MODERNMODERN CIVIL RIGHTSCIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTMOVEMENT

GUIDING GUIDING QUESTIONQUESTION

WWhy was there an hy was there an increase in concern increase in concern for African American for African American civil rights during the civil rights during the 19401940ss and 1950 and 1950ss??

Who? How? How much?Who? How? How much?

Public School SegregationPublic School Segregation

April 4, 1961: A April 4, 1961: A single, dangling single, dangling light bulb and a light bulb and a coal-burning stove coal-burning stove show the show the conditions at some conditions at some black schools in black schools in Jefferson County. Jefferson County. Birmingham Birmingham schools were not schools were not integrated until integrated until September 1963.September 1963.Birmingham NewsBirmingham News, First , First Published Feb 2006Published Feb 2006

Copyright, The Birmingham News, 2006.

Life for African Americans in the South Life for African Americans in the South (circa 1950)(circa 1950)

De jure segregation – legal De jure segregation – legal segregation through written lawssegregation through written laws

Jim Crow laws – designed to Jim Crow laws – designed to separate blacks and whitesseparate blacks and whites

PlessyPlessy v. v. FergusonFerguson, 1896 – , 1896 – “separate but equal”“separate but equal”

Segregation of beaches, Segregation of beaches, cemeteries, hospitals, restaurants, cemeteries, hospitals, restaurants, schools, transportation, and moreschools, transportation, and more

Disenfranchised – few could vote – Disenfranchised – few could vote – grandfather clauses, literacy tests, grandfather clauses, literacy tests, poll taxespoll taxes

Montgomery Bus Boycott,Montgomery Bus Boycott,1955-19561955-1956

Rosa Parks was asked to give up her Rosa Parks was asked to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama (December, Montgomery, Alabama (December, 1955)1955)

She refused and was arrestedShe refused and was arrested

Activists from the Montgomery Activists from the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) began Improvement Association (MIA) began a bus boycott that lasted over a yeara bus boycott that lasted over a year

1956 – Supreme Court ruled that 1956 – Supreme Court ruled that segregated buses were segregated buses were unconstitutionalunconstitutional

Rosa Parks BusRosa Parks Bus

EMERGENCE OF THE CIVIL EMERGENCE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTRIGHTS MOVEMENT

Rosa Parks Fingerprinted, Dec. 1955 Rosa Parks Fingerprinted, Dec. 1955 (AP)(AP)

Dr. King arrested for boycotting Dr. King arrested for boycotting the busses, Montgomery, 1956. the busses, Montgomery, 1956. (AP)(AP)

Mass meeting at Holt Street Baptist Church calls Mass meeting at Holt Street Baptist Church calls for a bus boycott, December, 1955.for a bus boycott, December, 1955. (AP)

BrownBrown v. v. Board of EducationBoard of Education, 1954, 1954 Challenged the “separate but equal” Challenged the “separate but equal”

doctrine of doctrine of PlessyPlessy v. v. FergusonFerguson Attorney Thurgood Marshall argued Attorney Thurgood Marshall argued

before Supreme Court led by Chief before Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Earl WarrenJustice Earl Warren

Unanimous decision – “In the field of Unanimous decision – “In the field of public education the doctrine of public education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place.”‘separate but equal’ has no place.”

Brown IIBrown II ruled for school ruled for school desegregation “with all deliberate desegregation “with all deliberate speed”speed”

But strong opposition to decision But strong opposition to decision from whites, and desegregation from whites, and desegregation moved slowlymoved slowly

Southern Christian Leadership Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)Conference (SCLC)

MLK had spoken out in support of MLK had spoken out in support of the Montgomery Bus Boycottthe Montgomery Bus Boycott

SCLC established by Martin Luther SCLC established by Martin Luther King, Jr., and Ralph Abernathy in King, Jr., and Ralph Abernathy in 19571957

Nonviolent protest and resistance Nonviolent protest and resistance based on civil disobedience of based on civil disobedience of Henry David Thoreau and Henry David Thoreau and Mohandas GandhiMohandas Gandhi

Christian-themed organizationChristian-themed organization

Little Rock, Arkansas – 1957Little Rock, Arkansas – 1957

““Little Rock Nine” enrolled at Little Rock Nine” enrolled at Central High SchoolCentral High School

