the decades leading up to the 1950's, African American people were denied basic human rights as they were seen to be "lower" and "inferior" human beings. This racial discrimination can be traced back to the days of slavery in the 1600's right up to today in the 21st Century. It has been only in the last 50-60 years that African Americans have been treated as equals. The prime root of this conduct can be …

…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.' In the decades leading up to the 1950's, African Americans have been treated unethically and unconstitutionally. Slavery was the main reason why African American's have been seen as the inferior race in the past which has spiralled out for more than 200 years because of prejudice and discrimination.