The Civil Rights Movement Civil Rights Movement n

The Civil Rights Movement

Civil Rights Movement n n n A political, legal, and social struggle to gain full citizenship rights for African Americans. Challenged segregation, the system of laws, and customs separating the races. Movement challenged segregation through: protests, marches, boycotts, and refusal to abide by segregation laws.

Segregation n Common Post-Reconstruction 1877. South passed local and state laws that specified certain places “For Whites Only” and others for “Colored. ” African Americans had separate schools, transportation, restaurants, and parks, many of which were inferior to those of whites Drinking fountain on county courthouse lawn, Halifax, North Carolina; Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [reproduction number, e. g. , LC-USF 34 -9058 -C]

Segregation n n Included disenfranchisement-the denial of voting rights. 1890 -1910 -all Southern states passed laws imposing requirements for voting. Used to prevent African Americans from voting. (in spite of 15 th amendment) Voting Requirements: Literacy, property ownership, and a poll tax.

Segregation n n The National Afro-American League was formed in 1890 W. E. B. Du Bois helped create National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. NAACP became one of most important organizations of 20 th century. Relied on legal strategies that challenged segregation and discrimination in court.

School Desegregation n May 1954, the Court issued its landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Ed stating racially segregated education was unconstitutional and overturning the Plessy decision. By 1955, white opposition in the South had grown into massive resistance Tactics included firing school employees who showed willingness to seek integration, closing public schools rather than desegregating, and boycotting all public education that was integrated.

School Desegregation n Almost no schools in South segregatedin first years following Brown In 1957, Governor Orval Faubus defied a federal court order to admit nine African American students to Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Eisenhower sent federal troops to enforce desegregation.

School Desegregation n n Many only desegregated in theory…many racially segregated neighborhoods led to segregated schools. To overcome the problem, some school districts began busing students to schools outside their neighborhoods in the 1970 s.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott n n December 1955, Rosa Parks, a member of the Montgomery, Alabama, branch of the NAACP, was told to give up her seat on a city bus to a white person. When she refused to move she was arrested.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott n n n Leads to bus boycott: Immediate success with almost unanimous support from African Americans in Montgomery. MLK Jr. directed boycott and became national figure Lasted over a year Nov. 1956 -federal court ordered that Montgomery buses be desegregated Boycott=victory

Sit-Ins n n February 1, 1960, four African American college students from North Carolina A&T University began protesting racial segregation in restaurants by sitting at “White Only” lunch counters and waiting to be served. Sparks sit-ins throughout North Carolina

Freedom Riders n n n After sit-in movement, some SNCC members participate in 1961 Freedom Rides Both African American and White traveled to South in buses to test effectiveness 1960 U. S. Supreme Court decision declaring segregation illegal in bus stations open to interstate travel. Began in D. C. traveled to Alabama where they were met with violence

Freedom Riders n n Brings national attention JFK steps in to protect Freedom Riders But when they travel to Mississippi they were arrested ending the rides. Leads to desegregation of bus stations, but most importantly gains National Attention.

Desegregating Southern Universities n n 1962 -James Meredith applies for admission to U. of Miss. they attempted to block admission, but the federal court ordered the University to desegregate and accept Meredith. Gov. Ross Barnett defied court order & tried to prevent him from enrolling Kennedy sends federal troops-1 st night riot breaks out-2 killed hundreds wounded Similar situation in Alabama combo prompts JFK to take action-1963 -Kennedy proposed civil rights legislation

The March on Washington n n Leaders Planned a March on Washington Aug. 1963 -to keep pressure on Kennedy MLK Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech to over 200, 000 JFK assassinated in Nov. 1963 -LBJ strongly urges passage of civil rights legislation-pushed Civil Rights Act of 1964 through Congress. It prohibited segregation in public accommodations and discrimination in education and employment.

Still important rights missing… VOTING RIGHTS! VOTING = important because individuals elect people who change laws Resistance- Poll Tax and Literacy Tests

Selma Campaign n n Concentrated on Voter Registration (AL) Demonstrations began-Demonstrators treated brutally: one shot In response King organized a 50 mile protest march from Selma to Montgomery (March 7, 1965) Again television helped the cause

The End of the Movement n For many people the civil rights movement ended with the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. n Still others argue the movement continues today because the goal of full equality has not yet been achieved.

Impact of the Civil Rights Movement n Civil Rights Act of 1964 -outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. [6] It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public (known as "public accommodations").

Impact of the Civil Rights Movement n n Voting Rights Act of 1965 -prohibits racial discrimination in voting Designed to enforce voting rights guaranteed by 14 th and 15 th Amendments

Impact of the Civil Rights Movement n Civil Rights Act of 1968 -provides for equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed, or national origin

Impacts of the Movement n n n Huge increase in the #s of African. Americans graduating high school and college Increase in African pride/identity: Political Gains: Jesse Jackson ran for Pres. 1988; 2/3 eligible voters were registered; today - OBAMA

Unfinished Work n n n Much of school desegregation reversed by 1990 s: 50 -75% of African Americans attend almost completely black schools Poverty rate = 3 x’s whites Affirmative Action – began 1960 s ¡ 1970 s criticized as “reverse discrimination”

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Civil Rights n n n Discuss with a partner the following questions. How far have we come? Are all races truly equal? Have we stabilized? Have we regressed?