CH 21 – THE CIVIL RIGHTS

MOVEMENT

Demands for Civil Rights

Leaders and Strategies

The Struggle Intensifies

The Political Response

The Movement Takes a New Turn

DEMANDS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS 1947 – Branch Rickey chose to break the color line in

Major League Baseball by bringing Jackie Robinson up to the big leagues. Despite facing horrible discrimination, bigotry and hatred, Robinson played great (Rookie of the Year) and led with dignity. Robinson fostered pride in other African Americans. This encouraged others to take a stand

The Rise of African American Influence

Before, during and after WW2, African Americans NOT treated as equals in the US Migration after Civil War and WW1

Massive move into cities in the north The New Deal

Politicians courted African American votes Rise of the NAACP

After Plessey v. FergusonUsed the system to try to change the system “Legal Defense Fund” – Thurgood MarshallTook many schools, businesses, etc to court for equal

rights

DEMANDS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS Brown v. Board of Education

1951 – Linda Brown sued for the right to go to the closer, better white school in Topeka, Kansas

Thurgood Marshall argued before the Supreme Court 9-0 Separate was INHERENTLY UNEQUAL

Reaction to Brown v. Board of Education Mixed reaction to ruling Most hoped, even if they did not agree, that the ruling

would peacefully settle the issue Many in the SOUTH resisted, vocally and violently State governors announced they would not “mix races” KuKluxKlan grew in strength Many believed the Supreme Court had overstepped its

bounds and interfered in a “States’ Rights” issue Most southern states refused to enforce the rulings

DEMANDS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

The Montgomery Bus Boycott – 1955 Rosa Parks sparked the 1st major Civil Rights demonstration Took a seat reserved for “Whites Only”, refused to move Arrested and ordered to stand trial This set off a city wide demonstration against the bus co. A new pastor, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, led the boycott Supreme Court ruled segregation on buses illegal 381 days later, the bus company gave in to demands A new generation of Civil Rights protesters was born

Resistance in Little Rock Despite the SC ruling, Gov. Faubus of Ark. refused to integrate

stating he did not believe he could keep order Faubus posted national guards at school to deny African

American students access to white schools Eisenhower sent federal soldiers to protect/escort the students (saw as a direct challenge to the Constitution)

DEMANDS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Other Voices of ProtestLULAC – League of United Latin American

CitizensFuneral home refused to bury veteran of WW2

Felix Longoria – LULAC protested, got him buried in Arlington National Cemetery with honors

Schools in California were denying access to Latino students – LULAC protested and got rules changed

Native AmericansPlan to eliminate reservations met with

resistanceBIA mismanaged terriblySmall gains, still many problems

LEADERS AND STRATEGIES

Laying the Groundwork Early on, no central organizing group

NAACP (National Assoc. for the Advancement of Colored People) 1909 – An interracial group focused on challenging the

laws that prevented African Americans from exercising their full rights as citizens

Worked to overturn “Jim Crow” laws & on anti-lynching laws Was successful in many suits against states, but had minimal

success on the federal level until Brown v. Board of Education

National Urban League Helped African Americans move out of the South and into

cities They helped find jobs, apartments, etc

CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) Determined to bring change through peaceful confrontation Played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement (Freedom

Riders)

LEADERS AND STRATEGIES

Philosophy of Non-violence Dr Martin Luther King Jr (quick bio)

Followed the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi Asked all to resist using violence out of hate or fear

SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) Organized protests throughout the South Non-violent protests used as a peaceful way of

protesting against restrictive racial policies Will concentrate mostly in the South

A New Voice for Students SCLC leaders protected the young by keeping them

out of protests SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) created

to give students a more upfront role in the movement Shifted movement away from churches and gave young

activists a voice in policies and tactics

THE STRUGGLE INTENSIFIES

Sit Ins Challenge Segregation (CORE) If refused service, they would just sit there Owners had to decide between not serving and losing

business or serving them and breaking their own rules Protesters would be arrested and taken to jail “Badge of

