Famous People Who Made A Difference In The 1940s

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If you search for and dwell on negativity, this, in turn, will breed negativity in your life. However, if you concentrate on seeing the good in people and how they make a positive difference in the world, your life becomes a little bit brighter. It’s important to point out that those who are famous aren’t more valuable for making a difference just because they are of a particular social status. Everyone and anyone are capable of good, charitable things. But there tends to be quite a lot of bad press that circulates around the rich and famous wrongdoings. And to a degree, so it should. From abusing power to tax evasion to acting in a lousy manner towards others. But the truth is, being good or bad is just about making a choice, particularly in the face of challenging times. The 1940s were notably a horrific time for most with WW2, The Great Depression, and apartheid affecting the world. Many people have been and gone that did what they could to stand up for humanity in the face of adversity. Using their powers, time, and money for good – these are people worth celebrating and remembering.

Mayor LaGuardia

The 99th mayor of New York from 1935 to 1945, was renowned for being a small but fiercely compassionate man. He took great care of NYC during the Great Depression and WW2. And the residents would fondly refer to him as the “Little Flower.” An incident that expresses the kindness and thought of this man was shown on the occasion that the Mayor attending a night court. The court took care of events for the most deprived ward in New York. That evening LaGuardia decided that the judge may leave for the evening and he would take over listening to and making decisions about the incidents that had recently occurred. Within a few moments, the first issue was presented to LaGuardia. An old lady in tattered clothing had stolen bread from a shopkeeper. The lady stood before the Mayor and explained, she was trying to feed her starving grandchildren. Her daughter’s husband had deserted her, and so she didn’t have any money to buy food for the children. The shopkeeper who heard her explanation showed no compassion. He said that he thought the lady should still be punished to teach others not to do the same.

In response, Mayor LaGuardia said he must ask the lady to pay ten dollars for the offense she committed. Otherwise, she would need to go to jail for ten days. He then proceeded to pay the ten-dollar fine with money he pulled out of his own pocket. But he had not finished yet. The Mayor explained;

“Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant.”

LaGuardia chose to demonstrate care and understanding for the ladies situation and decided not to blame her and her family for being poor under unfortunate circumstances. But instead decided to teach the community that this instance wouldn’t have happened in the first place had everyone been a little more giving and conscientious of others suffering and need fo help, to begin with.

Frank Sinatra

Frank used his popularity in the face of apartheid to make his views on equality known in his private and public life. From witnessing and stopping a group of boys chasing a Jewish child, he intervened and explained how Americans are all equal, regardless of their background, race, or religion. To insisting on an orchestra that sees people from all backgrounds included, to collaborating and making great friends with idols such as Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald. On one notable occasion, Frank who visited many nightclubs attended the Flamingo in Las Vegas one evening with his good friend Lena Horne. The club staff refused to let Lena enter. And so, Frank declined to enter also unless Lena was welcome. Further insisting that he would make noise in the media if she weren’t allowed. Furthermore, Frank vowed never to play in any club that wouldn’t allow all races to attend.

A fraction from an article in Ebony Magazine highlights Frank Sinatra’s views and passion for equality for all Americans:

“A friend to me has no race, no class, and belongs to no minority. My friendships are formed out of affection, mutual respect, and a feeling of having something in common. These are eternal values that cannot be classified,” Ebony Magazine July 1958 Edition – Frank Sinatra

Oskar Schindler

This particular person has been mentioned in light of their courage and perseverance to make a difference. By turning their lives around and abandoning their primary role as a member of the Nazi party to protect people from harm. Schindler went on to rescue 1,000 Jews from being deported to Auschwitz during WW2.

In an interview in 1964, Schindler explains why he decided to work against the Nazi party. “The persecution of Jews in the General Government in Polish territory gradually worsened in its cruelty. In 1939 and 1940, they were forced to wear the Star of David and were herded together and confined in ghettos. In 1941 and 1942, this unadulterated sadism was fully revealed. And then a thinking man, who had overcome his inner cowardice, simply had to help. There was no other choice.”

Despite his efforts to help Jewish people during WW2, Schindler died in Germany in 1974, practically broke and unknown. Although the people he had helped, assisted in financing his final wish to have his body buried in Israel.

This is a nonexhaustive insight into some famous individuals in the 1940s who made a tremendous difference in the world by using their power for good. If we look hard enough, we can see people from all walks of life trying to make a positive impact, and this is both inspiring and comforting to see. Take celebrities such as Elton John who created the AIDS Foundation to help victims of sexual abuse in South Africa. To Angelina Jolie, who has helped the world in so many ways. One of these being developing the Jolie-Pitt Foundation to assist refugee camps in areas such as Chad and the Darfur Region. People past and present in and out of the media can teach us a lot about being better people, and how to make a difference to the world, whether big or small.