The Black Freedom Struggle

1. The Black Freedom Struggle (The Civil Rights Movement)

2. Jump Jim Crow • Original Form • Come, listen, all you gals and boys, I'm just from Tuckyhoe; • I'm gwine to sing a little song, My name's Jim Crow. • Chorus: Wheel about, an' turn about, an' do jis so; • Eb'ry time I wheel about, I jump Jim Crow. • I went down to de river, I didn't mean to stay, • But there I see so many gals, I couldn't get away. • I'm rorer on de fiddle, an' down in ole Virginny, • Dey say I play de skientific, like massa Pagganninny. • I cut so many munky shines, I dance de galloppade; • An' w'en I done, I res' my head, on shubble, hoe or spade. • I met Miss Dina Scrub one day, I gib her sich a buss; • An' den she turn an' slap my face, an' make a mighty fuss. • De udder gals dey 'gin to fight, I tel'd dem wait a bit; • I'd hab dem all, jis one by one, as I tourt fit. • I wip de lion ob de west, I eat de alligator; • I put more water in my mouf, den boil ten load ob 'tator. • De way dey bake de hoe cake, Virginny nebber tire; • Dey put de doe upon de foot, an' stick 'em in de fire.

5. 1916 Marion, Indiana - 1930 1920’s

8. W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963), historian, educator, civil rights advocate • We are returning from War!...For the America that represents and gloats in lynching, disenfranchisement, caste, brutality and devilish insult--for this, in the hateful upturning and mixing of things, we were forced by vindictive fate to fight. We return. We return from fighting. We return fighting. Make way for Democracy! We saved it in France, and by the Great Jehovah, we will save it in the United States of America, or know the reason why.

9. Jackie Robinson 1947

10. The Black Freedom Struggle I. Pre-Conditions for Change • Economic Growth • Affluence • Leisure Time (prosperity) • Black Political Unity

11. GDP in Billions of Dollars Facts about this decade --- Population: 151,684,000 (U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census)*Unemployed:  3,288,000Life expectancy:   Women 71.1,  men  65.6Car Sales:  6,665,800Average Salary:  $2,992Labor Force male/female: 5/2Cost of a loaf of bread:  $0.14Bomb shelter plans, like the government pamphlet You Can Survive, become widely available

12. II. Stage One: Legalism A. Strategy B. Leaders 1. Support/Goals/Arena C. Achievements 1. Anti-Poll Tax / Anti- Lynching Laws 2. Missouri ex. Rel. Gains – 1939 3. Smith v. Alright -1944 4. Brown v. Board of Education – 1954 D. Revolution in Rising Expectations

15. Revolution in Rising Expectations

16. III. Reaction A. Non-Compliance and Defiance B. Southern Manifesto (101 Congressman) 1. Massive Resistance C. Emmett Till

17. This unwarranted exercise of power by the Court, contrary to the Constitution, is creating chaos and confusion in the States principally affected. It is destroying the amicable relations between the white and Negro races that have been created through 90 years of patient effort by the good people of both races. It has planted hatred and suspicion where there has been heretofore friendship and understanding. Without regard to the consent of the governed, outside mediators are threatening immediate and revolutionary changes in our public schools systems. If done, this is certain to destroy the system of public education in some of the States. With the gravest concern for the explosive and dangerous condition created by this decision and inflamed by outside meddlers: We reaffirm our reliance on the Constitution as the fundamental law of the land. We decry the Supreme Court's encroachment on the rights reserved to the States and to the people, contrary to established law, and to the Constitution. We commend the motives of those States which have declared the intention to resist forced integration by any lawful means. We appeal to the States and people who are not directly affected by these decisions to consider the constitutional principles involved against the time when they too, on issues vital to them may be the victims of judicial encroachment. Even though we constitute a minority in the present Congress, we have full faith that a majority of the American people believe in the dual system of government which has enabled us to achieve our greatness and will in time demand that the reserved rights of the States and of the people be made secure against judicial usurpation. We pledge ourselves to use all lawful means to bring about a reversal of this decision which is contrary to the Constitution and to prevent the use of force in its implementation. In this trying period, as we all seek to right this wrong, we appeal to our people not to be provoked by the agitators and troublemakers invading our States and to scrupulously refrain from disorder and lawless acts.

