Civil Rights notes Chapter 29 We Shall Overcome Civil Rights notes Chapter 29

Background WWII & new consumer culture of 1950’s left out African Americans African Americans began to resist suppression of blacks in mainstream America 1947—President Truman desegregates armed forces April 1947—Jackie Robinson becomes 1st modern black pro baseball player for Brooklyn Dodgers

Killing Jim Crow Challenging Plessy v. Ferguson Thurgood Marshall, NAACP argued “separate but equal” was unrealistic in schools Gaines v. Canada [Univ. of Missouri] (1938) Student sues to be admitted to law school…only one in state Supreme Court says let him in or open separate law school

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) Little Rock Nine Girl sues seeking to go to white school four blocks from house instead of black school 21 blocks away Supreme Court rules that 14th amendment is violated 21 states must desegregate public schools Little Rock Nine Ark. Gov. Orval Faubus orders national guard troops to not allow 9 black students from attending Central High Eisenhower nationalized guard & forcibly desegregated Central HS

Montgomery, AL—Starting the Movement NAACP seeks to desegregate bus system under Brown decision Group seeks test case in form of Rosa Parks (12/1/55) Parks arrested for not giving up her seat Reaction led to boycott organized by NAACP & Martin Luther King Jr. Led to lawsuit & 381 day boycott

MLK Twenty-six year old Baptist pastor Based philosophy of nonviolent protests on Christian principles, Henry Thoreau’s civil disobedience, & Ghandi’s mass demonstrations in India Created Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Grassroot African American group organized to protest segregation in South

Living the Dream Organizations for change Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Formed by students to protest lack of desegregation in schools across South Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Great Depression group establishes practice of sit-ins at lunch counters Nationally televised protests shifted public opinion on Jim Crow

Freedom Riders (Summer 1961) Violent protests of blacks traveling through South led to public outcry for federal protection of civil rights Birmingham (April 1963) Mass nonviolent protests led by MLK in heart of public segregation south Chief Bull Connor’s crowd control of tear gas & water cannon on children on TV sparked national movement for federal civil rights legislation

Washington (August 1963) Freedom Summer (1964) 275,000 march to support Kennedy civil rights bill MLK’s “I have a dream” speech…leads to Civil Rights Act 1964 Freedom Summer (1964) SNCC registers African Americans to vote (three white members murdered) Led to Voting Rights act of 1965…eliminates literacy tests

The Dream Dies Splintering of movement leads to disorganization and violence Northern African Americans grew disillusioned at lack of reforms in cities De facto segregation (segregation not in law but by practice) harder to eliminate that De jure (segregation by law) LA, Chicago, Detroit & Washington DC riots led to 34 deaths

Black leaders grow frustrated at lack of speed in reforms Malcolm X & Nation of Islam argued that blacks should separate not integrate into white America through black pride Stokely Carmichael (fmr. SNCC chairman) creates “black power” movement Black Panthers—ghetto political group followed Mao Zedong’s teachings & sparked fears of black militants & violence Advocated plan not to draft blacks in Army citing disproportional percentages in Vietnam

MLK Assassinated April 3, 1968 Led to largest urban violence nationally in US history Most white support for civil rights waned in wake of riots

The Legacy African Americans made huge advances between 1954-1968 Official segregation ended Universal suffrage achieved African Americans entered pop culture (music, movies, television) Problems/issues remained Economic disparity with white America Unofficial barriers (education, corporate jobs, etc.)

I Have a Dream Speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk