Leaders and Strategies The Civil Rights Movement 21.1 The Civil Rights Movement 21.1

Laying the Groundwork  The civil rights movement was a grass- roots effort of ordinary citizens determined to end racial injustice  No ONE central organization:  there were several major groups that shared information and coordinated civil rights activities  The civil rights movement was a grass- roots effort of ordinary citizens determined to end racial injustice  No ONE central organization:  there were several major groups that shared information and coordinated civil rights activities

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)  Won the Brown v. Board of Education case  One of the oldest civil rights organizations  An interracial organization with both AA and whites as members  Focused on challenging discriminatory laws in the court room  Won a number of legal battles that helped stop segregation  Won the Brown v. Board of Education case  One of the oldest civil rights organizations  An interracial organization with both AA and whites as members  Focused on challenging discriminatory laws in the court room  Won a number of legal battles that helped stop segregation

National Urban League and CORE  National Urban League  Focused on economic issues:  Sought to assist people moving to American cities  Help AA find jobs and homes  Fought for fair treatment at work  Found safe, clean apartments for migrant families  CORE  The Congress of Racial Equality was dedicated to bringing about change through peaceful confrontation  Organized demonstrations against segregation in cities  National Urban League  Focused on economic issues:  Sought to assist people moving to American cities  Help AA find jobs and homes  Fought for fair treatment at work  Found safe, clean apartments for migrant families  CORE  The Congress of Racial Equality was dedicated to bringing about change through peaceful confrontation  Organized demonstrations against segregation in cities

The Philosophy of Nonviolence  Their was growing opposition to the gains made by AA through the Brown decision  Many threaten or used violence against the AA  However, Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders preached nonviolence  They asked people not to retaliate  Their was growing opposition to the gains made by AA through the Brown decision  Many threaten or used violence against the AA  However, Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders preached nonviolence  They asked people not to retaliate

The SCLC  Dr. Martin Luther King and other AA clergymen began a new civil rights organization the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)  Advocating nonviolent protest  Protesters would not resist even when attacked  Dr. Martin Luther King and other AA clergymen began a new civil rights organization the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)  Advocating nonviolent protest  Protesters would not resist even when attacked

Dr. King Leads the Way  After the Montgomery bus boycott Martin Luther King Jr. became one of the most loved and admired - and also one of the most hated – people in the U.S.  Became symbol of nonviolent protest for the entire world  Influenced by Mohandas K. Gandhi  Preached nonviolence as the only way to achieve victory against much stronger foes  After the Montgomery bus boycott Martin Luther King Jr. became one of the most loved and admired - and also one of the most hated – people in the U.S.  Became symbol of nonviolent protest for the entire world  Influenced by Mohandas K. Gandhi  Preached nonviolence as the only way to achieve victory against much stronger foes

A New Voice for Students  “To accept passively an unjust system is to cooperate with that system; thereby the oppressed become as evil as the oppressor,” King said. “Non-cooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good.”  SNCC formed  The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee - became student version of the SCLC  Dr. King spoke with the SNCC - called the civil rights movement, “ a revolt against the apathy and complacency of adults in the Negro community…”  “To accept passively an unjust system is to cooperate with that system; thereby the oppressed become as evil as the oppressor,” King said. “Non-cooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good.”  SNCC formed  The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee - became student version of the SCLC  Dr. King spoke with the SNCC - called the civil rights movement, “ a revolt against the apathy and complacency of adults in the Negro community…”

Robert Moses  One of the SNCC’s most influential leaders  Harvard graduate student  Worked in Atlanta and Mississippi recruiting people to help rural blacks register to vote  SNCC became a strong and vital organization for students  One of the SNCC’s most influential leaders  Harvard graduate student  Worked in Atlanta and Mississippi recruiting people to help rural blacks register to vote  SNCC became a strong and vital organization for students