Civil Rights

Laws that were passed Laws that were passed Civil Rights Act of 1957 Civil Rights Act of 1957 –Protected the rights of African American to vote Civil Rights Act of 1964 Civil Rights Act of 1964 –Passed as a result of the Birmingham violence –March on Washington took place in support of the Act –Prevented racial discrimination  Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Civil Rights 24 th Amendment 24 th Amendment –Ended poll taxes Voting Rights Act of 1965 Voting Rights Act of 1965 –Federal examiners ran local elections –Literacy tests suspended –250,000 African American voters registered by the end of the year

Civil Rights Still problems for African Americans even with all of the Civil Rights laws passing Still problems for African Americans even with all of the Civil Rights laws passing –70% of all African Americans lived in major cities  Many of them living in poverty in the inner city Many saw gains from civil rights movement, but their own circumstances did not change Many saw gains from civil rights movement, but their own circumstances did not change –Racism still existed  Riots after laws were made

Civil Rights Kerner Commission Kerner Commission –Studied cause of urban riots and sought a plan to prevent them in the future  Found racism to be cause –Created plan to create better conditions for inner cities –Johnson did not approve  Money tied up in other places- Vietnam

Civil Rights Economic Rights Economic Rights –Many African Americans upset with MLK because he was not helping economic conditions –Chicago Movement  Called attention to Chicago slums and poor economic conditions  Very little was changed

Civil Rights Black Power Black Power –Chicago showed that nonviolent protests did not accomplish what was necessary  Many African Americans turned away from King –Many organizations became more assertive and wanted to be separate from whites  SNCC and CORE removed all white leaders from their organization

Civil Rights Black Power Black Power –Stressed pride in African American Culture –Wanted racial separation rather than cultural assimilation  Idea became very popular –MLK criticized it and called it hopeless and full of despair

Civil Rights Malcolm X Malcolm X –Became symbol of Black Power –Part of Nation of Islam, or Black Muslims  Not the same as mainstream Muslims –Believed African Americans should separate themselves from whites –Nation of Islam became their own self run organization

Civil Rights Malcolm X Malcolm X –Helped make Nation of Islam popular through speeches –In 1964 he broke with Nation of Islam  Scandals with leader –Went to Mecca to worship  Found that all races were worshipping together and were peaceful  Had new belief on race relations

Civil Rights Malcolm X Malcolm X –After returning home he criticized the Nation of Islam and Elijah Muhammad  Three members shot and killed him during a speech in New York –Mainly remembered for his speeches and ideas before he left Nation of Islam

Civil Rights Black Panthers Black Panthers –Considered themselves the heirs of Malcolm X  Beliefs based on his words –Urged African Americans to arm themselves and confront white society –Ten Point program  Black empowerment, end to racial oppression, control of major institutions in African American communities

Civil Rights Black Power had angered many supporters of Civil Rights Movement Black Power had angered many supporters of Civil Rights Movement –Made it unlikely that new laws would get passed MLK went to Memphis to campaign for more economic rights and another march on Washington MLK went to Memphis to campaign for more economic rights and another march on Washington MLK was assassinated while speaking on his hotel balcony MLK was assassinated while speaking on his hotel balcony

Civil Rights Ralph Abernathy took over for MLK, however it was not the same Ralph Abernathy took over for MLK, however it was not the same –Congress still passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which gave better housing and less discrimination in getting a house Civil Rights Movement still continued, but it did not have the same following or effectiveness without MLK Civil Rights Movement still continued, but it did not have the same following or effectiveness without MLK