Honor” “Fill the Jails” used

FREEDOM RIDERS Freedom Rides (CORE & SNCC)

To test if Southern states would obey the SC rulings and to allow African Americans to exercise their new rights

Violence got worse the further south they got In Alabama, the bus was met by angry mobs

Blocked, slashed the tires, firebombed, beaten National reaction to violence – people horrified at

pictures Violence intensified as they continued on (“can’t let

them stop us”) AG Kennedy sent federal marshals, sued if they did

not comply

THE STRUGGLE INTENSIFIES

Integration of “Ole Miss” James Meredith applied to go to grad school at Ole Miss When denied, with help from NAACP, he sued to go SC ruled in favor of Meredith, Kennedy sent fed. marshals Violence erupted on campus (2 will die) Marshals will continue to escort Meredith. He will be the first African

American graduate from Old Miss

Clash in Birmingham Dr. King invited to visit “the most segregated city I America” Protests planned City Police Chief “Bull” Connor vowed to stop King King & protestors violated city rules and were arrested While others let go, King kept in jail. Wrote letters in response

to ???”s After King was released, he decided (with difficulty) to allow children

to participate in the protests Connor arrested 900+ children, dogs & fire hoses used to break up the

protests In the end, the protestors won (public opinion, city facilities

desegregated, an interracial committee set up to aid communications)

THE POLITICAL RESPONSE Kennedy on Civil Rights

Bold rhetoric when running for president As President, he moved slowly, trying not to anger the southern

block As protests & violence began to spread, Kennedy had to take a

stand Kennedy; modest civil rights bills, but they never came up for

vote

The March on Washington To call attention to legislation, King planned march in

Washington Kennedy invited to speak, but as numbers grew, fear was that

the crowd (for and against) could not be controlled Many African American leaders spoke, then King stepped up to

speak King’s words echoed across the country Still the Civil Rights legislation stalled in Congress

THE POLITICAL RESPONSE Civil Rights Act of 1964

Johnson’s Role (now president after Kennedy assassination Senate “FILIBUSTER” used; cloture used to end Used his political skills to get the bill passed

Provisions of the Act Title I – banned different voter registration requirements Title II – prohibited discrimination in public facilities Title VI – blocked federal funding for those who discriminate Title VII – banned discrimination in hiring, created EEOC

Fighting for the Vote Freedom Summer – 1964 – Voter Registration push in Miss. KKK held rallies to block 3 Civil Rights workers from NYC killed; FBI will find their

bodies 3 months later 80 mob attacks, 1000+ arrested, churches and homes

firebombed

THE POLITICAL RESPONSEThe Selma March

In Selma, people were arrested for standing in line to register to vote

King chose to march to Selma from across the state to call attention to the injustice

Police and mobs attacked the peaceful marchers with TV cameras rolling; it horrified the rest of the country

Voting Rights Act of 1965 In reaction to Selma, Congress passed this act Federal officials could monitor It eliminated literacy tests and poll taxes Within a year, 400,000+ had registered to vote

Legal Landmarks24th Amendment: Outlawed poll taxesMore needed to be done

THE MOVEMENT TAKES A NEW TURN

Malcolm X and Black Nationalism Background:

Troubled YouthFather killed by KKK, Mother went insaneDropped out of school

Poor ChoicesDrugs drove him to life of crimePrison for stealing

His Teachings:Nation of Islam

White people are the enemy (devils on earth)Must press/take rights, they won’t be given

“Ah Ha” Moment at MeccaSaw Islam not a “black” religion, white people believed too

