AskHistorians

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In the TV series Perry Mason, a black man is denied entry into a Chinese brothel in California. Was it common for Asian-American businesses to enforce segregationist policies (de-facto & de-jure) prior to the Civil Rights movement?	55
When sci-fi was becoming popularized in the 1940s-1960s in the US, did people see racial integration as part of a story about a distant future? For example, did a story written in 1955 about space travel to Mars in the year 2000 feature minorities and women?	54
Why were the Soviets so good at chess? Why did winning at chess matter so much during the Cold War? Was it to prove which nation had the “smartest” people?	53
Rock music in the US has a history of black artist and pioneers since the 1950s, but by the 1970s and 1980s rock music is almost exclusively white in terms of both artists and audience. Why was this?	53
After being a British colony, why didn't America adopt the powered wig and robe for our Judicial system?	52
How much influence did the elite-class/ultra-wealthy have on Nazi leadership when they were in power? For example; I'm an extremely rich German, can I influence public policy? How "untouchable" am I?	51
Was there a Japanese Operation Paperclip? Did the Americans ever try to recruit scientists and engineers from the IJN or Mitsubishi?	51
I'm an "inventor" during the Cold War. I have an idea for a weapon, experiment and/or gadget, how can I get funding from the U.S. government? Does my idea actually have to be good, or will the US government just throw money at me for anything?	49
When and why did purses fall out of favor with men?	49
If I were a high ranking SS member. Could I order Wehrmacht soldiers? Or where the positions different?	46

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