The Segregation SystemPlessy v. Ferguson ruling: separate but equal

is constitutionalMany states pass Jim Crow laws separating

the racesFacilities for blacks always inferior to those

for whites

1950’s Virginia Black School

African Americans Seek Greater Equality

De facto segregation exists by practice, custom; problem in North

De jure segregation is segregation required by law

WW II black migration to Northern cities results in “white flight”

1960s, most urban blacks live in slums

Black unemployment twice as high as white

Many blacks angry at treatment received from white police officers

Challenging Segregation in CourtThe NAACP Legal Strategy: Focuses on most

glaring inequalities of segregated public education

Places team of law students under Thurgood Marshall

Marshall’s greatest victory is Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

In 1954 case, Court unanimously strikes down school segregation

Thurgood MarshallUS Supreme Court

Justice1908 - 1993

Resistance to School DesegregationSome districts, state officials, pro-white

groups actively resistCourt orders desegregation at “all deliberate

speed”Eisenhower refuses to enforce compliance;

considers it impossible

Protesting Brown v Board of Education

Crisis in Little RockCentral High School in Little Rock, Arkansas

was all whiteGovernor Orval Faubus has National Guard

turn away black students (Little Rock Nine)Eisenhower has National Guard,

paratroopers supervise school attendanceFor Eisenhower its not about civil rights – its

about confirming the supremacy of the fed. gov’t

The Little Rock Nine Bottom row, left to right: Thelma Mothershed, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Gloria Ray; Top row, left to right: Jefferson Thomas, Melba Pattillo, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls, Daisy Bates (NAACP President), Ernest Green

Governor Orval Faubus of Arkansas

The Montgomery Bus BoycottRosa Parks arrested for not giving up seat on

busBaptist pastor Martin Luther King, Jr.

organizes bus boycottAfrican Americans file lawsuit, boycott buses,

use carpools, walkSupreme Court outlaws bus segregationThis event is considered the beginning of the

modern Civil Rights Movement

Rosa Parks on Montgomery, AL bus

Dr. Martin Luther King in Montgomery

Martin Luther King and the SCLCKing -- nonviolent resistance, civil

disobedience, massive demonstrationsKing, others found Southern Christian

Leadership Conference (SCLC)By 1960, African-American students think

pace of change too slowJoin Student Nonviolent Coordinating

Committee (SNCC)SNCC adopts nonviolence, but calls for more

confrontational strategy

Dr. Martin Luther King1929 - 1968

Sit-insRefuse to leave segregated lunch counter

until servedFirst sit-in at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, NCIn spite of abuse, arrests, movement grows,

spreads to NorthLate 1960, lunch counters desegregated in

48 cities in 11 states

Woolworths Sit In Greensboro, NC February 1, 1960Ezell A. Blair, Jr., Franklin E. McCain, Joseph A. McNeil, and

David L. Richmond

Freedom RidesTests Court decision banning interstate bus

segregation Freedom riders—blacks, whites sit & use

station facilities togetherRiders brutally beaten by Alabama mobs; one

bus firebombedJFK sends U.S. Marshals to protect riders

Integrating Ole MissFederal court rules James Meredith may

enroll at University of MississippiGovernor Ross Barnett refuses to let

Meredith registerJFK orders federal marshals to escort

Meredith to registrar’s officeBarnett makes radio appeal; thousands of

white demonstrators riotFederal officials accompany Meredith to

classes, protect his parents

James Meredith Integrates Ole

MissOct 1, 1962

BirminghamSCLC demonstrate to desegregate

BirminghamKing arrestedTV news show police attacking child

marchers—fire hoses, dogs, clubsContinued protests, economic boycott, bad

press end segregation

Kennedy Takes a Stand JFK sends troops to force Governor Wallace

to desegregate University of AlabamaNAACP’s Medgar Evers murdered; hung

juries lead to killer’s release

Medgar EvansNAACP Field

Secretary1925 - 1963

Governor George Wallace Blocking the Integration of the University of Alabama June 10,

1963

Marching to WashingtonOver 250,000 people converge on

WashingtonSpeakers demand immediate passage of civil

rights billKing gives “I Have a Dream” speech

More Violence4 Birmingham girls killed when bomb thrown

into churchLBJ signs Civil Rights Act of 1964

prohibits discrimination because of race, religion, gender

Freedom SummerCORE, SNCC project to register blacks to

vote in MississippiVolunteers beaten, killed; businesses, homes,

churches burned

The Selma CampaignVoting rights demonstrator killed in Selma,

AlabamaKing leads 600 protest marchers; TV shows

police violently stop themSecond march, with federal protection, swells to

25,000 peopleCongress finally passes Voting Rights Act of 1965Stops literacy tests, allows federal officials to

enroll votersIncreases black voter enrollment

Selma to Montgomery MarchMarch 7, 1965

Challenges and Changes in the MovementDisagreements among civil rights groups and

the rise of black nationalism create a violent period in the fight for civil rights.

Urban Violence EruptsMid-1960s, numerous clashes between white

authority, black civiliansMany clashes result in riotsMany whites baffled by African-American

rageBlacks want, need equal opportunity in jobs,

housing, educationMoney for War on Poverty & Great Society

redirected to Vietnam War

Urban Riots – Above Watts, CA 1965 Below Detroit, MI 1967

New Leaders Voice DiscontentNation of Islam, Black Muslims, advocate

blacks separate from whitesbelieve whites source of black problems

Malcolm X—controversial Muslim leader, speaker; gets much publicity – black separatist

Frightens whites, moderate blacks; resented by other Black Muslims

Pilgrimage to Mecca changes Malcolm X’s attitude toward whites

Splits with Black Muslims; is killed in 1965 while giving speech

Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little)

1925 - 1965

Black PowerCORE, SNCC become more militant; SCLC pursues traditional tactics

Stokely Carmichael, head of SNCC, calls for Black Power: African Americans control own lives,

communities, without whitesBlack Panthers fight police brutality, want

black self-sufficiencyPreach ideas of Mao Zedong; have violent

confrontations with policeProvide social services in ghettos, win

popular support

Stokely CharmichaelSNCC Leader1941 - 1998

1968—A Turning Point in Civil RightsKing objects to Black Power movement &

preaching of violenceSeems to sense own death in Memphis

speech to striking workersIs shot; dies the following dayKing’s death leads to worst urban rioting in

U.S. historyRobert Kennedy assassinated two months

later

Assassination of Martin Luther King April 4, 1968

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Memphis 1968

Civil Rights GainsCivil Rights Act of 1968 prohibits

discrimination in housingMore black students finish high school,

college; get better jobsGreater pride in racial identity leads to Black

Studies programsMore African-American participation in

movies, televisionIncreased voter registration results in more

black elected officials

Actor Sidney Poitier

Actress Diane Carroll

Unfinished WorkForced busing, higher taxes, militancy, riots

reduce white supportWhite flight reverses much progress toward

school integrationUnemployment, poverty higher than for whitesAffirmative action—extra effort to hire, enroll

discriminated groupsColleges & companies doing government

business adopt policyLate 1970s, some criticize policy as reverse

discrimination