8.1c Analyze the African American Civil Rights Movement, including initial strategies, landmark court cases and legislation, the roles of key civil rights advocates and the media, and the influence of the Civil Rights Movement on other groups seeking equality.

Black Militant Movements Inspired by the teachings of Malcolm X some workers in the SNCC began to reject nonviolent protest as being too slow and ineffective. This militant faction took over leadership when Stokely Carmichael was elected chairman of SNCC in May 1966. He called for ***Black Power Pride in African Heritage Separate white and black political and economic institutions Self-defense against white violence Possibly violent revolution.

Stokely Carmichael

Black Militant Movements The Theme ‘Black Power’ dominated SNCC and CORE in the late 1960’s. In 1968 ‘black power’ caused controversy when several black US medal winners raised black-glove-covered fists as a show of African-American pride during the playing of the national anthem.

The Black Panthers 1966-A militant group that started in Oakland, California to help suffering families and protect blacks from abuses from white police. The fought to end de facto segregation as well as de jure segregation. ***Advocated African-Americans leading their own communities and demanded that the federal government rebuild the ghettos in the nations big cities. They had several violent encounters with the police, but made positive contributions by setting up programs to help black urban poor. Sidenote: The important leaders were Huey Newton and Bobby Seale coined a few slang terms, they called the police pigs and m-----f------.

Original six Black Panthers (November, 1966) Top left to right: Elbert "Big Man" Howard; Huey P. Newton (Defense Minister), Sherman Forte, Bobby Seale (Chairman). Bottom: Reggie Forte and Little Bobby Hutton Treasurer).

Legislative Changes Brought About by the Civil Rights Movement After Kennedy’s assassination Lyndon Johnson urged Congress to pass civil rights laws. ***Civil Rights Act of 1964- Prohibited segregation in public accommodations like hotels, restaurants, theaters, etc. It also gave the President the power to enforce the law. ***Twenty-fourth Amendment- Protected blacks right to vote by making the poll tax illegal.

Pres. Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Selma Protesters in Selma decided to bring national attention to the cause of Civil Rights by marching from Selma to the capitol in Montgomery. March 7th, 1965 the march reached the city limits of Selma where state troopers and deputies beat them with clubs, whips, released dogs on them, tear gassed them. Televised shots of the beatings were seen across the country and shocked the nation. The event became known as ***Bloody Sunday. Two weeks later King led 3,000 people out of Selma and some of them walked all the way to Montgomery. When they reached the Capitol building King gave a speech to over 40,000 people. This pushed President Johnson to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 Authorized the President to suspend literacy tests for voter registration. Could send federal officials to register voters if county official failed to do so. Led to a huge increase in African-Americans registered to vote. Led to an increase of African-Americans voted into office. The VRA and 24th Amendment were huge victories for the Civil Rights Movement. ***Affirmative Action- designed to combat de facto segregation

Women’s Rights The participation of women in the civil rights movement prompted them to form organizations to promote their own rights. Remember the book “The Feminine Mystique?” The Women’s Movement led a campaign to make sexual discrimination illegal EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT- passed Congress in 1972, but failed to be ratified by enough states. (never added to Constitution)

One of the most controversial rulings in US history even 40 yrs later ***Roe v. Wade- Supreme Court ruled state laws restricting a woman’s right to abortion during the first 3 months of pregnancy to be unconstitutional. (1973) One of the most controversial rulings in US history even 40 yrs later