Governor Orval Faubus called out Governor Orval Faubus called out Arkansas National Guard to block Arkansas National Guard to block themthem

Eisenhower sent federal troops Eisenhower sent federal troops who stayed for the whole school who stayed for the whole school yearyear

Full compliance with school Full compliance with school desegregation continued to meet desegregation continued to meet resistance in the South, howeverresistance in the South, however

EMERGENCE OF THE MODERN CIVIL RIGHTS EMERGENCE OF THE MODERN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTMOVEMENT

Central High School, Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock (1957)(1957)

““Little Rock Nine”Little Rock Nine”

Little Rock-white student yelling at Little Rock-white student yelling at Elizabeth Eckford, September 4, Elizabeth Eckford, September 4, 19571957(Wide World)

Central High Central High School students School students gathered on the gathered on the sidewalk in sidewalk in front of the front of the school on school on September 4 to September 4 to watch the watch the reporters, reporters, photographers photographers and the crowd and the crowd gathered to wait gathered to wait for the black for the black students to students to attempt to attempt to enter the enter the school.school.© Craig Rains, 1997

Student Nonviolent Coordinating Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), 1960Committee (SNCC), 1960

African American students African American students invigorated by sit-insinvigorated by sit-ins

Ella Baker organized Easter, 1960, Ella Baker organized Easter, 1960, meeting at North Carolina’s Shaw meeting at North Carolina’s Shaw UniversityUniversity

James Lawson spoke about civil James Lawson spoke about civil rights as a “moral issue”rights as a “moral issue”

SNCC organization created a grass-SNCC organization created a grass-roots movement to end roots movement to end discrimination and segregationdiscrimination and segregation

Freedom Riders, 1961Freedom Riders, 1961

BoyntonBoynton v. v. VirginiaVirginia, 1960 – segregation , 1960 – segregation in interstate transportation in interstate transportation unconstitutionalunconstitutional

Freedom ride on two Greyhound buses Freedom ride on two Greyhound buses going from Washington, D.C., to New going from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans, Louisiana – seven blacks and Orleans, Louisiana – seven blacks and six whitessix whites

One bus firebombed in Anniston, One bus firebombed in Anniston, AlabamaAlabama

Other bus attacked by a mob in Other bus attacked by a mob in Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama

U.S. marshals sent in when bus U.S. marshals sent in when bus reached Montgomery, Alabamareached Montgomery, Alabama

Riders arrested in Jackson, MississippiRiders arrested in Jackson, Mississippi Hundreds more were inspired and Hundreds more were inspired and

joined the freedom ridesjoined the freedom rides

CIVIL RIGHTS in the 1960sCIVIL RIGHTS in the 1960s

““Freedom Rides” Freedom Rides” (1961)(1961)

Congress of Racial Congress of Racial Equality Equality (CORE)(CORE)

““Ole Miss” Integrated, 1962Ole Miss” Integrated, 1962Medgar Evers worked to get Air Force Medgar Evers worked to get Air Force veteran James Meredith into the all-veteran James Meredith into the all-white University of Mississippiwhite University of Mississippi

September 30, 1962 – riot sparked by September 30, 1962 – riot sparked by rumors of Meredith’s campus arrival – rumors of Meredith’s campus arrival – 2 killed and 160 injured2 killed and 160 injured

Meredith enrolled, graduating in 1963Meredith enrolled, graduating in 1963

June, 1963 – Medgar Evers June, 1963 – Medgar Evers assassinatedassassinated

1966 – James Meredith shot and 1966 – James Meredith shot and woundedwounded

CIVIL RIGHTS CIVIL RIGHTS in the 1960sin the 1960s

James MeredithJames Meredith (1962)(1962)

Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 1962: Mississippi National Guardsmen detain a student protester on the University of Mississippi campus after James Meredith tried to enroll.Birmingham News, First Published Feb 2006

MLK and SCLC in Birmingham, MLK and SCLC in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963Alabama, 1963

Birmingham considered most segregated Birmingham considered most segregated citycity

City leaders got a ban on SCLC City leaders got a ban on SCLC demonstrationdemonstration

