Civil Rights

What rights are worth fighting for?What rights are worth fighting for?

Taking on Segregation

Main IdeaMain Idea

Activism and a series of Supreme Court Activism and a series of Supreme Court decisions advanced equal rights for decisions advanced equal rights for African Americans in the 1950’s and African Americans in the 1950’s and

1960’s.1960’s.

Why it Matters TodayWhy it Matters Today

Landmark Supreme Court decisions Landmark Supreme Court decisions beginning in 1954 have guaranteed civil beginning in 1954 have guaranteed civil

rights for Americans today.rights for Americans today.

The Segregation System• Segregated buses might never have rolled through the streets Segregated buses might never have rolled through the streets

of Montgomery if the Civil Rights Act of 1875 had remained in of Montgomery if the Civil Rights Act of 1875 had remained in force.force.

• It promised that all persons, regardless of race, color, or It promised that all persons, regardless of race, color, or previous condition, was entitled to full and equal employment of previous condition, was entitled to full and equal employment of accommodation in "inns, public conveyances on land or water, accommodation in "inns, public conveyances on land or water, theaters, and other places of public amusement." theaters, and other places of public amusement."

Segregation

Plessy v. Ferguson1896

Segregation in the 20th Century

Civil Rights Movement

Separate but equalJim Crow Laws-South

African Americans Find segregation

Throughout the nation

Shortage of white laborersAfrican Ams in the militaryChallenged Jim Crow Laws

& voting rights

Challenging Segregation in Court• The desegregation campaign was led largely The desegregation campaign was led largely

by NAACP, which had fought since 1909 to by NAACP, which had fought since 1909 to end segregation.end segregation.

• The NAACP Legal StrategyThe NAACP Legal Strategy• Charles Michael HoustonCharles Michael Houston• Public EducationPublic Education• Thurgood MarshallThurgood Marshall• Morgan v. Virginia, Sweatt v. PainterMorgan v. Virginia, Sweatt v. Painter

• Brown v. Board of EducationBrown v. Board of Education• May 17, 1954May 17, 1954• Supreme Court struck down segregation in Supreme Court struck down segregation in

schooling unconstitutionalschooling unconstitutional

Reaction to the Brown Decision

Resistance to School Desegregation

Crisis inLittle Rock

The Montgomery Bus Boycott• The face-to-face confrontation at Central HS The face-to-face confrontation at Central HS

was not the only showdown over segregation was not the only showdown over segregation in the mid-1950’s.in the mid-1950’s.

• Boycotting SegregationBoycotting Segregation• Dec. 1, 1955- Rosa ParksDec. 1, 1955- Rosa Parks• Montgomery Improvement AssociationMontgomery Improvement Association• Martin Luther King- 26 years old.Martin Luther King- 26 years old.

• Walking for JusticeWalking for Justice• Dec. 5, 1955- filed a lawsuit and refused to Dec. 5, 1955- filed a lawsuit and refused to

ride the buses for 381 daysride the buses for 381 days• 1956- Supreme Court outlawed bus 1956- Supreme Court outlawed bus

segregation.segregation.

Martin Luther King and the SCLC

• The Montgomery bus The Montgomery bus boycott proved to the boycott proved to the world that the African world that the African American community American community could unite and could unite and organize a successful organize a successful protest movement.protest movement.

MLK &The SCLC

Soul Force From Grassroots Up

Peaceful ProtestSCLCSNCC

The Movement Spreads

• Although SNCC adopted King’s ideas in Although SNCC adopted King’s ideas in part, its members had ideas of their part, its members had ideas of their own. Many people called for a more own. Many people called for a more confrontational strategy and set out to confrontational strategy and set out to reshape the civil rights movement.reshape the civil rights movement.

• Demonstrating for FreedomDemonstrating for Freedom• Sit-InsSit-Ins• Lunch CountersLunch Counters

Taking on SegregationReview• What were Jim Crow laws and how were they What were Jim Crow laws and how were they

applied?applied?• Jim Crow laws, passed in the South, were aimed Jim Crow laws, passed in the South, were aimed

at separating the races. Application of these laws at separating the races. Application of these laws included separate schools, streetcars, and public included separate schools, streetcars, and public restrooms.restrooms.

