Civil Rights Movement Historical Roots 1776 Civil War

Civil Rights Movement

Historical Roots • • • 1776 Civil War 13 th, 14 th, 15 th amendments World War II

Truman • “I’m not asking for social equality, because no such things exist, but I am asking for equality or opportunity for all human beings. ” • ’ 46 Truman appoints biracial committee on civil rights • They make many suggestions including a permanent committee • Congress fails to act

Changes Begin • ’ 48 - Truman bans discrimination in the hiring of federal workers • ’ 50 Korean war begins with a fully integrated army • Jackie Robinson- first African American in major league baseball. Huge social implications

NAACP • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People • Pushed for major civil rights legislation and helped organize many other groups involved in the movement – Norris v Alabama-blacks to be included on juries – Morgan v Virginia-segregation on busses – Sweat v Painter-Virginia-law schools have to admit African Americans

Other Organizations • National Urban League- devoted to help people who moved to urban areas • Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)committed to change through peaceful confrontation • Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)- introduced the idea of nonviolent protest

Other Organizations • Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)- originally part of SCLS many thought that organization wasn’t doing enough to get young African Americans involved. • Headed by Bob Moses who would also become a key figure in the Civil Rights movement

Brown v Board • Overturns “separate but equal” established in Plessey v Ferguson • Brown says discrimination cannot be a factor in public services including schools • Also establishes the right of the national government to enforce this idea

Resistance to Brown “With all deliberate speed” –too vague Years before some states comply Massive resistance- the call for all segregationists to fight the ruling trough legal matters Southern Manifesto- 101 senators who vow to overturn the ruling

Bus Boycott • Rosa Parks- not the first to refuse to move • Women’s political Council (WPC) organizes a bus boycott • African American and a few white supporters stayed off buses for over a year • Kills the profits of the bus companies, they give in • MLK emerges as a leader in the civil rights movement at this point

Little Rock Nine • The governor (Faubus) uses the Arkansas national guard to turn away 9 black students from Arkansas Little Rock High School – Said he couldn’t keep order if he had to enforce integration • Eisenhower places the Arkansas National Guard under federal control – Force the troops to allow the student to enter and then protect them all year

Civil Rights act of 57 • Eisenhower thought desegregation should happen overtime, as attitudes change • Little Rock forced him to get involved, 1 st president since reconstruction to send military into the south to protect African Americans • The Act does very little but does attempt to bring executive authority to the situation

Sit-in Movement • A group (both black and white) would simply sit at segregated lunch counters. They would not move if asked. Usually they were arrested, often they were beaten. • Some 70, 000 eventually participate in sitins across the south

Freedom Rides • 1961 • Integration on interstate buses is still illegal • CORE & SNCC organize rides through the south by both white and black young people on the same buses • Met with tremendous fear, hate and violence

Integration at Ole Miss • 1962 • Supreme Court said he had been denied on racial ground and had to be admitted • James Meredith became the first black student to enroll at the University or Mississippi • Governor Ross Barnett blocked the door himself and would not let Meredith enter • Riots occur and Kennedy has to send troop to restore order

Clash in Birmingham • MLK lead an attempt to end segregation at stores and churches in Birmingham using marches and sit-ins – The police chief “Bull” Connor arrested King and others for marching without a permit • Some criticized King (mostly white) as causing problems from outside the community • King responds with “letter from the Birmingham jail”, defending his tactics and timing

Kennedy and Civil Rights • Kennedy took less action on civil rights than promised in ’ 60 • Lets the department of Justice (RFK) handle most matters in court system • Like Ike he is forced to send troops into the south to enforce national law and protect African Americans

Freedom Summer • 1964 thousands of students black and white head to the South to get people registered to vote – Many Southern Whites (KKK) are already mad about the victories of the civil rights movement, plan to intimidate the volunteers – Chaney, Goodwin, Schwerner- volunteers who go missing in Mississippi. Later found dead Mississippi refused to prosecute the accused • Many in the North and West now see the injustice and legal bias

