Civil Rights

Segregation Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Supreme Court ruled “Jim Crow” segregation laws were legal, “separate but equal”. South = Democrats support segregation North = Republicans tend to oppose 1920s & 30s Black migration north - looking for work. Benefitted from New Deal programs Black Democrats in north oppose segregation.

Brown v. Board of Education 1954 Case challenged segregation in schools, Supreme Court ruled “separate was inherently unequal”. Only applied to schools, but threatened segregation altogether.

Rosa Parks 1955 - Arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on Montgomery Bus NAACP paid to represent her in court, challenge law itself. Civil Rights Movement begins.

Civil Rights Act 1957 First federal law on Civil rights since Civil War, guarantee black voter registration. Created federal gov’t agencies to regulate voter registration. Federal gov’t allowed to regulate voting, not states.

Kennedy Northern Democrat, overwhelmingly won black vote in 1960 (thanks to brother Bobby) 1963 Gov. George Wallace blocks black students at Univ. of Alabama Civil Rights advocate Medgar Evers killed next day Kennedy proposes new Civil Rights Bill day after that dead before it passes.

Civil Rights Act 1964 Johnson, skilled Texas politician, uses mourning for JFK to get his bill passed Segregation illegal in public places Equal access to public facilities guaranteed for all Illegal for private employers to discriminate in workplace Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – permanent gov’t agency to monitor discrimination in the workplace.

Voting Rights Act - 1965 Authorized federal gov’t to monitor polls where local officials refused to register black voters, literacy tests illegal.

Civil Disobedience

Montgomery Bus Boycott Year long peaceful protest began day of Rosa Park’s hearing. Martin Luther King Jr. emerges as leader. Martin Luther King Jr.: pastor from Montgomery, studied theology at Boston University and emphasized peaceful protest influenced by Gandhi and Henry David Thoreau.

“The Little Rock 9” Arkansas governor blocked 9 black students at Little Rock high school, Eisenhower sent national guard. First time since Civil War that states challenged Federal law.

Civil Protests Sit-Ins: mostly black college students sat peacefully in white sections of stores, restaurants, theaters, etc… began with 4 black college students in Greensboro, NC S.N.C.C. (Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee) Freedom Riders: teams of black and white college students rode interstate bus system to demonstrate desegregation violations. Violently attacked in Alabama C.O.R.E. (Congress Racial Equality)

Ole Miss Riots Governor Ross Barnett blocked admittance of Air Force Veteran James Merideth at University of Mississippi. Riots broke out and 160 U.S. Marshals wounded JFK sent National Guard to stop riots.

MLK Arrested Led peaceful protests through streets of Birmingham expecting violent reactions. Police released attack dogs and firehoses on protestors upon his release. Events broadcast on national TV.

March on Washington MLK led 200,000 marchers in D.C. to influence support for JFKs Civil Rights Bill Delivered famous “I have a dream” speech.

“Bloody Sunday” 50 mile peaceful march from Selma to Montgomery – culmination of voter rights movement. Marchers beaten on TV while they prayed at the Edmund Pettus Bridge Johnson called for Voter Rights Bill 8 days later.

Urban Unrest Civil Rights leaders became critical of Dr. King by mid 60s Produced new laws, but still racism and urban poverty 1965 70% blacks lived in cities 15% have managerial jobs – 44% for whites Avg. black income is 55% of the avg. white income

Chicago Movement Freedom Summer 1965 Dr. King moved his family to slums of Chicago Peaceful protests met with same violence as in the south Mayor of Chicago agreed to fair rent and mortgages rates Never happened Movement seen as a failure Freedom Summer 1965 Violent events in the Watts section of L.A. triggered race riots in major cities across the country

Black Power Movement emphasized pride and racial distinctiveness, rather than assimilation to white culture. Reaction to Dr. King’s failure in Chicago African clothing, afro hairstyles Many changed their name to identify as black more easily

Nation of Islam Was shot by organization members as a result. Black Muslims believed African Americans should separate from white society into self-reliant communities. Did NOT advocate violence, but did advocate self-defense. Malcolm X: Black Muslim leader after prison conversion changed name to reject white name given to his family during slavery. broke with nation of Islam after a trip to Middle East Felt peace with whites was possible Organization had become too corrupt and violent Was shot by organization members as a result.

Black Panthers: Oakland group called for armed revolution to force whites to give blacks equal rights.

Summer 1968 Series of over 100 protests and riots across America after assassination of Dr. King. Civil Rights Movement as a whole had become too fractured Never recovered from King’s death