Chapter 29: Civil Rights

The Segregation System 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling: “separate but equal” 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling: “separate but equal” Many states pass Jim Crow laws separating the races (public facilities) Many states pass Jim Crow laws separating the races (public facilities)

Challenging Segregation in the Courts (1950’s) NAACP challenges Jim Crow Laws NAACP challenges Jim Crow Laws Focused on segregated public education Focused on segregated public education Places team of law students under Places team of law students under Thurgood Marshall - wins 29 out of 32 cases argued before Supreme Court - wins 29 out of 32 cases argued before Supreme Court 1 st African-American on Supreme Court

Brown v. Board of Education Marshall’s greatest victory is Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Marshall’s greatest victory is Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka In 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously strikes down school segregation In 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously strikes down school segregation

Reaction to the Brown Decision Within 1 year, over 500 school districts desegregate Within 1 year, over 500 school districts desegregate White Citizens Councils boycotts businesses that support desegregation --- KKK reappears White Citizens Councils boycotts businesses that support desegregation --- KKK reappears Court hands Brown II, orders the acceleration of desegregation Court hands Brown II, orders the acceleration of desegregation Eisenhower refuses to enforce compliance; considers it impossible Eisenhower refuses to enforce compliance; considers it impossible

Crisis in Little Rock Gov. Orval Faubus has National Guard turn away black students at Little Rock High School Gov. Orval Faubus has National Guard turn away black students at Little Rock High School Elizabeth Eckford faces abusive crowd when she tries to enter school Elizabeth Eckford faces abusive crowd when she tries to enter school Eisenhower has National Guard paratroopers supervise school attendance Eisenhower has National Guard paratroopers supervise school attendance

Little Rock, Arkansas

The Montgomery Bus Boycott 1955 NAACP officer Rosa Parks arrested for not giving up seat on bus 1955 NAACP officer Rosa Parks arrested for not giving up seat on bus Black citizens organize bus boycott and eventually win Black citizens organize bus boycott and eventually win 1956 – Supreme Court outlaws bus segregation 1956 – Supreme Court outlaws bus segregation

Martin Luther King & The SCLC King calls his brand of nonviolent resistance “soul force” King calls his brand of nonviolent resistance “soul force” - civil disobedience, massive demonstrations - civil disobedience, massive demonstrations -Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) - Join Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) - Join Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

SNCC and Sit-Ins - Influenced by Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) to use sit-ins (lunch counter) First sit-in at Greensboro, NC  Woolworth’s on TV (Feb. 1960) First sit-in at Greensboro, NC  Woolworth’s on TV (Feb. 1960) - Students were beaten, food thrown at them but refused to strike back Late 1960, lunch counters desegregated in 48 cities in 11 states Late 1960, lunch counters desegregated in 48 cities in 11 states

Freedom Riders 1961, CORE tests Court decision banning interstate bus segregation 1961, CORE tests Court decision banning interstate bus segregation Freedom riders—blacks, whites sit, use station facilities together Freedom riders—blacks, whites sit, use station facilities together Riders brutally beaten by Alabama mobs; one bus firebombed Riders brutally beaten by Alabama mobs; one bus firebombed

Arrival of Federal Marshalls Alabama officials didn’t protect riders from mobs Alabama officials didn’t protect riders from mobs Newspapers throughout nation denounce beatings Newspapers throughout nation denounce beatings JFK sends 400 U.S. marshals to protect riders JFK sends 400 U.S. marshals to protect riders Interstate Commerce Commission Act: Interstate Commerce Commission Act: - ban segregation in all interstate travel facilities - ban segregation in all interstate travel facilities

Integrating Ole Miss University 1962, federal court rules James Meredith may enroll at U of Mississippi 1962, federal court rules James Meredith may enroll at U of Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett refuses to let Meredith register Governor Ross Barnett refuses to let Meredith register JFK orders federal marshals to escort Meredith to registrar’s office JFK orders federal marshals to escort Meredith to registrar’s office Federal officials accompany Meredith to classes, protect his parents Federal officials accompany Meredith to classes, protect his parents

Kennedy Takes a Stand June 1963, JFK sends troops to force Gov. Wallace to desegregate University of Alabama June 1963, JFK sends troops to force Gov. Wallace to desegregate University of Alabama 3 Civil Rights Workers killed in Mississippi  “Mississippi Burning” 3 Civil Rights Workers killed in Mississippi  “Mississippi Burning”

Marching to Washington August 1963, over 250,000 people converge on Washington August 1963, over 250,000 people converge on Washington Speakers demand immediate passage of civil rights bill Speakers demand immediate passage of civil rights bill King gives “I Have a Dream” speech King gives “I Have a Dream” speech

Church Bombing September 1963, 4 Birmingham girls killed when a bomb is thrown into church. September 1963, 4 Birmingham girls killed when a bomb is thrown into church. The person who threw the bomb was never caught. The person who threw the bomb was never caught.

The Selma Campaign 1965, Movement to register black voters in Selma, Alabama 1965, Movement to register black voters in Selma, Alabama King leads 600 protest marchers; TV shows police violently stop them King leads 600 protest marchers; TV shows police violently stop them Second march, with federal protection, swells to 25,000 people Second march, with federal protection, swells to 25,000 people

Malcolm X Member of the Nation of Islam, Black Muslims, advocate blacks separate from whites Member of the Nation of Islam, Black Muslims, advocate blacks separate from whites - believed whites were the source of black problems - believed whites were the source of black problems Malcolm X - controversial Muslim leader, speaker; gets much publicity

Ballots or Bullets? Pilgrimage to Mecca changes Malcolm X’s attitude toward whites (he becomes a Sunni Muslim) Pilgrimage to Mecca changes Malcolm X’s attitude toward whites (he becomes a Sunni Muslim) Splits with Black Muslims; is killed in 1965 while giving speech Splits with Black Muslims; is killed in 1965 while giving speech

Black Power CORE, SNCC become more militant; SCLC pursues traditional tactics CORE, SNCC become more militant; SCLC pursues traditional tactics Stokely Carmichael, head of SNCC, calls for Black Power: Stokely Carmichael, head of SNCC, calls for Black Power: - African Americans control own lives, communities, without whites - African Americans control own lives, communities, without whites Tommy Smith & John Carlos

Black Panthers Black Panthers fight police brutality, want black self-sufficiency Black Panthers fight police brutality, want black self-sufficiency Preach ideas of Mao Zedong; have violent confrontations with police Preach ideas of Mao Zedong; have violent confrontations with police Provide social services in ghettos, win popular support Provide social services in ghettos, win popular support

Civil Rights Legislation Civil Rights Act of prohibits discrimination because of race, religion, gender - prohibits discrimination because of race, religion, gender Voting Rights Act of increases black vote in South Civil Rights Act of 1968 Prohibits discrimination in housing More black students finish high school, college; get better jobs Greater pride in racial identity leads to Black Studies programs