Chapter 21 sections 4 and 5

MLK Fourth generation Minister Rose to prominence during the Montgomery Bus Boycott The most important Civil Rights Movement leader

Sought to awaken moderate Americans Lived with constant death threats and physical intimidation

Kennedy and Civil Rights Actively courted black votes Proposed Civil Rights legislation, but was blocked by Southern Congressmen

Was accused to have moved slowing on Civil Rights issues –Kennedy did not want to lose Congressional Support.

March on Washington “March for Jobs and Freedom” Opposed by Kennedy, who didn’t want to alienate southern congressmen

Scorned by many Black Nationalist Groups Became a very powerful symbol

“I Have a Dream” speech

Johnson and Civil rights Picked up where Kennedy left off Johnson did MUCH further than Kennedy did on Civil Rights legislation

CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 –Banned different voting standards –Banned discriminations in public places –Banned discrimination on the base of race, sex, age, religion or nation of origin

“We have lost the south for a generation”. - LBJ

Freedom Summer Mostly college students (white and black) Sought to register voters

Subject to extreme violence Churches and houses were burned and bombed James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerman were murdered

Selma Protest led by MLK Violence against protestors LBJ supports with federal troops

Led to important legislation: Voting Rights Act of 1965 –Federal officials could register voters 24 th Amendment –Banned Poll taxes

The Rise of Black Nationalism

Many disavowed non-violence, felt it did not work, or took too long. “We shall overcome” became “We shall overrun”

Sought to build up black pride and black communities Members were almost exclusively black

Black Panthers Most influential Black Nationalist group –Originally created to monitor police in California Members sought to –Rebuild communities –Set up “Survival Programs”

Clashed with police, violence was not uncommon

Malcolm X Born to activist parents Outstanding student in Junior High, dropped out Turned to a life of “hustling”

Joins Nation of Islam in Prison Emerges from prison with a purpose Very critical of MLK and non-violence, very distrusting of white society.

"At one time the whites in the United States called him a racialist, and extremist, and a Communist. Then the Black Muslims came along and the whites thanked the Lord for Martin Luther King."

Prominent leader of Nation of Islam, then splits from group Goes on Hajj (pilgrimage)

Returns a different man –More inclusive to whites, and other groups –Blacks still have the right to defend themselves 1965 – Allegedly Assassinated by the Nation of Islam

1968 Assassinations of MLK leads to widespread rioting and disillusionment. The Civil Rights movement is robbed of its most prominent leaders

LBJ does not run for re-election RFK assassinated

Tensions run high throughout the country; minor incidents set off riots that last for days, and destroy black neighborhoods.

Stalls after 1968 Black officials up 90%

Black Mayors in many cities Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman elected to Congress

Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement Barbara Jordan (Texas) 1 st Black Senator in Texas since Reconstruction, later US Congresswoman Thurgood Marshall – 1 st Black Supreme Court Justice