The Civil Rights MovementThe Civil Rights Movement

Origins of the MovementOrigins of the MovementJackie Robinson integrated Jackie Robinson integrated major league baseball in 1947major league baseball in 1947Rosa Parks refused to give up Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama to a Montgomery, Alabama to a white passenger and was white passenger and was arrested in 1955arrested in 1955NAACP helped to organize a NAACP helped to organize a boycott of the Montgomery bus boycott of the Montgomery bus systemsystemAfrican Americans wanted to African Americans wanted to fight back against “de facto fight back against “de facto segregation” or segregation by segregation” or segregation by custom and tradition custom and tradition

Court Challenges BeginCourt Challenges BeginSince 1909, NAACP supported Since 1909, NAACP supported court cases intended to overturn court cases intended to overturn segregationsegregationNorris v. AlabamaNorris v. Alabama (1935) (1935) ruled ruled that Alabama’s exclusion of that Alabama’s exclusion of African Americans from juries African Americans from juries violated their right to equal violated their right to equal protection under the lawprotection under the lawMorgan v. VirginiaMorgan v. Virginia (1946) (1946) ruled that segregation on ruled that segregation on interstate buses was interstate buses was unconstitutionalunconstitutionalSweatt v. PainterSweatt v. Painter (1950) (1950) ruled ruled that state law schools had to that state law schools had to admit qualified African American admit qualified African American applicants, even if parallel black applicants, even if parallel black law schools existedlaw schools existed

Push for DesegregationPush for Desegregation1942 1942 James Farmer and James Farmer and George Houser founded George Houser founded the Congress of Racial the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in ChicagoEquality (CORE) in Chicago

Began to use sit-ins to Began to use sit-ins to protest segregationprotest segregation

1943 1943 CORE attempted CORE attempted to desegregate restaurantsto desegregate restaurants– If blacks were denied service, If blacks were denied service,

they would sit down and they would sit down and refuse to leaverefuse to leave

Brown v. the Board of EducationBrown v. the Board of Education1954 1954 Linda Brown, a young Linda Brown, a young black girl, was denied admission to black girl, was denied admission to her neighborhood school and was her neighborhood school and was forced to attend an all-black school forced to attend an all-black school across townacross townBrown v. the Board of Education of Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954) Topeka, Kansas (1954) segregation in public schools was segregation in public schools was unconstitutional and violated the unconstitutional and violated the equal protection clause of the 14equal protection clause of the 14thth AmendmentAmendmentChief Justice Warren – “In the field Chief Justice Warren – “In the field of public education, the doctrine of of public education, the doctrine of separate but equal has no place. separate but equal has no place. Separate educational facilities are Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal”inherently unequal”

Southern ResistanceSouthern ResistanceSenator Harry F. Byrd Senator Harry F. Byrd called on southerners to called on southerners to adopt “massive resistance” adopt “massive resistance” against the ruling of against the ruling of Brown Brown v. the Boardv. the BoardSome southern states Some southern states begin to instate new begin to instate new requirements besides race requirements besides race to attend certain schoolsto attend certain schools1956 1956 a group of 101 a group of 101 Congress members signed Congress members signed the Southern Manifesto, the Southern Manifesto, which denounced the which denounced the Supreme Court’s rulingSupreme Court’s ruling

Montgomery Bus BoycottMontgomery Bus BoycottMontgomery Improvement Montgomery Improvement Association was formed to run the Association was formed to run the boycott and negotiate with city boycott and negotiate with city leadersleadersMartin Luther King Jr. was chosen Martin Luther King Jr. was chosen as the leaderas the leaderDecember 5, 1955 December 5, 1955 King King encouraged people to continue encouraged people to continue their protests in a peaceful manner their protests in a peaceful manner at a meeting at a Baptist churchat a meeting at a Baptist churchBoycott was continued for over a Boycott was continued for over a year before the Supreme Court year before the Supreme Court declared the Alabama segregation declared the Alabama segregation law to be unconstitutionallaw to be unconstitutional