Johnson and Civil Rights • The civil rights act of 1964 is pushed through the senate for 2 reasons • Johnson’s experience in the Senate • The memory of Kennedy • After the violence of the Selma march Johnson introduces the voting rights act of 65

Washington and Selma • Washington- 200, 000 people march in support of the 64 civil rights act • Selma- marches plan a 50 mile march to Birmingham. They don’t get out of the city before they are viciously beaten while not resisting, on national TV “bloody Sunday”

Success of the movement • • 1. 2. 3. 4. Johnson- uses the Kennedy assassination to his political advantages, pushes through legislation “Kennedy would have wanted” Civil Rights Act ’ 64 Bans different voter registration for races Prohibits discrimination in public accommodations Bans discrimination on the basis of race and sex EEOC- investigates job discrimination

Success of the movement • Voting Rights Act ’ 65 - Eliminates grandfather clauses and literacy tests • Gives federal officials the power to register voters when/where local authorities are blocking it • 1 year later 400, 000 African Americans were registered in the South

Success of the movement • 24 th Amendment (1964)- Barred the use of poll taxes in federal elections

Part III Shift in the movement

Malcolm X

Malcolm X • In jail he joins the Nation of Islam • Nation of Islam- preached black separation and self-help – Did not seek change through political means laughed at civil disobedience, non-violence and rejected integration

Malcolm X • Goes to Mecca and sees how Muslims of all races can get along – Returns willing to work with civil rights leaders and even whites on some issues • Shot and killed in Feb ’ 65 – Nation of Islam charged with the Murder

Black Power

2 views 1. Physical self defense even violence is acceptable in the fight for rights 2. African Americans should control the social political and economic direction of their struggle

Black Power • Stokely Carmichael- becomes leader in SNCC – Calls on workers to carry guns – Rejects white activists • Black power- a call for African Americans to unite, recognize heritage, build a sense of community and meet goals on their own

Black Panthers

Black Panthers • Political party that wants blacks to lead their own communities – Demand the federal government rebuild the nations ghettos to make up for years of neglect • “power flows from the barrel of a gun”-Mao • SNCC and Black Panthers move far away from the ideas/tactics of the NAACP

Watts

Riots in the Streets • De jure segregation • De facto segregation • Racial tensions explode (summer ’ 65) • Watts Riots (similar to R. King situation) • 6 days of riots leave 34 dead and over 1000 injured • (things are actually much worse in Detroit)

King Assassinated

4/4/68 • King was in Memphis to help striking sanitation workers • Shot and killed on the balcony of his hotel by James Earl Ray – Sparks anger and violence – Riots in 124 cities • For many this ends the idea of non-violent change

RFK Assassinated

6/5/68 • Robert Kennedy was see as the carrier of the “Kennedy legacy” • An ally of the poor and racial minorities • Seen as the last champion of the civil rights movement and the man who will end the Vietnam war • Wins California primary on 6/5/68 • Shot that same day by Saran

1968 Democratic Convention

’ 68 Democratic Convention • Thousands of protestors descend on Chicago. • They are angry about civil rights and Vietnam • The mayor (Daley) tells police to use force to end demonstrations outside the convention and in Lincoln park • The action inside is just as contested (Mc. Carthy v Humphrey) • The Media captured the chaos and violence • To many this was the end for the era of nonviolent protest and change

Other Movements 1. Women's movement (NOW, ERA) Civil Rights Act ‘ 64 2. Chicano Movement 3. Native American Movement All of these used the Civil Rights Movement as a template for change.

Success of the Movement • Segregation was now illegal in all aspects • Hundreds of thousands of African Americans were now registered to vote • EEOC*

Great Society • Johnson- declares a “war on poverty” • Great society- his vision of a perfect and equitable society the US could become • Main goals – economic equality – Equal opportunity • Major programs – Medicare/Medicaid – Head start

Chart on 736

Success? • Many programs still around • Have become entitlement budget items • Establishes the idea that government has some role in equality (but that isn’t always a happy thought) • Funds for programs get harder and harder to get (Vietnam is expensive)