Résumé:
The American history is deeply linked to the race problem. Right from the
beginning of the nation’s existence, the racial issue represented a point of tension between the
different sections of the American population. Racism has been a problem the USA
confronted from the beginning of its existence. With time, it deeply engrained in the
mentalities as well as in the political and economic systems. This work aims at assessing the
depth of that prejudice and see whether it can be eradicated. The situation remained
unchanged until recently. This dissertation examines the emergence of new stakes in the midtwentieth century that precipitated a change of attitude towards racism making the race
problem a most urgent issue. Several factors- domestic as well as international- led to this
general change of attitude. Great progress was made but racism has not been eradicated.
Several obstacles still exist that prevent the full elimination of racism to be given the final
blow. Among them are the white resistance to racial equality and a deep racial prejudice.
Racism is far from being a problem solved in the 1960s, it still persists under subtler and less
direct forms. This dissertation intends to answer the following question: can racism be
eradicated or is it so deeply-rooted that it has become impossible to eliminate?
