The Civil Rights Movement

1. The Civil Rights Movement After 1965

2. Before 1965… • For the most part, Civil Rights Movement was united • Common goals of ending de jure segregation and protecting black voting rights in the South. • United behind non-violent protest • Civil Rights Movement attracted a lot of national media attention • Kept movement in the news and spread ideas • Gained a lot of national sympathy and support

3. 1965 • Voting Rights Act of 1965 is passed by Congress protecting the right to vote for African-Americans • De jure segregation and voting rights issues have been tackled. • Now what? • Poverty? • Housing discrimination? • Living conditions in cities? • Job opportunities/discrimination? • Stay in South or move North? • De facto segregation?

4. The Movement Splits • After 1965, the Civil Rights Movement splits: • Different groups had different objectives • Some wanted to continue in the South, while others wanted to protest in the North • SCLC and SNCC and other groups began to disagree on objectives • Different groups had different strategies • Non-violence • Militancy

5. Segregation in 1965 • De jure segregation was virtually non-existent in the U.S. after 1965 • De facto segregation was still common in both the North and South • “White flight” to the suburbs • More difficult to change because you have to change people’s attitudes and thinking instead of repealing laws

6. Living Conditions For Many African-Americans • Many African-Americans across the nation still working in lower paying jobs • Result of years of discrimination and racism • Poor educational opportunities • Unemployment rate was twice as high as the rate of white workers • Led to a lack of economic power and poverty • “White flight” to suburbs • African-Americans left in city neighborhoods • Neighborhoods were aging and decaying • Economic circumstances also made it difficult for African-Americans to reverse this decay

7. Northern Cities • Landlords often did not comply with housing and health standards • Often charged inflated rent prices • Schools in these neighborhoods were often deteriorating as well • Lack of opportunity, poverty, and lack of change in the North causing mounting frustration

8. Urban Riots • Clashes between black civilians and police • African-Americans felt police were unfairly targeting them • 1964 and 1965, clashes with police escalated into rioting • 1965 Watts Riot left 34 dead and millions in damage • Many whites, who supported the movement, losing interested and some are angry • Violence alienated some whites • Some whites thought movement was over with the segregation/voting rights victories

9. Civil Rights Movement Breaks Apart • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. continued to advocate non-violence • Still had the largest following among the Civil Rights activists • Most accepted by government officials and most whites • Many are losing patience with Dr. King • Not seeing the same results as before 1965 • Frustration is mounting • Many wanted to try something else

10. Malcolm X • Born Malcolm Little • Long criminal record • Converted to Islam while in jail • Changed name to Malcolm X, dropping his “slave name” • Becomes minister for Nation of Islam

11. Malcolm X Continued • Taught that blacks should separate from white society • “If you think we are here to tell you to love the white man, you have come to the wrong place” • Advocated armed self-defense against white attacks

12. Effect of Malcolm X • Inspired many young, frustrated African-Americans • Stress in racial pride • Critical of Dr. King • Reference to violence scared many whites

13. Change in Malcolm X • Broke from Nation of Islam in 1964 over strategy • Made trip to Mecca • Religious center of Islamic faith • Saw whites and blacks living equally • Changes his philosophy • “Ballots or Bullets”: Use the ballot to change things before using a bullet

14. Assassination of Malcolm X • 1965: Malcolm X goes to Harlem to give a speech • Malcolm X is shot and killed

15. James Meredith Injured • 1966: James Meredith is shot while on a protest march • Members of SCLC, CORE and SNCC finish his march • SCLC begins singing “We Shall Overcome” on March • SNCC and CORE begin singing “We Shall Overrun”

16. SNCC Becomes More Militant • Stokely Carmichael of SNCC is arrested for setting up a tent on public property • He later arrived at a rally, obviously beaten • Crowd very angry

17. Carmichael’s Speech • Carmichael gave speech critical of lack of movement in Civil Rights movement • Used phrase “Black Power” • Call for black people to define their own goals and lead their own organizations • Urged black pride • Urged SNCC to stop recruiting whites

18. SNCC Breaks with MLK • Dr. King asked SNCC to stop using Black Power slogan • Sounded too militant and violent • SNCC refused • Young students in SNCC becoming more militant

19. Black Panthers • Political party founded in Oakland by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale • Fight police brutality in ghettos of Oakland • Preached self-defense • Advocated black communities become self-sufficient (Black Power) • Wanted full employment for blacks • Wanted decent housing for blacks

20. Black Panthers in Community • Black Panthers dressed in all black • Violent episodes between Panther and police hurt image in mainstream media • Set up daycare centers, breakfast programs and medical clinics to help those in the ghettos • Won support of many young and impoverished African-Americans • Reference to violence and arrests hurt image in mainstream

21. Martin Luther King, 1968 • Dr. King in Memphis to help support a strike amongst garbage workers • King assassinated by James Earl Ray • His death sparked riots across the country • Civil Rights movement further splinters • De Facto leader was killed

22. The Role of the Media • Civil Rights groups used the media to inform Americans of fight in the South before 1965 • 1964: Start of Vietnam War • Media now covering the war • Not as much coverage of Civil Rights Movement • Lack of coverage hurt movement