AssassinationKilled by members of the Nation of Islam

Legacy

THE MOVEMENT TAKES A NEW TURN

The Black Panther Party After assassination of Malcolm X, young angry black

men had no leader to follow SNCC changes directions (leader S. Carmichael tired of being

beaten and jailed) “Black Power” becomes the motto Teachings: Rights would have to be taken, by force if

necessary 10 Point Program

Riots in the Streets DeJure v. DeFacto Segregation Ghetto’s were festering with anger, unemployment, lack of

hope Police viewed as the enemy (occupying army) Watt, CA 1965 “Watts Riots” DUI pullover sparked outpouring

of pent up anger. 1000’s fill the streets, buildings burned, 34 died before National Guard and police regain control

BLACK PANTHERS 10 POINT PROGRAM

WE WANT FREEDOM. WE WANT POWER TO DETERMINE THE DESTINY OF OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES.

WE WANT FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE.

WE WANT AN END TO THE ROBBERY BY THE CAPITALISTS OF OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES.

WE WANT DECENT HOUSING, FIT FOR THE SHELTER OF HUMAN BEINGS.

WE WANT DECENT EDUCATION FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT EXPOSES THE TRUE NATURE OF THIS DECADENT AMERICAN SOCIETY. WE WANT EDUCATION THAT TEACHES US OUR TRUE HISTORY AND OUR ROLE IN THE PRESENT-DAY SOCIETY.

WE WANT COMPLETELY FREE HEALTH CARE FOR All BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE.

WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO POLICE BRUTALITY AND MURDER OF BLACK PEOPLE, OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR, All OPPRESSED PEOPLE INSIDE THE UNITED STATES.

WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO ALL WARS OF AGGRESSION.

WE WANT FREEDOM FOR ALL BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE NOW HELD IN U. S. FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY AND MILITARY PRISONS AND JAILS. WE WANT TRIALS BY A JURY OF PEERS FOR All PERSONS CHARGED WITH SO-CALLED CRIMES UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY.

WE WANT LAND, BREAD, HOUSING, EDUCATION, CLOTHING, JUSTICE, PEACE AND PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CONTROL OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY.

THE MOVEMENT TAKES A NEW TURN

Tragedy Strikes in 1968Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr

Movement changed to “Poor Persons” Memphis Strike brings MLK jr Assassination sparks nationwide riots

Assassination of Robert “Bobby” Kennedy Running for President supporting Civil Rights and end of the

war in Vietnam Criticized LBJ for funding war not people in need in US Killed after winning CA primary Hope for a leader who could heal nation’s wounds died too

LEGACY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

Legacy of the Movement Slowly, progress being made, but it was too slow for many The power to vote will change the political landscape and the US

b/t 1970 and 1975, the number of AA elected officials rose by 88% Government power used to enforce rights not limit them

Other groups follow the lead Women (CRA of 1964)

National Organization of Women Native Americans (Indian CRA of 1968)

American Indian Movement (AIM) Disabled Americans (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) People of Color (CRA of 1964) etc

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE EXAMPLE Who: President Obama What: 1st African Amerian Elected President Where: Washington DC/America When: November 4, 2008 Why: America believed he was the best person to lead our country

in the coming years.

On November 4, 2008, something happened in this country that had never happened before. America elected an African American president. He defeated John McCain not because he is African American, but because the people of America believed he was the best person to lead our country in the coming years. American finally saw beyond the race of the candidate.

ESSAY: CHAPTER 211. Compare and contrast the 3 major

leaders/groups of the Civil Rights Movement.

a. Dr. Martin Luther King Jrb. Malcolm Xc. The Black Panther Party

2. Explain how the following kept the Civil Rights Movement non-violent

* Passive Resistance* Civil Disobedience

CH 21 “NEED TO KNOWS” Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, KN Montgomery Bus Boycott

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr & Rosa Parks

Little Rock Nine Other Voices of Protest NAACP, National Urban League, CORE, SNCC Sit-Ins & Freedom Rides

Passive Resistance & Civil Disobedience

Malcolm X & the Black Panther Party Major Legislation

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Voting Rights Act of 1965 24th Amendment

Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement Other groups follow