Eisenhower RespondsEisenhower Responds

Ordered navy shipyards Ordered navy shipyards and veterans’ hospitals to and veterans’ hospitals to desegregatedesegregateHowever, Eisenhower did However, Eisenhower did not believe that not believe that desegregation should desegregation should occur through protests or occur through protests or court rulingscourt rulingsHe refused to publically He refused to publically endorse Brown v. the endorse Brown v. the Board of Education, but Board of Education, but he did uphold the he did uphold the decision when necessarydecision when necessary

Crisis in Little RockCrisis in Little RockSeptember, 1957 September, 1957 school school board in Little Rock, Arkansas board in Little Rock, Arkansas won a court order requiring that won a court order requiring that nine African American students nine African American students be admitted to Central High be admitted to Central High SchoolSchoolGovernor of Arkansas, Orval Governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, ordered the Arkansas Faubus, ordered the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the National Guard to prevent the students from attending the students from attending the schoolschoolThe district court ordered the The district court ordered the National Guard away from the National Guard away from the school, but Faubus simply left school, but Faubus simply left the school to the mobthe school to the mobEisenhower ordered in federal Eisenhower ordered in federal troops to Little Rock to protect troops to Little Rock to protect the students and make sure the the students and make sure the desegregation occurreddesegregation occurred

Sit-In MovementSit-In MovementFebruary 1, 1960 February 1, 1960 Four Four young black men – Joseph young black men – Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr., David McNeil, Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, and Franklin Richmond, and Franklin McCain – entered Woolworth’s McCain – entered Woolworth’s Department store and sat Department store and sat down at a whites-only lunch down at a whites-only lunch countercounterWhen they were refused When they were refused service, they remained seated service, they remained seated until closing and claimed they until closing and claimed they would do so every day until would do so every day until they were servedthey were servedMovement grew to over 300 Movement grew to over 300 studentsstudentsBy 1961, sit-ins were held in By 1961, sit-ins were held in over 100 citiesover 100 cities

Sit-In MovementSit-In MovementNAACP and Southern NAACP and Southern Christian Leadership Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Conference (SCLC) were nervous that the were nervous that the students would students would eventually become eventually become violent if provoked – violent if provoked – they were proved wrongthey were proved wrongStudents created their Students created their own organization – own organization – Student Nonviolent Student Nonviolent Coordinating Coordinating Committee (SNCC)Committee (SNCC)

Freedom RidersFreedom Riders1961 1961 CORE leader CORE leader James Farmer asked James Farmer asked teams of African teams of African Americans and white Americans and white volunteers to travel in the volunteers to travel in the South to draw attention South to draw attention to its refusal to integrate to its refusal to integrate bus terminals – bus terminals – “Freedom Riders”“Freedom Riders”May 1961 May 1961 first first Freedom Riders boarded Freedom Riders boarded southern bound buses southern bound buses – Attacked by white mobs Attacked by white mobs

when they arrivedwhen they arrived

Kennedy and Civil RightsKennedy and Civil RightsJohn F. Kennedy promised to John F. Kennedy promised to support the Civil Rights movement support the Civil Rights movement during his presidential campaignduring his presidential campaignCreated the Committee on Equal Created the Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity (CEEO)Employment Opportunity (CEEO)– Worked to stop federal bureaucracy Worked to stop federal bureaucracy

from discriminating against African from discriminating against African AmericansAmericans

Kennedy allowed the Justice Kennedy allowed the Justice Department, headed by Robert Department, headed by Robert Kennedy to support civil rightsKennedy to support civil rightsKennedy made a deal with Kennedy made a deal with Mississippi governor to stop the Mississippi governor to stop the violence against the Freedom violence against the Freedom RidersRiders– No violence to the riders but the state No violence to the riders but the state

could arrest themcould arrest them

Violence in BirminghamViolence in BirminghamMLK Jr. decided that the MLK Jr. decided that the federal government only federal government only intervened when the threat of intervened when the threat of violence was too highviolence was too highKing was arrested following a King was arrested following a protest against the violence protest against the violence towards the Freedom Riderstowards the Freedom RidersWhen released, King When released, King continued the protests and the continued the protests and the mayor responded with police mayor responded with police using clubs, police dogs, and using clubs, police dogs, and high-pressure fire hoseshigh-pressure fire hosesOutraged at the violence, Outraged at the violence, Kennedy ordered his advisors Kennedy ordered his advisors to begin drafting a civil rights to begin drafting a civil rights billbill

