Civil Rights Movements of the 1950s and 1960s

Vocab….define in notebooks/table groups Civil disobedience Non-violence Protest Justice

Non-Violence Vocab “Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government. Could be violent or non violent. “Non-violence is the personal practice of being harmless to self and others under every condition. Refers to a general philosophy of abstention from violence based on moral, religious or spiritual principles.” “A protest is an expression of a desire/belief cause by words or actions with regard to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations.” “Justice is the quality of being just; righteous, equitable and moral.” All definition from Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Non-Violence Beliefs (from reading) The Universe is on the side of justice…so non-violence is the best path. Retailiation with bitterness and hate does nothing but increase the bitterness and hate Using mind and emotion (instead of physical presence) to persuade the opponant. Talk it out. Christian backing – MLK was a reverend - the belief that God is on the side of truth and justice. ”Rise to the position of loving the person who does the evil to you” Understanding good will, understanding the inherent good in everyone

Black Power Vocab – in notebooks/groups Militant Power Self-Determination

Black Power Vocab – in notebooks/groups Being militant is being “combative and aggressive in support of a political or social cause, and typically favoring extreme, violent, or confrontational methods.” “Power is the possession of control, authority or influence over others” “Self-Determination is the process by which a person (or group of people) controls their own life and destiny.”

Black Power Movement Black Power “emphasizes racial pride and the creation of black political and cultural institutions to nurture and promote black collective interests and advance black values.” Led by Stokely Carmichael, leader of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Black Power, “is a call for black people in this country to unite, to recognize their heritage, to build a sense of community. It is a call for black people to define their own goals, to lead their own organizations.” Stokely Carmichael

Dr. King’s Thoughts on Black Power… In the final analysis the weakness of Black Power is its failure to see that the black man needs the white man and the white man needs the black man. However much we may try to romanticize the slogan, there is no separate black path to power and fulfillment that does not intersect white paths, and there is no separate white path to power and fulfillment, short of social disaster, that does not share that power with black aspirations for freedom and human dignity. We are bound together in a single garment of destiny. The language, the cultural patterns, the music, the material prosperity, and even the food of America are an amalgam of black and white.

End of Life Stokely Carmichael left the US in the late 1960s for Africa, where he changed his name to Kwame Ture, to honor African leaders he admired. He, like many Civil Rights leaders was under constant surveillance by the CIA and FBI both home and abroad. Died in 1998 of prostate cancer. He believed that the FBI had infected him with cancer as an assassination attempt for his radical beliefs.

Black Panther Party – Founded 10/16/66 Originally called the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. Revolutionary organization with a practice of arming citizens and challenging police brutality against African Americans, particularly in Oakland, CA. Founded (in part) / Led by Bobby Seale and Huey Newton.

Black Panther Party Over time a focus on social issues also become part of the BPP mission – free/reduced lunch a major accomplishment. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover called the BPP, “the greatest threat to the internal security of the country.” EXTENSIVE program of surveillance, harassment, infiltration toward the BPP.

End of the BPP – Dissolution in 1982 Controversial history – seen as extremely influential and extremely divisive/criminal. By the early 80s, fighting amongst BPP leaders, rumors of criminal activity, and increased vilification in the public, decreased party numbers significantly. Dissolved in 1982.

Phase 1: Malcolm Little Father lynched, mother sent to mental institution. Dropped out after a white eighth-grade teacher told him that his aspirations of being a lawyer were "no realistic goal for a n***."

Phase 2: Detroit Red Moved to Harlem where he began dealing drugs and pimping. Required to register for the draft board, but then military physicians classified him as "mentally disqualified for military service”. Went to jail for breaking and entering – 6 years in prison

Phase 3: Malcolm X Converted to Islam in prison New name (X) replaced the name he said a white “blue-eyed devil named Little had imposed upon my paternal forebears”

Nation of Islam Believed in black self-reliance and unification. White people are “the devil’s people” and their demise is imminent Black people are the original race of the world and are superior

Phase 4: El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz Took a pilgrimage to Mecca and came back with a new name and outlook – Islam could be a way for all races to unite. Started the Organization of Afro- American Unity – driven by black nationalism. Black Americans should be proud of their heritage and should fight for human rights for all Black citizen.

Murdered – February 1965 After break with nation of Islam, received death threats from its leadership and members Killed during a speech for Afro American unity in Harlem. Shot 21 times – all three assassins were convicted and 2/3 are now out on parole.

MLK on Malcolm X’s death “While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had a great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem. He was an eloquent spokesman for his point of view and no one can honestly doubt that Malcolm had a great concern for the problems that we face as a race.”