Amazing Color Photos Show Life of African-Americans in the 1950s

The 1950s were a decade marked by the post-World War II boom, the dawn of the Cold War and the Civil Rights movement in the United States. The United States was the world’s strongest military power. Its economy was booming, and the fruits of this prosperity–new cars, suburban houses and other consumer goods–were available to more people than ever before.

While the white working class saw their wages and status improve, blacks were largely excluded from the prosperity of the 1950s. Segregation in housing and education made for some serious inequality for African Americans.

A growing group of Americans spoke out against inequality and injustice during the 1950s. African Americans had been fighting against racial discrimination for centuries; during the 1950s, however, the struggle against racism and segregation entered the mainstream of American life.

These amazing color photos were found by Vieilles Annonces that show what life of African-Americans looked like in the 1950s.

Some girls just can't leave those cheerleading days behind

Frolicking in the park

Ain't love grand

All the good magazines like Seventeen and Ebony

And Baby Makes Three

C'mon, don't be shy, let's jitterbug

Christmastime is here

Do you have to have your hand behind you while cutting the cake

Everyone's welcome when taking pictures

Getting a glimpse at the gifts

Hate to mention that the crowd looks skeptical

Having fun at the park

Having seconds or is it thirds

Here comes the bride

I don't know honey, I sort of prefer the dog

I hate being photographed

I love the landline telephone cord in the corner

In deep concentration during Thanksgiving dinner

Kids being kids at the kids' table during Thanksgiving dinner

Man, I take a little nap, and mommy hands me off to just anybody

Moments at Thanksgiving

Mother holding her kid

Papaw's little peach

Relaxing on the couch

Relaxing on the couch

Scenes from Christmas dinner

Scenes from the wedding

Stop playing photographer so we can eat

The blissful bride and groom

The ever present car shot

The first lady looks oh so enthused

The important part of Thanksgiving dinner

The newlyweds and the bride's parents

The party begins when the hooch flows

The relatives

The remnants of the Christmas dinner

There's the money shot

Those crazy teens, they prefer the dog too

Your jokes are so stupid I need a drink to laugh