Civil Rights in the United States

Intro  In 1896, a court case, Plessy v. Ferguson established the “separate but equal” precedent that stated that laws segregating (separating) the races were acceptable as long as equal facilities were provided.  Soon, laws that forced segregation (Jim Crow laws) were everywhere in the South. Other places laws were not passed but segregation happened anyway (de facto segregation)  Were the separate facilities really equal?  How did the differences between the white and “colored” facilities show that America had not changed its views on race?

Intro continued  Then as the Great Migration occurred and many moved to the north, blacks were allowed to vote, their political power grew and they began to push for desegregation.  Brown v. Board of Education- A little girl by the name of Linda Brown was not allowed to go to her neighborhood school because she was black. She had to go to a school across town. Her parents sued and in 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was not Constitutional and violated the 14 th Amendment.  "We were there“ "We were there“  What effect might this ruling have had on other places that were segregated?

The Civil Rights Movement finds its leaders….  Montgomery Bus Boycott Rosa Parks decides to challenge segregation on a public bus. Rosa Parks Afterwards, a boycott (refusing to use or buy an item in protest) began Martin Luther King, Jr. was elected to lead the boycott and eventually the movement. Lots of churches were also involved in leadership positions. The boycott takes its toll  Why do you think the boycott was so effective?

Crisis in Little Rock  In 1957, the school board won an order to admit 9 African American students to Central High School, which had 2000 white students. Orval Faubus, the governor of Arkansas, ordered the National Guard to stand guard to prevent the students from going in as a mob joined in. President Eisenhower-ordered the US Army to enforce the court order. Little Rock How would you have felt if you had been one of those nine students?

Challenging Segregation  Sit ins- Promoted non-violence, protests by sitting in places that were normally segregated. Sit In at Woolworth's  Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee Student group led by Marion Berry that promoted non- violence  Why was it important to the leaders of the Civil Rights movement for the protests to remain non- violent?

Martin Luther King, Jr.  Arrested in Birmingham Letter from a Birmingham Jail- promoted non- violent protest  March on Washington- Over 200,000 demonstrators marched on Washington I have a Dream Do you think MLK’s dream has come true?

Civil Rights Legislation  Civil Rights Act of 1957-helped promote the right of African Americans to vote  Civil Rights Act of 1964-made segregation illegal in public places and created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  24 th Amendment- removed poll taxes  Voting Rights Act of 1965-authorized the federal government to register voters.

Issues  Race Riots- including Watts  Black Power movement Stokely Carmichael-blacks could control the social, political, and economical direction of their struggle. Malcolm X-  Joined Nation of Islam which preached Black Nationalism  Wanted to create their own “nation”  Stop Singing, Start Swinging Stop Singing, Start Swinging  In Malcolm X leaves the Nation of Islam, after visiting Mecca (holy site for Muslims)  In Malcolm X is killed

The Assassination of MLK  April 1968 after a speech, Dr. Martin Luther King is shot  Mountaintop Speech Part 1 Mountaintop Speech Part 1  Mountaintop Part 2 Mountaintop Part 2  Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!  Dr. Martin Luther King’s Final Speech  What do you think he means by the promised land?  Why was there a difference between the philosophies of MLK and the early ideas of Malcolm X?