The Struggle for Civil Rights

Plessy v. Ferguson “Separate But Equal Doctrine”“Separate But Equal Doctrine” Made African-Americans 2 nd class citizensMade African-Americans 2 nd class citizens Etiquette of proper race relations developedEtiquette of proper race relations developed Had to address whites as Mr. and Mrs.Had to address whites as Mr. and Mrs. Blacks addressed as “boy” and “girl”Blacks addressed as “boy” and “girl” Black couldn’t challenge whitesBlack couldn’t challenge whites

PLESSEY vs FERGUSON Supreme Court ruled that segregation was not Unconstitutional.Supreme Court ruled that segregation was not Unconstitutional. Created Separate but EqualCreated Separate but Equal

The South Emmett TillEmmett Till Visiting relatives in Mississippi from ChicagoVisiting relatives in Mississippi from Chicago Whistled at a white womanWhistled at a white woman Was found beaten and thrown in the river by a mob of white menWas found beaten and thrown in the river by a mob of white men Funeral was televised- brought national attention to racial tensions in the SouthFuneral was televised- brought national attention to racial tensions in the South

Emmett Till Killed while visiting the South.Killed while visiting the South. The freedoms in the North for African Americans did not extend into the South.The freedoms in the North for African Americans did not extend into the South.

Brown v. Board of Education- May 17, 1954 Segregated schools were found to be inferior because it stigmatized African-AmericansSegregated schools were found to be inferior because it stigmatized African-Americans Reversed the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of “Separate but Equal”Reversed the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of “Separate but Equal” Governor of Arkansas used National Guard to prevent 9 black students from enrolling in Little Rock’s Central High School1957- Governor of Arkansas used National Guard to prevent 9 black students from enrolling in Little Rock’s Central High School Eisenhower placed National Guard under federal control and sent to soldiers to Little Rock to allow the 9 students to attendEisenhower placed National Guard under federal control and sent to soldiers to Little Rock to allow the 9 students to attend

Brown vs Board of Education Said that segregation of schools was unconstitutional.Said that segregation of schools was unconstitutional. South refused to integrate.South refused to integrate.

The Little Rock Nine

Passive Resistance Montgomery, AlabamaMontgomery, Alabama Rosa Parks- refuses to give up her seat to a white personRosa Parks- refuses to give up her seat to a white person Montgomery Improvement Association beganMontgomery Improvement Association began Selected Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as PresidentSelected Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as President Advocated non-violent philosophyAdvocated non-violent philosophy

Rosa Parks Refused to give up seat to white man.Refused to give up seat to white man. NAACP boycott the buses in Montgomery AL.NAACP boycott the buses in Montgomery AL.

Students Strengthen Civil Rights Movement Greensboro, North Carolina- 2/1/1960Greensboro, North Carolina- 2/1/1960 students remained seated at the lunch counter until they were served or arrested Manager did not arrest them, they returned to school to get more students New way to protest- “sit-in”

Passive Resistance Passive resistance becomes popular.Passive resistance becomes popular. White and black students participate in “Sit ins”White and black students participate in “Sit ins”

Election of 1960 African-Americans helped Kennedy win the presidency in 1960.African-Americans helped Kennedy win the presidency in Believed he would support civil rightsBelieved he would support civil rights

Kennedy Elected African Americans support helped Kennedy win the electionAfrican Americans support helped Kennedy win the election

SCLC- prepared Project C (Confrontation)- Birmingham, AL Planned to provoke confrontation with white officials- hoped it would be televised and attract sympathy from white Northerners.Planned to provoke confrontation with white officials- hoped it would be televised and attract sympathy from white Northerners. Children marched into the city- fire hoses were usedChildren marched into the city- fire hoses were used

African Americans used the press and public opinion to help their cause

March on Washington- Aug. 28, ,000 gathered at the Lincoln Memorial250,000 gathered at the Lincoln Memorial Black and White marchers protested against segregated facilitiesBlack and White marchers protested against segregated facilities Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream Speech”Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream Speech”

March on Washington Aug, 1963 Protested segregationProtested segregation I have a Dream speechI have a Dream speech

Civil Rights Act of 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson pushed this through CongressPresident Lyndon B. Johnson pushed this through Congress Eliminated “whites only” public facilitiesEliminated “whites only” public facilities Title VII outlawed racial bias during hiring process by employersTitle VII outlawed racial bias during hiring process by employers

Civil Rights Act of 1964 Eliminated “Whites Only” facilitiesEliminated “Whites Only” facilities No racial bias in hiring for jobsNo racial bias in hiring for jobs

Racial Barriers Remained in South Medgar Evers- civil rights leader shot to death in Jackson, MississippiMedgar Evers- civil rights leader shot to death in Jackson, Mississippi Encouraged many blacks to voteEncouraged many blacks to vote Civil rights workers continued voter registration campaigns.Civil rights workers continued voter registration campaigns.

Racial Barriers in South Voting campaigns often ended in death.Voting campaigns often ended in death.

Mississippi Summer Project White volunteers came to work in MississippiWhite volunteers came to work in Mississippi Presence brought national attentionPresence brought national attention 3 volunteers- 2 white, 1 black turn up missing3 volunteers- 2 white, 1 black turn up missing Were on their way to investigate a church bombing in MississippiWere on their way to investigate a church bombing in Mississippi Murdered by KKK and law enforcement personnelMurdered by KKK and law enforcement personnel

White Volunteers from the North They were beat up, or disappeared.They were beat up, or disappeared.

Militant Black Consciousness Malcolm X (Malcolm Little)Malcolm X (Malcolm Little) Grew up in povertyGrew up in poverty Lost hope that he could succeed in a white societyLost hope that he could succeed in a white society Ended up in jailEnded up in jail

Militant Black Consciousness (con’t) While in jail received a letter from his brother teaching him about the Nation of IslamWhile in jail received a letter from his brother teaching him about the Nation of Islam formed a new organization- Organization of Afro-American Unity1964- formed a new organization- Organization of Afro-American Unity assassinated while giving a speech in New York1965- assassinated while giving a speech in New York

Militant Black Consciousness (Con’t) Members of Nation of Islam convicted of Malcolm X’s murderMembers of Nation of Islam convicted of Malcolm X’s murder Started rise of “Black Power”Started rise of “Black Power”

Militants Malcolm XMalcolm X Formed the Nation of IslamFormed the Nation of Islam Wanted to use force, instead of passive resistanceWanted to use force, instead of passive resistance

Militant Black Consciousness (Con’t) Black Panther PartyBlack Panther Party Goal: gain political office for African-Americans throughout the SouthGoal: gain political office for African-Americans throughout the South Militant in demands for “land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace”.Militant in demands for “land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace”. King very critical of black militant groups- thought it weakened support of WhitesKing very critical of black militant groups- thought it weakened support of Whites

Martin Luther King Thought that the militants would cause loss of white support.Thought that the militants would cause loss of white support.

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. April 4, assassinated in MemphisApril 4, assassinated in Memphis Led to new wave of urban violenceLed to new wave of urban violence Poverty still remained high among African-Americans even though segregation had ended.Poverty still remained high among African-Americans even though segregation had ended.

Martin Luther King Assassinated April 14 th 1968 in Memphis Tennesee.Assassinated April 14 th 1968 in Memphis Tennesee.