• What were the roots of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s What were the roots of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s beliefs in nonviolent resistance?beliefs in nonviolent resistance?• King’s beliefs were rooted in Jesus’ teaching of King’s beliefs were rooted in Jesus’ teaching of

love one’s enemy. Thoreau’s concept of civil love one’s enemy. Thoreau’s concept of civil disobedience, Randolph’s techniques for disobedience, Randolph’s techniques for organizing massive demonstrations, and Gandhi’s organizing massive demonstrations, and Gandhi’s

use of nonviolent resistanceuse of nonviolent resistance..

The Triumphs of a Crusade

Main IdeaMain Idea

Civil Rights activists broke through racial Civil Rights activists broke through racial barriers. Their activism prompted barriers. Their activism prompted

landmark legislation.landmark legislation.

Why it Matters TodayWhy it Matters Today

Activism pushed the federal government Activism pushed the federal government to end segregation and ensure voting to end segregation and ensure voting

rights for African Americans.rights for African Americans.

Riding for Freedom• 1961- James Peck, a white civil rights activist, 1961- James Peck, a white civil rights activist,

joined members of CORE and a trip across joined members of CORE and a trip across the South.the South.

• Freedom RidersFreedom Riders• New VolunteersNew Volunteers

• Bus companies refused to carry CORE Bus companies refused to carry CORE freedom ridersfreedom riders

• SNCC volunteers carried onSNCC volunteers carried on• Arrival of Federal MarshalsArrival of Federal Marshals

• Kennedy sends U.S. Marshals to protect Kennedy sends U.S. Marshals to protect freedom riders in Montgomery, AL.freedom riders in Montgomery, AL.

Standing Firm• With the integration of interstate travel facilities With the integration of interstate travel facilities

under way some civil rights workers turned their under way some civil rights workers turned their attention to integrating some Southern schools attention to integrating some Southern schools and pushing the movement into additional and pushing the movement into additional Southern towns.Southern towns.

IntegratingOle Miss

Letters fromBirmingham Jail

KennedyTakes a Stand

March to Washington• The civil rights bill that President Kennedy The civil rights bill that President Kennedy

sent to Congress guaranteed equal access to sent to Congress guaranteed equal access to all public accommodations and gave the U.S. all public accommodations and gave the U.S. attorney general the power to file school attorney general the power to file school desegregation suits.desegregation suits.

• Dream of EqualityDream of Equality• Aug. 28, 1963- 250,000 peopleAug. 28, 1963- 250,000 people• ““I Have a Dream Speech”I Have a Dream Speech”

• More ViolenceMore Violence• Two weeks after the speech 4 Birmingham Two weeks after the speech 4 Birmingham

girls are killed.girls are killed.• 2 Mos. Later JFK killed2 Mos. Later JFK killed• Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964

Fighting for Voting Rights• 1964- African Americans began to register to 1964- African Americans began to register to

vote in the Southvote in the South• Freedom SummerFreedom Summer

Voting Rights

Freedom Summer

New PoliticalParty

Selma Campaign

1965- SCLC walk fromSelma to Montgomery

Voting RightsAct of 1965

Recruited CollegeStudents

Mississippi FreedomDemocratic Party

Fannie Lou Hamer

Eliminated Literacy Tests

The Triumphs of a CrusadeReview• What was the significance of the federal court What was the significance of the federal court

case won by James Meredith in 1962?case won by James Meredith in 1962?• Meredith won a federal court case allowing Meredith won a federal court case allowing

him to enroll in the University of him to enroll in the University of Mississippi.Mississippi.

• Cite three examples of violence committed Cite three examples of violence committed between 1962 and 1964 against African between 1962 and 1964 against African Americans and civil rights activists.Americans and civil rights activists.• Fannie Lou Hamer was beaten trying to Fannie Lou Hamer was beaten trying to

register to vote; a bomb in a Birmingham register to vote; a bomb in a Birmingham church killed four African-American girls; church killed four African-American girls; Klansmen, with the support of local police, Klansmen, with the support of local police, murdered three civil rights activists in murdered three civil rights activists in Mississippi.Mississippi.

Challenges and Changes in the Movement

Main IdeaMain Idea

Disagreements among civil rights groups Disagreements among civil rights groups and the rise of black nationalism and the rise of black nationalism

created a violent period in the fight for created a violent period in the fight for civil rights.civil rights.

Why it Matters TodayWhy it Matters Today

From the fight for equality came a From the fight for equality came a resurgence of racial pride for African resurgence of racial pride for African Americans, a legacy that influences Americans, a legacy that influences

today’s generations.today’s generations.

African Americans Seek Greater Equality• What civil rights groups had in common in the early What civil rights groups had in common in the early

1960’s were their calls for a newfound pride in black 1960’s were their calls for a newfound pride in black identity and a commitment to change the social and identity and a commitment to change the social and economic structures that kept people in a life of economic structures that kept people in a life of poverty.poverty.

• Northern SegregationNorthern Segregation• De Facto Segregation-De Facto Segregation- segregation that exists by segregation that exists by

practice and custom.practice and custom.• De Jure Segregation-De Jure Segregation- segregation by law. segregation by law.• During WWII many African Americans headed During WWII many African Americans headed

northnorth• ““White Flight”White Flight”• 1966- “Open City”1966- “Open City”

• Urban ViolenceUrban Violence• Aug. 15, 1965- Watts; Los AngelesAug. 15, 1965- Watts; Los Angeles• War on PovertyWar on Poverty

New Leaders Voice Discontent

• Malcolm X, declared to a Harlem Malcolm X, declared to a Harlem audience, “If you think we are here to audience, “If you think we are here to tell you to love the white man, you tell you to love the white man, you have come to the wrong place.”have come to the wrong place.”

Voice ofDiscontent

African Am.Solidarity

Ballots or Bullets? Black Power Black Panthers

Nation of IslamElijah Muhammad

Malcolm X

Pilgrimage to MecaFeb. 21, 1965- Harlem

Stokely Carmichael-SNCC“Black Power”

Oct.1966Huey Newton

& Bobby Seale

1968-A Turning Point in Civil Rights

• MLK objected to the Black Power MLK objected to the Black Power movement. He believed that preaching movement. He believed that preaching violence could only end in grief.violence could only end in grief.

• King’s DeathKing’s Death• April 3, 1968- King addressed a crown in April 3, 1968- King addressed a crown in

Memphis, TNMemphis, TN• James Earl RayJames Earl Ray

• Reactions to King’s DeathReactions to King’s Death• Over 100 cities exploded into flamesOver 100 cities exploded into flames• Baltimore, Chicago, Kansas City, and Baltimore, Chicago, Kansas City, and

Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.• June 1968- RFK was assassinated.June 1968- RFK was assassinated.

Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement

• Mar. 1, 1968- the Kerner Commission- appointed by Mar. 1, 1968- the Kerner Commission- appointed by President Johnson to study the causes of urban President Johnson to study the causes of urban violence.violence.

• One main cause outlined- “White Racism”One main cause outlined- “White Racism”• Civil Rights GainsCivil Rights Gains

• Ended De Jure SegregationEnded De Jure Segregation• Civil Rights Act of 1968Civil Rights Act of 1968• Greater pride in African American cultureGreater pride in African American culture• Black studies in collegesBlack studies in colleges• 1970- 2/3 were registered to vote1970- 2/3 were registered to vote• Rev. Jesse JacksonRev. Jesse Jackson

• Unfinished WorkUnfinished Work• Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action• Federal government jobsFederal government jobs

Challenges and Changes in the Movement- Review• What were some of the key beliefs advocated What were some of the key beliefs advocated

by Malcolm X?by Malcolm X?• Black nationalism, self-determination, Black nationalism, self-determination,

racial pride, self-respect, the use of self-racial pride, self-respect, the use of self-defensedefense

• Why did some civil rights leaders urge Why did some civil rights leaders urge Stokely Carmichael to stop using the slogan Stokely Carmichael to stop using the slogan “black power”?“black power”?• Leaders felt that the slogan “black power” Leaders felt that the slogan “black power”

antagonized whites.antagonized whites.