The Civil Rights Movement

After 1965

Before 1965…

For the most part, Civil Rights Movement was united Common goals of ending de jure segregation

and protecting black voting rights in the South. United behind non-violent protest

Civil Rights Movement attracted a lot of national media attention Kept movement in the news and spread ideas Gained a lot of national sympathy and support

1965

Voting Rights Act of 1965 is passed by Congress protecting the right to vote for African-Americans

De jure segregation and voting rights issues have been tackled.

Now what? Poverty? Housing discrimination? Living conditions in cities? Job opportunities/discrimination? Stay in South or move North? De facto segregation?

The Movement Splits

After 1965, the Civil Rights Movement splits: Different groups had different objectives

Some wanted to continue in the South, while others wanted to protest in the North

SCLC and SNCC and other groups began to disagree on objectives

Different groups had different strategies Non-violence Militancy

Segregation in 1965

De jure segregation was virtually non-existent in the U.S. after 1965

De facto segregation was still common in both the North and South “White flight” to the suburbs More difficult to change because you

have to change people’s attitudes and thinking instead of repealing laws

Living Conditions For Many African-Americans

Many African-Americans across the nation still working in lower paying jobs Result of years of discrimination and racism Poor educational opportunities Unemployment rate was twice as high as the rate of

white workers Led to a lack of economic power and poverty

“White flight” to suburbs African-Americans left in city neighborhoods Neighborhoods were aging and decaying Economic circumstances also made it difficult for

African-Americans to reverse this decay

Northern Cities

Landlords often did not comply with housing and health standards Often charged inflated rent prices

Schools in these neighborhoods were often deteriorating as well

Lack of opportunity, poverty, and lack of change in the North causing mounting frustration

Urban Riots

Clashes between black civilians and police African-Americans felt police were unfairly targeting

them 1964 and 1965, clashes with police escalated

into rioting 1965 Watts Riot left 34 dead and millions in damage

Many whites, who supported the movement, losing interested and some are angry Violence alienated some whites Some whites thought movement was over with the

segregation/voting rights victories

Civil Rights Movement Breaks Apart

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. continued to advocate non-violence Still had the largest following

among the Civil Rights activists

Most accepted by government officials and most whites

Many are losing patience with Dr. King Not seeing the same results

as before 1965 Frustration is mounting Many wanted to try something

else

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Malcolm X

Born Malcolm Little Long criminal record Converted to Islam

while in jail Changed name to

Malcolm X, dropping his “slave name”

Becomes minister for Nation of Islam

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Malcolm X Continued

Taught that blacks should separate from white society “If you think we are

here to tell you to love the white man, you have come to the wrong place”

Advocated armed self-defense against white attacks

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Effect of Malcolm X

Inspired many young, frustrated African-Americans Stress in racial

pride Critical of Dr. King

Reference to violence scared many whites

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Change in Malcolm X

Broke from Nation of Islam in 1964 over strategy

Made trip to Mecca Religious center of

Islamic faith Saw whites and blacks

living equally Changes his philosophy “Ballots or Bullets”: Use

the ballot to change things before using a bullet

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Assassination of Malcolm X

1965: Malcolm X goes to Harlem to give a speech

Malcolm X is shot and killed

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James Meredith Injured

1966: James Meredith is shot while on a protest march Members of SCLC,

CORE and SNCC finish his march

SCLC begins singing “We Shall Overcome” on March

SNCC and CORE begin singing “We Shall Overrun”

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SNCC Becomes More Militant

Stokely Carmichael of SNCC is arrested for setting up a tent on public property He later arrived at a

rally, obviously beaten

Crowd very angry

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Carmichael’s Speech

Carmichael gave speech critical of lack of movement in Civil Rights movement

Used phrase “Black Power” Call for black people to

define their own goals and lead their own organizations

Urged black pride Urged SNCC to stop

recruiting whites

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SNCC Breaks with MLK

Dr. King asked SNCC to stop using Black Power slogan Sounded too

militant and violent SNCC refused Young students in

SNCC becoming more militant

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Black Panthers

Political party founded in Oakland by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale Fight police brutality in

ghettos of Oakland Preached self-defense Advocated black

communities become self-sufficient (Black Power)

Wanted full employment for blacks

Wanted decent housing for blacks

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Black Panthers in Community

Black Panthers dressed in all black Violent episodes between Panther and

police hurt image in mainstream media Set up daycare centers, breakfast programs

and medical clinics to help those in the ghettos Won support of many young and impoverished

African-Americans Reference to violence and arrests hurt image in

mainstream

Martin Luther King, 1968

Dr. King in Memphis to help support a strike amongst garbage workers

King assassinated by James Earl Ray

His death sparked riots across the country

Civil Rights movement further splinters De Facto leader was

killed

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The Role of the Media

Civil Rights groups used the media to inform Americans of fight in the South before 1965

1964: Start of Vietnam War Media now covering the

war Not as much coverage of

Civil Rights Movement Lack of coverage hurt

movement

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