The Emergence of Civil Rights The Emergence of Civil Rights as a National Issueas a National Issue

When thousands of blacks marched through downtown Birmingham, AL, toWhen thousands of blacks marched through downtown Birmingham, AL, toprotest racial segregation in April 1963, they were met with fire hoses and attackprotest racial segregation in April 1963, they were met with fire hoses and attackdogs unleashed by Police Chief “Bull” Connor.dogs unleashed by Police Chief “Bull” Connor.

Bell-Ringer: Lunch Counter Bell-Ringer: Lunch Counter ProtestProtest

In 1960, a few black college students protested In 1960, a few black college students protested against segregated restaurants by staging a against segregated restaurants by staging a sit-in at a lunch counter in Greensboro, North sit-in at a lunch counter in Greensboro, North

Carolina. The nonviolent tactic proved Carolina. The nonviolent tactic proved effective.effective.

What other nonviolent protest tactics can you What other nonviolent protest tactics can you think of? Which do you consider most useful? think of? Which do you consider most useful?

Which would you employ if you wanted to Which would you employ if you wanted to protest something? protest something? Explain your answers.Explain your answers.

•Although the struggle for civil rights had preoccupied Although the struggle for civil rights had preoccupied African Americans since Reconstruction (1865-1877), it African Americans since Reconstruction (1865-1877), it took on a new urgency during the 1940s. Poor took on a new urgency during the 1940s. Poor treatment of black soldiers during WWII and violent treatment of black soldiers during WWII and violent crimes against blacks after the war—many of them crimes against blacks after the war—many of them veterans—sparked anger.veterans—sparked anger.•At the same time, black expectations had been raised At the same time, black expectations had been raised by wartime opportunities and symbolic victories like by wartime opportunities and symbolic victories like Jackie Robinson breaking the “color barrier” in baseball Jackie Robinson breaking the “color barrier” in baseball in 1947. in 1947. •During Harry Truman’s presidency, sympathies for civil During Harry Truman’s presidency, sympathies for civil rights were reinforced, especially since many of them rights were reinforced, especially since many of them were Democrats. Truman’s presidency saw a were Democrats. Truman’s presidency saw a movement toward a more expanded federal movement toward a more expanded federal government role in civil rights legislation—which would government role in civil rights legislation—which would come about by the 1960s. Truman proposed many laws come about by the 1960s. Truman proposed many laws that would benefit blacks, but many were blocked by that would benefit blacks, but many were blocked by Congress. (He did desegregate the armed forces, Congress. (He did desegregate the armed forces, though!).though!).•Legal segregation of the races, however, still Legal segregation of the races, however, still governed the southern way of life in the early 1950s. It governed the southern way of life in the early 1950s. It most states it was illegal for whites and blacks to use most states it was illegal for whites and blacks to use the same types of facilities.the same types of facilities.

During WWII, a During WWII, a leading blackleading blacknewspaper, newspaper, The The PittsburghPittsburghCourierCourier asserted asserted that thethat thewartime emergency wartime emergency called forcalled fora “Double V” a “Double V” campaign—campaign—seeking victory seeking victory over our over our enemies at home enemies at home and victory over our and victory over our enemies on the enemies on the battlefields abroad. battlefields abroad.

• Every southern state mandated rigid segregation in public Every southern state mandated rigid segregation in public settings ranging from hospitals and schools to drinking settings ranging from hospitals and schools to drinking fountains and restrooms.fountains and restrooms.

• Voting laws and practices in the South disfranchised the Voting laws and practices in the South disfranchised the vast majority of African Americans in that region; vast majority of African Americans in that region; employment discrimination kept them at the bottom of the employment discrimination kept them at the bottom of the economic ladder throughout the country.economic ladder throughout the country.

• Although black protest was as old as American racism, in Although black protest was as old as American racism, in the 1950s a grassroots movement arose that attracted the 1950s a grassroots movement arose that attracted national attention and the support of white liberal-minded national attention and the support of white liberal-minded individuals.individuals.

• Pressed by civil rights groups, the Supreme Court delivered Pressed by civil rights groups, the Supreme Court delivered significant institutional reforms, but he most important significant institutional reforms, but he most important changes of all occurred among blacks themselves.changes of all occurred among blacks themselves.

• Between 1940 and 1960, more than three million African Between 1940 and 1960, more than three million African Americans moved from the South into areas where they Americans moved from the South into areas where they could vote and exert political pressure.could vote and exert political pressure.

• Black leaders made sure that foreign policy officials Black leaders made sure that foreign policy officials realized how racist practices at home handicapped the realized how racist practices at home handicapped the United States in its competition with the Soviet Union for United States in its competition with the Soviet Union for new allies.new allies.