The Civil Rights The Civil Rights MovementMovement

1950’s-1960’s1950’s-1960’s

Beginnings of ChangeBeginnings of Change

Until well into the 20Until well into the 20thth century , much of the century , much of the South was segregated, or separated by race. South was segregated, or separated by race.

Although less apparent in the North, African-Although less apparent in the North, African-Americans were generally restricted to poorer Americans were generally restricted to poorer neighborhoods and lower paying jobs.neighborhoods and lower paying jobs.

Until the 1950’s gains in Civil Rights were Until the 1950’s gains in Civil Rights were limited. limited.

Civil Rights MilestonesCivil Rights Milestones

1947:1947: Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson

becomes first African becomes first African American permitted to American permitted to play in major league play in major league baseball. baseball.

This was one sign that This was one sign that public attitudes on public attitudes on segregation were segregation were beginning to change. beginning to change.

Civil Rights MilestonesCivil Rights Milestones

19481948 Executive Order Executive Order

99819981

Truman issues an Truman issues an Executive Order Executive Order banning banning segregation in the segregation in the armed forces. armed forces.

Major Civil Rights Activism & Major Civil Rights Activism & Protests 1954-1965Protests 1954-1965

1954: 1954: Brown v. Board of EducationBrown v. Board of Education

OutcomeOutcome: Supreme Court ruled that : Supreme Court ruled that separate educational facilities for whites separate educational facilities for whites and African Americans are inherently and African Americans are inherently unequal. unequal.

Overturns 1896 Plessy v. FergusonOverturns 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision decision that separate but equal public facilities that separate but equal public facilities were legalwere legal

1957 Little Rock Arkansas1957 Little Rock Arkansas Arkansas Gov. Orval Rubus Arkansas Gov. Orval Rubus

uses National Guard to uses National Guard to block nine black students block nine black students from attending a Little Rock from attending a Little Rock High School; following a High School; following a court order, President court order, President Eisenhower sends in federal Eisenhower sends in federal troops to ensure compliance troops to ensure compliance or that students get into or that students get into school.school.

Elizabeth Eckford 1 of the 9 Elizabeth Eckford 1 of the 9 African-American students African-American students assigned to attend the assigned to attend the white Little Rock High after white Little Rock High after the Brown v. Board the Brown v. Board decision. decision.

1955:The Montgomery Boycott1955:The Montgomery Boycott

In Montgomery, Alabama, an African American seamstress named Rosa Parks In Montgomery, Alabama, an African American seamstress named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man and move to the back of the bus, refused to give up her seat to a white man and move to the back of the bus, as was required by law. as was required by law.

She was arrested and her action inspired a boycott of city’s buses. She was arrested and her action inspired a boycott of city’s buses.

The boycott lasted 381 days. The boycott lasted 381 days.

In the end, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation of public buses was In the end, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation of public buses was illegal. illegal.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King emerged as a leader of the bus boycott Dr. King emerged as a leader of the bus boycott protests. protests.

King had used nonviolent methods of Gandhi & King had used nonviolent methods of Gandhi & Thoreau or civil disobedience. Thoreau or civil disobedience. This means the deliberate breaking of a law to show a This means the deliberate breaking of a law to show a

belief that the law is unjust. belief that the law is unjust. For example, “sit-ins,” boycotts, marches, protestsFor example, “sit-ins,” boycotts, marches, protests

Greensboro: 1960’sGreensboro: 1960’s

Practicing civil disobedience, demonstrators Practicing civil disobedience, demonstrators protested segregated lunch counters and buses. protested segregated lunch counters and buses.

Birmingham, Alabama: 1963Birmingham, Alabama: 1963 It was a KKK stronghold and King described it as It was a KKK stronghold and King described it as

America’s worst city for racism. America’s worst city for racism.

City businessmen actually believed that racism held City businessmen actually believed that racism held back the city but their voices were usually quiet. back the city but their voices were usually quiet.

In recent years, the KKK had castrated an African In recent years, the KKK had castrated an African American; pressured the city to ban a book from American; pressured the city to ban a book from book stores as it contained pictures of black and book stores as it contained pictures of black and white rabbits and wanted black music banned on white rabbits and wanted black music banned on radio stations.radio stations.

Birmingham Alabama: 1963Birmingham Alabama: 1963 In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian

Leadership Committee began a campaign to bring integration to Leadership Committee began a campaign to bring integration to Birmingham. Birmingham.

At this protest march police used dogs and fire hoses to break up At this protest march police used dogs and fire hoses to break up the marchers.the marchers.

More than 2,000 people were arrestedMore than 2,000 people were arrested

One of those jailed was Dr. KingOne of those jailed was Dr. King

Television cameras brought the scenes of violence in Birmingham Television cameras brought the scenes of violence in Birmingham to people across the country which helped build support for the to people across the country which helped build support for the movement. movement.

The protests led to the desegregation of city facilitiesThe protests led to the desegregation of city facilities

1963: Birmingham, Alabama1963: Birmingham, Alabama

The March On Washington: 1963The March On Washington: 1963

The growing civil rights movement moved The growing civil rights movement moved JFK to deliver a televised speech to the JFK to deliver a televised speech to the nation in June, 1963 on the need to nation in June, 1963 on the need to guarantee the civil rights of African guarantee the civil rights of African Americans. Americans.

8 days later he sent the most 8 days later he sent the most comprehensive civil rights bill in the comprehensive civil rights bill in the nation’s history to Congress. nation’s history to Congress.

