Segregation and the Civil Rights Movement

Goal 11.02:Trace major events of the Civil Rights Movement and

evaluate its impact.

Select one of the quotes and reflect on its meaning….

“No radical change on the plane of history is possible without crime.” ~Hermann

Keyserling

“It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the

established authorities are wrong.” ~Voltaire

Definition

Definition: The Concerted effort by African Americans to achieve justice and equality during the 1950’s and 1960’s

Equality All Began In The Schools• Why would the fight for equality start in school?

Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. B.O.E

Background: Linda Brown (a school girl) was denied admission to her local school because of her race. Brown v Board of Education: argued that separate schooling for blacks was unequalImportant NamesEarl Warren: Chief Justice of the Supreme CourtThurgood Marshall: Plaintiff (Linda Brown) attorney. Would later be the 1st African America Supreme Court JusticeMay 17, 1954: The Supreme Court unanimously (everyone) overturned the Plessy ruling that segregation in public school violated the 14th Amendment.

School Segregation Continue…After the Brown vs Board of Education decision many schools still would not allow blacks in their facility

In 1957 9 African American attempted to enroll at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. LITTLE ROCK NINE

The governor (Orval Faubus) ordered the National Guard to not admit the students into the building.

President Eisenhower responded with federal troops to enforce desegregation.

Colleges Get Segregated• James Meredith sought to enroll at the all

white University of Mississippi • In September 1962 he won his case and the

Supreme Court ordered the school to segregate

• Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist to was instrumental in this effort

• The governor and the people of Mississippi fought this segregation and by the time it was over 160 people were injured and 2 men had been killed

• On June 1963 Medgar Evers was assassinated on this doorstep

• Three years later James Meredith was shot and killed

James Meredith

Segregation and TransportationDecember 1955- Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man and was arrested for violating a city law that segregated public transportation.

The Civil Rights leaders got together and enacted “The Montgomery Bus Boycott” Lasted 381 days Included 50,000 African Americans looking for alternative transportation

Rode bicycles Joined car pools Walked

The Supreme court decided that segregation on the city buses was unconstitutional.

Freedom Riders• CORE (Congress of Racial Equality)

– Believed that African Americans could apply direct nonviolent methods to gain civil rights

– In 1961 they staged a “Freedom Ride” through the Deep South

• From Washington, D.C. to New Orleans they defied segregationist codes

• Contained 6 whites and 7 African Americans• Riders were faced with mob attacks and

violent reactions • They were arrested in Jackson Mississippi

and sent to jail. • Mission achieved because they compelled a

reluctant government to act

Young People Take Action

In 1960 the youth took an active role in civil rights by participating in Sit-ins at segregated lunch counters and restaurants.

This was considered “Civil-disobedience.”

They were often arrested, charged with disorderly conduct and imprisoned.

The SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) used these sit-ins as a tool to achieve integration.

It was highly effective

Two Different Great Leaders

Martin Luther King, Jr. • Believed in Nonviolent resistance...Civil

Disobedience• While in jail wrote “Letter from Birmingham

jail” which was a summation of his philosophy and urgent need for racial justice

• Organized the March on Washington• Founded the Southern Christian Leadership

Conference (SCLC)• Assassinated on April 4, 1968

Malcolm X• Believed in “By any means necessary”• Conformed to Islam while in prison for an

earlier burglary• Felt that only blacks can solve their own

situation (Black Power Movement)• While in Mecca he began to understand

that it was possible to have equality in races and that all whites were NOT bad!

• Assassinated on February 21, 1965

The March On Washington D.C

The March on Washington- peaceful civil rights demonstration tool place in August. 250,000 people were in attendance BLACKS AND WHITES.

The famous “I have a Dream” Speech was delivered. Which he described his vision for a free and equal United States.

The Black Power Movement• Led by Stokely Carmichael• This organization rejected

nonviolence techniques and promoted self-defense

• The Black Panthers were not originally a separatist group, but later became because of the “Black Power” exclamation created by Carmichael.

Presidential Power John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy

Born May 29, 1917

35th President of the USA- Youngest elected to the office at 43

In office: January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963

From the White House tried to enact legislations to aid in the fight for equality

Enacted early political practices such as voting for final passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957

Was Assassinated November 22nd he was 46 years old

To this day is still ranked high in public opinion ratings of former presidents

Kennedy’s Assassinator Historically it is said that

Lee Harvey Oswald Assassinated President Kennedy

Oswald denied involvement in the killing

The accuracy of this is debated today

Two days later, while being transferred from police headquarters to the county jail

Oswald was shot and killed by Jack Ruby

Famous shot taken at the time of Oswald’s murder

Civil Rights LegislationsCivil Rights Act of 1964- Outlawed racial discrimination in public facilities and in employment

24th Amendment- abolished poll-tax requirements

Voting Rights Act of 1965- abolished literacy test and authorized a system of federal examiners to register black voters.

The percentage of voters tripled in the South

“The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is

courage.”- Thucydides-Ancient Greek historian

Respond to this quote and include information that you have learned today