The March on WashingtonThe March on Washington

August 28, 1964 August 28, 1964 more than 200,000 more than 200,000 demonstrators demonstrators gathered in gathered in Washington DCWashington DCProtestors heard Protestors heard many speeches many speeches from influential civil from influential civil rights leadersrights leadersKing delivered his King delivered his famous “I Have a famous “I Have a Dream” speechDream” speech

Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil rights bill came before the Civil rights bill came before the Senate and the southern Senators Senate and the southern Senators used a filibuster (refusing to stop used a filibuster (refusing to stop speaking in Congress)speaking in Congress)Civil Rights bill passed in the Civil Rights bill passed in the House in February 1964House in February 1964Finally, Johnson signed the bill into Finally, Johnson signed the bill into law on July 2, 1964law on July 2, 1964Gave federal government broad Gave federal government broad power to prevent racial power to prevent racial discriminationdiscrimination– Made it illegal to segregate in most Made it illegal to segregate in most

public accommodationspublic accommodations– All citizens have equal access to public All citizens have equal access to public

facilitiesfacilities

Selma MarchSelma MarchJanuary, 1965 January, 1965 SCLC and Dr. King SCLC and Dr. King selected Selma, Alabama as the selected Selma, Alabama as the focal point for voting rightsfocal point for voting rightsAfrican Americans were the majority African Americans were the majority of the town, but only made up 3% of of the town, but only made up 3% of registered votersregistered votersThe local sheriff deputized and The local sheriff deputized and armed dozens of white citizens to armed dozens of white citizens to prevent blacks from votingprevent blacks from votingDemonstrations in Selma led to Demonstrations in Selma led to 2,000 arrests2,000 arrestsMarch 7, 1965 March 7, 1965 King and the King and the SNCC organized a “march for SNCC organized a “march for freedom” from Selma to Montgomeryfreedom” from Selma to MontgomeryMore than 200 state troopers and More than 200 state troopers and deputized citizens rushed the deputized citizens rushed the marchers and beat manymarchers and beat many– ““Bloody Sunday”Bloody Sunday”

Voting Rights Act of 1965Voting Rights Act of 1965August 3, 1965 August 3, 1965 House House passed the voting rights bill passed the voting rights bill and the Senate passed it on and the Senate passed it on the next daythe next dayAuthorized the US Attorney Authorized the US Attorney General to send federal General to send federal examiners to register examiners to register qualified voters, bypassing qualified voters, bypassing local officials who often local officials who often refused to register African refused to register African AmericansAmericansSuspended discriminatory Suspended discriminatory devices in counties where devices in counties where less than half of all adults had less than half of all adults had been registered to votebeen registered to vote

Urban ProblemsUrban ProblemsRacism was still common in Racism was still common in American society, even following American society, even following the passage of civil rights lawsthe passage of civil rights lawsPoverty trapped many blacks in Poverty trapped many blacks in the inner citiesthe inner cities1965 1965 only 15% of blacks held only 15% of blacks held professional, managerial, or professional, managerial, or clerical jobsclerical jobsUnemployment was twice that of Unemployment was twice that of whiteswhitesNeighborhoods were Neighborhoods were overcrowded and dirty, which led overcrowded and dirty, which led to a higher rate of illness and to a higher rate of illness and infant mortalityinfant mortalityCrime rate was also increasing Crime rate was also increasing with the rate of young people with the rate of young people dropping out of high schooldropping out of high school

Watts RiotWatts RiotWatts Watts an African American an African American neighborhood in Los Angelesneighborhood in Los AngelesAllegations of police brutality Allegations of police brutality led to an uprising which lasted led to an uprising which lasted for six daysfor six daysRioters burned and looted Rioters burned and looted entire neighborhoods and entire neighborhoods and destroyed $45 million in destroyed $45 million in propertypropertyMore riots broke out across the More riots broke out across the nation between 1965-68nation between 1965-68– Detroit: 1967, burning, looting and Detroit: 1967, burning, looting and

skirmishes with police and skirmishes with police and National Guard. Resulted in 43 National Guard. Resulted in 43 deaths and over 1,000 woundeddeaths and over 1,000 wounded