The March on Washington: 1963The March on Washington: 1963

Civil rights groups organized a huge march Civil rights groups organized a huge march in Washington D.C. in August, 1963. in Washington D.C. in August, 1963.

At the march, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At the march, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I have a dream” delivered his famous “I have a dream” speech.speech.

March on Washington: 1963March on Washington: 1963

In his speech he expressed his hopes for a In his speech he expressed his hopes for a unified America.unified America.

AssassinationsAssassinations

April 1968April 1968 King went to Memphis, Tennessee to King went to Memphis, Tennessee to

support a sanitation workers’ strikesupport a sanitation workers’ strike There he was hot and killed by a white There he was hot and killed by a white

assassin. assassin. The murder of the leading spokesperson The murder of the leading spokesperson

for nonviolence set off new rounds of for nonviolence set off new rounds of rioting in American cities. rioting in American cities.

AssassinationsAssassinations

Just two months after King’s death, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Just two months after King’s death, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, brother of the late President and now a presidential candidate brother of the late President and now a presidential candidate committed to civil rights was assassinated. committed to civil rights was assassinated.

The shock of these deaths and the increasing urban violence The shock of these deaths and the increasing urban violence made the goals of King & the Kennedy’s seem far off to many made the goals of King & the Kennedy’s seem far off to many Americans. Americans.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964The Civil Rights Act of 1964

Passage of this act came just months Passage of this act came just months after the ratification of the Twenty-after the ratification of the Twenty-Fourth Amendment to the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.Constitution.

24rth Amendment abolished the poll tax 24rth Amendment abolished the poll tax in federal elections that many Southern in federal elections that many Southern states had implemented during states had implemented during Reconstruction (1865-1877)Reconstruction (1865-1877)

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. US: 1964Heart of Atlanta Motel v. US: 1964

Racial segregation of private facilities Racial segregation of private facilities engaged in interstate commerce was engaged in interstate commerce was found unconstitutional. found unconstitutional.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965The Voting Rights Act of 1965

Put an end to literacy testsPut an end to literacy tests

Authorized federal examiners to register Authorized federal examiners to register voters in areas suspected of denying voters in areas suspected of denying African American the right to voteAfrican American the right to vote

Directed the attorney general of the U.S. Directed the attorney general of the U.S. to take legal action against states that to take legal action against states that continued to use poll taxes in state continued to use poll taxes in state elections. elections.

FREEDOM SUMMER!FREEDOM SUMMER!

The summer of 1964 was known as The summer of 1964 was known as this for its many demonstrations, this for its many demonstrations, protests, voter registration drives protests, voter registration drives and the March on Washington.and the March on Washington.

Malcolm X: 1960’sMalcolm X: 1960’s Militant Leader for Militant Leader for

African American rightsAfrican American rights

Attracted those Attracted those frustrated by the slow frustrated by the slow pace of the civil rights pace of the civil rights movementmovement

Spoke against Spoke against integration, instead integration, instead promoting black promoting black nationalismnationalism A belief in the separate A belief in the separate

identity & racial unity of identity & racial unity of the African American the African American community.community.

Malcolm X:Malcolm X:

Broke off ties with Broke off ties with the separatist group, the separatist group, the Nation of Islam the Nation of Islam in 1964.in 1964.

Formed his own Formed his own religious religious organization: Muslim organization: Muslim Mosque, Inc.Mosque, Inc.

Pilgrimage to Mecca Pilgrimage to Mecca changed his views changed his views on integration and on integration and violence. violence.

Malcolm XMalcolm X

Malcolm X returned and began to Malcolm X returned and began to work toward a more unified civil work toward a more unified civil rights movement without violence. rights movement without violence.

He made enemies though, and in He made enemies though, and in February 1965, he was assassinated February 1965, he was assassinated at a NYC rally. at a NYC rally.

RIOTSRIOTS

1964 & 19651964 & 1965

Frustration over discrimination in Frustration over discrimination in housing, education and employment housing, education and employment boiled over into riots in NYC, Rochester boiled over into riots in NYC, Rochester and the Watts neighborhood in Los and the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles. Angeles.

Affirmative Action: 1960’sAffirmative Action: 1960’s

This means taking positive steps to This means taking positive steps to eliminate the effects of past discrimination eliminate the effects of past discrimination in hiring. in hiring. Women, African Americans & other minority Women, African Americans & other minority

groupsgroups

In practice, it often meant giving In practice, it often meant giving preference to members of such groups preference to members of such groups when hiring workers or accepting when hiring workers or accepting applicants to schools. applicants to schools.

Affirmative Action: IssueAffirmative Action: Issue

Reverse Discrimination? Reverse Discrimination?

1978 1978 Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

imposed limitations on affirmative action to ensure that imposed limitations on affirmative action to ensure that providing greater opportunities for minorities did not providing greater opportunities for minorities did not come at the expense of the rights of the majority. In other come at the expense of the rights of the majority. In other words, affirmative action was unfair if it lead to reverse words, affirmative action was unfair if it lead to reverse discrimination.discrimination.

Johnson & the Civil Rights Act of Johnson & the Civil Rights Act of 19641964

LBJ signed this act in July, 1964LBJ signed this act in July, 1964

It is the most sweeping civil rights law in It is the most sweeping civil rights law in American history.American history.

The bill called for:The bill called for: Protection of voting rights for all AmericansProtection of voting rights for all Americans Opening of public facilities to people of all racesOpening of public facilities to people of all races A commission to protect job opportunities for all A commission to protect job opportunities for all

AmericansAmericans

Considered a turning point in the struggle for civil rights!Considered a turning point in the struggle for civil rights!