Ch. 7 -Brown and the Civil Rights Movement

Justine AvilaDec. 1 2011

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11Prof. Akiba J. Covitz 2011

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 2

Direct EffectsI.E. How much school desegregation?

Compliance Opposition

Western States Border States Deep Southern States

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 3

The Ease of Southern Opposition

1. School Board Members2. NAACP 3. Lower Courts4. Creative Loopholes

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 4

How much School desegregation as a result of Brown?

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 5

Indirect Effects

• Salience & Education– News Coverage– Southern Politics– Expedite Civil Rights

Legislation

• Motivational – Black Condemnation &

Protests– Southern White Defense– Feasibility of Racial

Reform

*Disclaimer: “Brown was not the spark”

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 6

Litigation Vs. Direct Action Protest

• Expensive • Individualistic• Passive Participation

• Cheaper• Collective• Active

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 7

Brown Backlash

Pre Brown Radicalization

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 8

Post Brown

1. Racial Retrogression2. Right Shifted Politics

“ I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever”- Wallace

Brown Backlash in the South

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 9

Contributions to Massive Resistance

1. Diehard segregationist2. Fear & Violence 3. Southern Manifesto

Note: The difference between white moderates and extremists was not in their preference for segregation but in the sacrifices they were prepared to maintain it.

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 10

The Fall of Massive Resistance

School Closures

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 11

Civil Rights LegislationNegative Image of the South

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 12

Creative Tension Strategy

• Impeccable Behavior • Legitimate Objectives• Well dressed and polite• Cooperation of law enforcement officers• Example: Alabama• Coupled with negative images of the south

Harvard LSTU E-107 - Fall '11 Ch7. Klarman 13

Ch.7 Conclusion

• Brown was viewed as an assault on Jim Crow by southern whites.

• Brown backlash was anticipated but Courts failed to see counter backlash.

• Brown helped accelerate 1964 Civil Rights Movement.