Kerner CommissionKerner Commission

Johnson appointed the National Advisory Commission Johnson appointed the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders to study the causes of urban riotson Civil Disorders to study the causes of urban riotsKerner Commission blamed racism for most of the Kerner Commission blamed racism for most of the problemsproblems““Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white – separate and unequal”one white – separate and unequal”

Shift to Economic RightsShift to Economic Rights

King focused his attention to King focused his attention to improving the economic improving the economic conditions in Chicagoconditions in ChicagoChicago Movement Chicago Movement King and King and his wife moved into a slum in his wife moved into a slum in Chicago to call attention to the Chicago to call attention to the horrible conditionshorrible conditionsKing began a march in Chicago King began a march in Chicago and was met with an angry crowdand was met with an angry crowdRichard J. Daley ordered the Richard J. Daley ordered the Chicago police to protect the Chicago police to protect the marchers and prevent violencemarchers and prevent violenceDaley met with King to discussed Daley met with King to discussed ideas to improve conditions in ideas to improve conditions in ChicagoChicago

Black PowerBlack PowerAfter the limited success of After the limited success of King in Chicago, many blacks King in Chicago, many blacks turned away from non-violent turned away from non-violent protestprotestBlack Power Black Power African African Americans should control the Americans should control the social, political, and economic social, political, and economic direction of their struggledirection of their struggleStressed pride in African Stressed pride in African American culture and American culture and emphasized racial emphasized racial distinctiveness rather than distinctiveness rather than assimilationassimilation

Malcolm XMalcolm XBorn Malcolm Little in Omaha, Born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, he came to embody Nebraska, he came to embody the black power movementthe black power movement1946 1946 Convicted of burglary Convicted of burglary and sent to prison for six yearsand sent to prison for six yearsHe joined the Nation of Islam, He joined the Nation of Islam, commonly known as Black commonly known as Black Muslims led by Elijah Muslims led by Elijah MuhammadMuhammadBlack nationalism Black nationalism African African Americans should separate Americans should separate themselves from whites and themselves from whites and form their own self-governing form their own self-governing communitycommunity

Malcolm XMalcolm XBecame Malcolm X to Became Malcolm X to symbolize the lost African name symbolize the lost African name of his ancestorsof his ancestorsBlack Muslims viewed Black Muslims viewed themselves as their own nation themselves as their own nation and ran their own businesses, and ran their own businesses, schools, and newspaperschools, and newspaperThey did not advocate violence, They did not advocate violence, but they did advocate self-but they did advocate self-defensedefenseMalcolm X broke with the Malcolm X broke with the Nation of Islam and later Nation of Islam and later criticized the organizationcriticized the organizationFebruary, 1965 February, 1965 Malcolm X Malcolm X was killed by organization was killed by organization membersmembers

Black PanthersBlack PanthersMalcolm X’s ideas about Malcolm X’s ideas about black power, black black power, black nationalism, and economic nationalism, and economic self-sufficiency influenced self-sufficiency influenced many blacksmany blacksBlack Panthers Black Panthers organization formed by Huey organization formed by Huey Newton in 1966Newton in 1966They believed that revolution They believed that revolution was necessary and urged was necessary and urged African Americans to arm African Americans to arm themselves and prepare to themselves and prepare to force whites to grant them force whites to grant them equal rightsequal rights

King is AssassinatedKing is AssassinatedBy the late 1960s, the civil rights By the late 1960s, the civil rights movement had fragmented into movement had fragmented into dozens of competing organizations dozens of competing organizations with differing philosophieswith differing philosophiesKing when to Memphis in 1968 to King when to Memphis in 1968 to support a strike of African support a strike of African American sanitation workersAmerican sanitation workersApril 4, 1968 April 4, 1968 King is King is assassinated on his hotel balconyassassinated on his hotel balconyIn the wake of King’s death, In the wake of King’s death, Congress passed the Civil Rights Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968Act of 1968– Fair-housing provision outlawing Fair-housing provision outlawing

discrimination in housing sales and discrimination in housing sales and rentalsrentals

– Justice Department had the power to Justice Department had the power to bring suits against discriminationbring suits against discrimination