MLK joined demonstration and arrestedMLK joined demonstration and arrested Famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail”Famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Public Safety Commissioner T. Eugene Public Safety Commissioner T. Eugene

“Bull” Connor turned fire hoses and “Bull” Connor turned fire hoses and police dogs on protestors, including kidspolice dogs on protestors, including kids

Nationwide sympathy for demonstrators Nationwide sympathy for demonstrators resulted from national news coverageresulted from national news coverage

CIVIL RIGHTS CIVIL RIGHTS in the 1960sin the 1960s

Birmingham Birmingham desegregation desegregation drivedrive (April-May (April-May 1963)1963)

SCLCSCLC

““Bull” ConnerBull” Conner““Children’s Children’s March”March”

Dogs turned on Birmingham demonstratorsDogs turned on Birmingham demonstrators(Wide World)

March on Washington, 1963March on Washington, 1963

August 28, 1963August 28, 1963

NAACP, SCLC, SNCC, and other groupsNAACP, SCLC, SNCC, and other groups

Over 200,000 peaceful demonstratorsOver 200,000 peaceful demonstrators

MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln MemorialLincoln Memorial

Broadcasted live on national televisionBroadcasted live on national television

CIVIL RIGHTS CIVIL RIGHTS in in the 1960sthe 1960s

March on March on Washington Washington for for Jobs and FreedomJobs and Freedom (1963)(1963)

““I have a dream”I have a dream”

Copyright 2005 Life MagazineCopyright 2005 Life Magazine

Martin Luther King, Jr. at Civil Martin Luther King, Jr. at Civil Rights March on Washington Rights March on Washington D.C., Aug 1963D.C., Aug 1963

CIVIL RIGHTS IN CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE 1960sTHE 1960sGUIDING QUESTIONGUIDING QUESTION How did the goals, strategies, and How did the goals, strategies, and support of the movement for African support of the movement for African American civil rights change during American civil rights change during the 1960s?the 1960s?

Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964

Southern senators tried using a Southern senators tried using a filibuster to block its passage – 80 filibuster to block its passage – 80 days of long speechesdays of long speeches

July, 1964 – became lawJuly, 1964 – became law Established the Equal Employment Established the Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission (EEOC)Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Justice Department could prosecute Justice Department could prosecute

discrimination based on race, color, discrimination based on race, color, sex, or national originsex, or national origin

Outlawed segregation in public Outlawed segregation in public accommodationsaccommodations

Required schools to desegregateRequired schools to desegregate

CIVIL RIGHTS CIVIL RIGHTS in the 1960sin the 1960s

2424thth AmendmentAmendment

Freedom Freedom SummerSummerCivil Civil Rights Act Rights Act of 1964of 1964

LBJ Signing Civil Rights Act of 1964. July 2, LBJ Signing Civil Rights Act of 1964. July 2, 19641964

States using a States using a poll tax in poll tax in 19651965

Freedom Summer, 1964Freedom Summer, 1964

Major voter registration drive in Major voter registration drive in the Souththe South

Despite murders of Chaney, Despite murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner, Goodman, and Schwerner, approximately 1,000 black and approximately 1,000 black and white student volunteers white student volunteers participatedparticipated

Formed Mississippi Freedom Formed Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) because Democratic Party (MFDP) because Democratic Party of Mississippi Democratic Party of Mississippi was 100% whitewas 100% white

Selma March, 1965Selma March, 1965SCLC march in Selma, Alabama, for SCLC march in Selma, Alabama, for voting rights legislationvoting rights legislation

Edmund Pettus Bridge, between Edmund Pettus Bridge, between Montgomery and Selma Montgomery and Selma

““Bloody Sunday” – March 7, 1965Bloody Sunday” – March 7, 1965

Alabama state troopers and others Alabama state troopers and others violently stopped marchersviolently stopped marchers

March 15, 1965 – LBJ spoke for a March 15, 1965 – LBJ spoke for a federal voting rights law on federal voting rights law on national televisionnational television

CIVIL RIGHTS in the 1960sCIVIL RIGHTS in the 1960s

Selma marchSelma marchVoting Rights Act Voting Rights Act (Civil Rights Act of 1965)(Civil Rights Act of 1965)

