Ch 21 – The Civil Rights Movement

1. 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

2. 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. Ferguson • Used the system to try to change the system • “Legal Defense Fund” – Thurgood Marshall • Took many schools, businesses, etc to court for equal rights

3. 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

4. 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)

5. DEMANDS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS • Other Voices of Protest • LULAC – League of United Latin American Citizens • Funeral 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 Americans • Plan to eliminate reservations met with resistance • BIA mismanaged terribly • Small gains, still many problems

7. 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)

8. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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

15. 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

16. The political response • The 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 Landmarks • 24th Amendment: Outlawed poll taxes • More needed to be done

17. The movement takes a new turn • Malcolm X and Black Nationalism • Background: • Troubled Youth • Father killed by KKK, Mother went insane • Dropped out of school • Poor Choices • Drugs drove him to life of crime • Prison 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 Mecca • Saw Islam not a “black” religion, white people believed too • Assassination • Killed by members of the Nation of Islam • Legacy

18. 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

19. 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.

20. The movement takes a new turn • Tragedy Strikes in 1968 • Assassination 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. Essay: Chapter 21 • Compare and contrast the 3 major leaders/groups of the Civil Rights Movement. a. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr b. Malcolm X c. The Black Panther Party • Explain how the following kept the Civil Rights Movement non-violent * Passive Resistance * Civil Disobedience

24. 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