The Civil Rights Movement After 1965

Before 1965… For the most part, Civil Rights Movement was united  Common goals of ending de jure segregation and protecting black voting rights in the South.  United behind non-violent protest Civil Rights Movement attracted a lot of national media attention  Kept movement in the news and spread ideas  Gained a lot of national sympathy and support

1965 Voting Rights Act of 1965 is passed by Congress protecting the right to vote for African-Americans De jure segregation and voting rights issues have been tackled. Now what?  Poverty?  Housing discrimination?  Living conditions in cities?  Job opportunities/discrimination?  Stay in South or move North?  De facto segregation?

The Movement Splits After 1965, the Civil Rights Movement splits:  Different groups had different objectives Some wanted to continue in the South, while others wanted to protest in the North SCLC and SNCC and other groups began to disagree on objectives  Different groups had different strategies Non-violence Militancy

Segregation in 1965 De jure segregation was virtually non- existent in the U.S. after 1965 De facto segregation was still common in both the North and South  “White flight” to the suburbs  More difficult to change because you have to change people’s attitudes and thinking instead of repealing laws

Living Conditions For Many African-Americans Many African-Americans across the nation still working in lower paying jobs  Result of years of discrimination and racism  Poor educational opportunities  Unemployment rate was twice as high as the rate of white workers  Led to a lack of economic power and poverty “White flight” to suburbs  African-Americans left in city neighborhoods  Neighborhoods were aging and decaying  Economic circumstances also made it difficult for African-Americans to reverse this decay

Northern Cities Landlords often did not comply with housing and health standards  Often charged inflated rent prices Schools in these neighborhoods were often deteriorating as well Lack of opportunity, poverty, and lack of change in the North causing mounting frustration

Urban Riots Clashes between black civilians and police  African-Americans felt police were unfairly targeting them 1964 and 1965, clashes with police escalated into rioting  1965 Watts Riot left 34 dead and millions in damage Many whites, who supported the movement, losing interested and some are angry  Violence alienated some whites  Some whites thought movement was over with the segregation/voting rights victories

Civil Rights Movement Breaks Apart Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. continued to advocate non-violence  Still had the largest following among the Civil Rights activists  Most accepted by government officials and most whites Many are losing patience with Dr. King  Not seeing the same results as before 1965  Frustration is mounting  Many wanted to try something else

Malcolm X Born Malcolm Little  Long criminal record  Converted to Islam while in jail  Changed name to Malcolm X, dropping his “slave name” Becomes minister for Nation of Islam

Malcolm X Continued Taught that blacks should separate from white society  “If you think we are here to tell you to love the white man, you have come to the wrong place”  Advocated armed self- defense against white attacks

Effect of Malcolm X Inspired many young, frustrated African-Americans  Stress in racial pride  Critical of Dr. King Reference to violence scared many whites

Change in Malcolm X Broke from Nation of Islam in 1964 over strategy Made trip to Mecca  Religious center of Islamic faith  Saw whites and blacks living equally  Changes his philosophy  “Ballots or Bullets”: Use the ballot to change things before using a bullet

Assassination of Malcolm X 1965: Malcolm X goes to Harlem to give a speech Malcolm X is shot and killed

James Meredith Injured 1966: James Meredith is shot while on a protest march  Members of SCLC, CORE and SNCC finish his march  SCLC begins singing “We Shall Overcome” on March  SNCC and CORE begin singing “We Shall Overrun”

SNCC Becomes More Militant Stokely Carmichael of SNCC is arrested for setting up a tent on public property  He later arrived at a rally, obviously beaten  Crowd very angry

Carmichael’s Speech Carmichael gave speech critical of lack of movement in Civil Rights movement Used phrase “Black Power”  Call for black people to define their own goals and lead their own organizations  Urged black pride  Urged SNCC to stop recruiting whites

SNCC Breaks with MLK Dr. King asked SNCC to stop using Black Power slogan  Sounded too militant and violent  SNCC refused  Young students in SNCC becoming more militant

Black Panthers Political party founded in Oakland by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale  Fight police brutality in ghettos of Oakland  Preached self-defense  Advocated black communities become self-sufficient (Black Power)  Wanted full employment for blacks  Wanted decent housing for blacks

Black Panthers in Community Black Panthers dressed in all black Violent episodes between Panther and police hurt image in mainstream media Set up daycare centers, breakfast programs and medical clinics to help those in the ghettos  Won support of many young and impoverished African-Americans  Reference to violence and arrests hurt image in mainstream

Martin Luther King, 1968 Dr. King in Memphis to help support a strike amongst garbage workers King assassinated by James Earl Ray His death sparked riots across the country Civil Rights movement further splinters  De Facto leader was killed

The Role of the Media Civil Rights groups used the media to inform Americans of fight in the South before : Start of Vietnam War  Media now covering the war  Not as much coverage of Civil Rights Movement  Lack of coverage hurt movement