Impact of Impact of the the Voting Voting Rights Rights Act of Act of 1965 1965

Voting RightsVoting Rights BakerBaker v. v. CarrCarr, 1962 – federal , 1962 – federal

government could have election districts government could have election districts redrawn to halt racial gerrymandering redrawn to halt racial gerrymandering Gerrymandering and 2012Gerrymandering and 2012

ReynoldsReynolds v. v. SimsSims, 1964 – legal principle , 1964 – legal principle of “one person, one vote” via equally-of “one person, one vote” via equally-populated state legislative districtspopulated state legislative districts

Twenty-fourth Amendment, 1964Twenty-fourth Amendment, 1964Outlawed poll taxesOutlawed poll taxes

Voting Rights Act of 1965Voting Rights Act of 1965Outlawed literacy testsOutlawed literacy testsFederal government to oversee elections and Federal government to oversee elections and voter registrationvoter registrationExtended to Hispanics in 1975Extended to Hispanics in 1975

Numbers of African Americans Numbers of African Americans registered to vote and elected to office registered to vote and elected to office multipliedmultiplied

March 25, 1965: Mississippi Highway Patrolmen watch March 25, 1965: Mississippi Highway Patrolmen watch marchers arrive in Montgomery from Selma.marchers arrive in Montgomery from Selma. Birmingham NewsBirmingham News, First Published Feb 2006, First Published Feb 2006 Copyright, The Birmingham News, 2006.

Race RiotsRace Riots Watts, Los Angeles, California – August, 1965Watts, Los Angeles, California – August, 1965

Long-term causes – poverty, discrimination, and police brutalityLong-term causes – poverty, discrimination, and police brutalityImmediate cause – African American pulled over – his brother Immediate cause – African American pulled over – his brother wanted to drive car home but police officer called impound lot – wanted to drive car home but police officer called impound lot – brother and mother arrested during argument – crowd gatheredbrother and mother arrested during argument – crowd gatheredSeveral days of arson and lootingSeveral days of arson and lootingNational Guard called in to restore orderNational Guard called in to restore order35 dead and over 1,000 wounded35 dead and over 1,000 wounded

Newark, New Jersey – July,1967Newark, New Jersey – July,1967Long-term causes – Italian-Americans dominated local politics Long-term causes – Italian-Americans dominated local politics despite a large black population – blacks also suffered from despite a large black population – blacks also suffered from poverty, poor housing, discrimination, and police brutalitypoverty, poor housing, discrimination, and police brutalityImmediate cause – incapacitated African American seen being Immediate cause – incapacitated African American seen being taken to police station and rumors spread that he’d been killed taken to police station and rumors spread that he’d been killed while in police custodywhile in police custody26 dead and hundreds wounded26 dead and hundreds wounded

Detroit, Michigan – July, 1967Detroit, Michigan – July, 1967Long-term causes – police brutality, poverty, and poor housingLong-term causes – police brutality, poverty, and poor housingImmediate cause – police raid on a blind pig (speakeasy)Immediate cause – police raid on a blind pig (speakeasy)$50 million in property damage$50 million in property damage43 deaths and hundreds of injuries43 deaths and hundreds of injuries

Malcolm XMalcolm X Honors student who ended up in jailHonors student who ended up in jail Converted to Nation of Islam while in Converted to Nation of Islam while in

prisonprison XX replaced his “slave name,” replaced his “slave name,” LittleLittle Initially advocated separation of Initially advocated separation of

racesraces 1964 – broke away from Nation of 1964 – broke away from Nation of

Islam, formed own group, and went Islam, formed own group, and went on hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)on hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

Trip to Mecca, where he saw all races Trip to Mecca, where he saw all races praying together, convinced him that praying together, convinced him that Islam transcended raceIslam transcended race

1965 – assassinated by members of 1965 – assassinated by members of the Nation of Islamthe Nation of Islam

Black Power, 1966Black Power, 1966 ““March Against Fear” voter March Against Fear” voter

registration drive in Mississippiregistration drive in Mississippi

James Meredith shot and woundedJames Meredith shot and wounded

Stokely Carmichael (later known as Stokely Carmichael (later known as Kwame Toure) and others arrested in Kwame Toure) and others arrested in Greenwood, MississippiGreenwood, Mississippi

