1. Chapter 28 Section 1 The Civil Rights Movement Riddlebarger
Fighting Segregation
Chapter 28
Section 1
The Civil Rights Movement
Riddlebarger

2. What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore-
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over-
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
-Langston Hughes, “Lenox Avenue Mural”

3. What are civil rights?
The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

4. The Civil Rights Movement Before 1954
Began with opposition to slavery in colonial days
Abolitionist movement
Post-Reconstruction brings legalized racism back
14th Amendment:
“Equal protection under the laws”
1896: Plessy v. Ferguson ruling establishes “separate but equal”
Courts allow for legalized segregation
W.E.B. DuBois and others form NAACP in early 1900’s to battle for racial equality

5. 1940’s: Decade of Progress
A. Philip Randolph forces a federal ban on discrimination in defense-related work.
Founding of CORE- Congress of Racial Equality
Dedicated to non-violent protest
Desegregation of military
Integration of baseball
Jackie Robinson breaks
the color barrier in baseball.

6. Seeking Change in the Courts
NAACP focuses on attacking racism through the courts
1930’s: began attacking “separate but equal”.
Focuses on segregation in education
Charles Hamilton Houston and Thurgood Marshall, NAACP lawyers, begin to chip away at Plessy case.

7. Segregation prior to Brown
wikipedia

8. Brown vs. Board of Education
1950’s: Thurgood Marshall & NAACP focus on segregation of elementary & high schools
African-American schools almost always inferior to white schools
Brown v. Topeka Board of Education- Supreme Court rules that segregated schools violates Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.
14th Amendment guaranteed equal protection under the law
School segregation declared illegal

9. Chief Justice Earl Warren
“Education is perhaps the most important function of local and state governments…It is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity…is a right that must be made available to all on equal terms…Does segregation of children in schools solely on the basis of race…deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe it does.”
Chief Justice Earl Warren

10. After Brown decision
At the time of Brown, 21 states had schools that were segregated by law
Court ruling in Brown declared segregation in schools illegal but gave no guidance on how or when to desegregate.
Some states move quickly to integrate
Others show strong opposition
Virginia Senator organizes “massive resistance” to block integration.
Va. Legislaure passes laws forcing closure of schools that integrate

11. The Little Rock Crisis
1957: Governor Orval Faubus violates Federal court order to integrate Little Rock Central High School
Claims extremists threaten violence and that there will be “blood in the streets”
Faubus orders Arkansas National Guard to keep black students out of Central High.

12. Little Rock Nine
Sept. 4, 1957: A crowd of angry whites harass black students as they arrive for 1st day.
Soldiers turn them away as they reach the door
For 3 weeks, Guard keeps out Little Rock Nine
Pres. Eisenhower tries to persuade Faubus to change his mind.

13. Elizabeth Eckford

14. Federal Intervention
Sept. 24: Eisenhower orders Federal troops to end the stand-off.
Little Rock nine enters the school the next day.
They endure great abuse the rest of the year.

16. A Boycott in Montgomery, Alabama
Brown decision has enormous impact upon society.
While only directly impacting schools, most other aspects of Southern society remain segregated.
Many will now work to change that- beginning with the bus system of Montgomery, Alabama.

17. The Montgomery Bus System
Bus system of Montgomery, Alabama is segregated
Blacks had to enter back of bus and sit in rear
Must give up seat to whites if front fills up
Blacks account for 2/3 of bus riders

18. Rosa Parks
1955: Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus.
She’s arrested
NAACP recognizes opportunity her arrest presented.

19. Montgomery Bus Boycott
NAACP calls for bus boycott in Montgomery.
1st day: 90% of blacks don’t ride
Causes hardships as many depend on bus for transportation
Police harass blacks who take part

20. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Local Minister, Martin Luther King, Jr. is chosen to lead boycott
King and other leaders become targets of violent threats.
Supreme Court rules that bus segregation is unconstitutional.

21. Birth of SCLC Success of Montgmery boycott inspires others elsewhere.
Several groups join together to form Southern Chrisitian Leadership Conference, or SCLC
King is elected leader
Committed to mass, nonviolent action.