Until the early 1960s, it was not unusual for many people, while believing in the American dream of rewards based on merit, to also believe that African American (and other minorities) had their “place” – a place largely cut off from the rewards that the majority received. This apparent contradiction in beliefs was a dilemma, observed as early as in the 1940s by the distinguished Swedish economist Gunnar Myrdal in his studies of race relations in the United States for the Carnegie Corporation. African Americans were often excluded from schools, public accommodations, jobs, and voting; and economic realities for African Americans belied the ideals of the American dream.