Carmichael coined term “black Carmichael coined term “black power” in a speech after his release power” in a speech after his release – he later coined the term – he later coined the term “institutional racism”“institutional racism”

Many whites felt threatened Black Many whites felt threatened Black Power MovementPower Movement

CIVIL RIGHTS in the 1960sCIVIL RIGHTS in the 1960s

Watts riots Watts riots (1965)(1965)

de jurede jure andand de de factofacto segregation segregation

““Black Power”Black Power”

Black Panther PartyBlack Panther Party

Black MuslimsBlack Muslims

Malcolm XMalcolm X

Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm XJr., and Malcolm X

Race Riot in Watts, 1965Race Riot in Watts, 1965

Black Panthers, 1966Black Panthers, 1966 Formed by Bobby Seale and Huey Formed by Bobby Seale and Huey

Newton in Oakland, CaliforniaNewton in Oakland, California Retaliated against police brutality by Retaliated against police brutality by

organizing armed patrols of black organizing armed patrols of black neighborhoodsneighborhoods

Socialist doctrine – “Ten Point” Socialist doctrine – “Ten Point” program included calls for “Land, program included calls for “Land, Bread, Housing, Education, Clothing, Bread, Housing, Education, Clothing, Justice and Peace”Justice and Peace”

Started urban poverty programs (e.g., Started urban poverty programs (e.g., free breakfasts for kids)free breakfasts for kids)

J.Edgar Hoover called them “the J.Edgar Hoover called them “the greatest threat to the internal security greatest threat to the internal security of the country” and used numerous of the country” and used numerous unlawful methods to destroy the groupunlawful methods to destroy the group

Assassination of MLK, 1968Assassination of MLK, 1968

April 4, 1968, in Memphis, TennesseeApril 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee

Shot on balcony of Lorraine Motel Shot on balcony of Lorraine Motel (now the Civil Rights Museum)(now the Civil Rights Museum)

Killed by James Earl Ray, an ex-Killed by James Earl Ray, an ex-convictconvict

Riots erupted nationwide King Riots erupted nationwide King Broadcast and RiotsBroadcast and Riots

Fair Housing Act, 1968Fair Housing Act, 1968 Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968

Outlawed housing discrimination based on race, Outlawed housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, and national origincolor, religion, and national origin1974 – added sex to list of protected classes1974 – added sex to list of protected classes1988 – disability and familial status added1988 – disability and familial status addedState and local governments (not federal) have, State and local governments (not federal) have, in some areas, broadened their laws to end in some areas, broadened their laws to end housing discrimination based on sexual housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, etc.orientation, gender identity, etc.

United States Department of Housing and United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) oversees its Urban Development (HUD) oversees its enforcementenforcement

For example:For example:You cannot be denied housing because you have You cannot be denied housing because you have a child, or even a lot of children.a child, or even a lot of children.You cannot be denied housing because of your You cannot be denied housing because of your race or sex.race or sex.You cannot be denied housing because of a You cannot be denied housing because of a disability.disability.

Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action

Designed to correct racial imbalances in Designed to correct racial imbalances in education, employment, etc.education, employment, etc.

Begun under Kennedy and JohnsonBegun under Kennedy and Johnson

Revised Philadelphia Plan, 1969 – under Revised Philadelphia Plan, 1969 – under Nixon, affirmative action required for all Nixon, affirmative action required for all federally-funded projectsfederally-funded projects

Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – affirmative action for all federal 1973 – affirmative action for all federal government positions (civil service government positions (civil service jobs)jobs)

Controversial – many considered it to Controversial – many considered it to be reverse discriminationbe reverse discrimination

CIVIL CIVIL RIGHTS in RIGHTS in the 1960sthe 1960s

““long hot summers”long hot summers”assassination of MLK assassination of MLK (April (April 1968)1968)

““affirmative action”/quotasaffirmative action”/quotasRegents v. BakkeRegents v. Bakke (1978)(1978)

Hosea Williams, Hosea Williams, Jesse Jackson, MLK Jesse Jackson, MLK & Ralph Abernathy & Ralph Abernathy April 3, 1968, the April 3, 1968, the day before MLK’s day before MLK’s assassination assassination

Race Riots 1965-1968Race Riots 1965-1968