18. "Your ancestors will turn over in their grave, and I'm sure every last Anglo-Saxon one of you has the courage to free these men." • After deliberating for only 67 minutes, the jury returned a verdict: not guilty. Reporters said they overheard laughing inside the jury room. One juror later said: "We wouldn't have taken so long if we hadn't stopped to drink pop."

19. IV. Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955) A. Rosa Parks B. E.D. Nixon and JoAnn Robinson (NAACP) C. Martin Luther King Jr. 1. Montgomery Improvement Association 2. Non-Violent Direct Action

24. Montgomery Improvement Association

25. V. Stage Two: Non-Violent Direct Action A. Leaders 1. Support/Arena/Goals B. National Prominence 1. S.C.L.C. C. Southern Resistance D. Federal Government 1. Civil Rights Act of 1957 2. Little Rock, Arkansas 3. Civil Rights Act of 1960 E. Crossroads 1. The Pace of Change 2. What is Next?

30. Black Freedom Struggle II I. Stage Two: Continued A. Sit-ins (1960) – {wade-ins, kneel-ins} 1. Leaders 2. Arena 3. Goals II. Rivalry for Publicity and Authority (1960-64) A. NAACP and SCLC 1. Ella Baker B. SNCC – 1960 C. CORE 1. James Farmer 2. Freedom Rides

31. Greensboro Sit-ins

32. Nashville Sit-ins

34. Ella Baker • Activist, Civil Rights Organizer, 1903–1986 • “In order for us as poor and oppressed people to become a part of a society that is meaningful, the system under which we now exist has to be radically changed. It means facing a system that does not lend itself to your needs and devising means by which you can change that system. That is easier said than done.”

35. SNCC • Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Founding Statement • We affirm the philosophical or religious ideal of nonviolence as the foundation of our purpose, the presupposition of our belief, and the manner of our action. • Nonviolence, as it grows from the Judeo-Christian tradition, seeks a social order of justice permeated by love. Integration of human endeavor represents the crucial first step towards such a society. • Through nonviolence, courage displaces fear. Love transcends hate. Acceptance dissipates prejudice; hope ends despair. Faith reconciles doubt. Peace dominates war. Mutual regards cancel enmity. Justice for all overthrows injustice. The redemptive community supersedes immoral social systems. • By appealing to conscience and standing on the moral nature of human existence, nonviolence nurtures the atmosphere in which reconciliation and justice become actual possibilities. • Although each local group in this movement must diligently work out the clear meaning of this statement of purpose, each act or phase of our corporate effort must reflect a genuine spirit of love and good-will.

36. CORE Freedom Riders

39. III. Direct Action (1962-63) A. S.C.L.C. (and MLK) 1. Birmingham, Alabama a. Eugene “Bull” Conner 2. University of Mississippi – Ole Miss a. James Meredith b. Ross Barnett 3. University of Alabama a. George Wallace b. Schoolhouse Door 4. March on Washington a. John Lewis b. Martin Luther King 1. I Have A Dream

40. "Negroes and whites will not segregate together as long as I am Commissioner." Connor railed, "the nigger loving Kennedy’s, want to change our way of life, down here". He wanted Birmingham to ignore John F. Kennedy's death stating, “LeeHarvey Oswald, a southern hero like John Wilkes Booth".

44. Wallace in the Schoolhouse Door

45. March On Washington

47. Bombingham The FBI sent agents to investigate and four suspects were identified. The Birmingham office of the FBI recommended that the four be prosecuted. However, the Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, refused and claimed that civil rights activists themselves bombed the church to gain public sympathy. The FBI initially closed the case in 1968.The suspects were four members of the Ku Klux Klan. It took nearly 40 years for them to be brought to justice. Local prosecutors reopened the case and one suspect, Robert "Dynamite Bob" Chambliss, was convicted of murder in 1977. Herman Cash died in 1994 as charges against him were being prepared. On May 1, 2001, a Birmingham jury convicted Thomas Blanton (62 years old at the time of the trial) on four counts of murder.  Finally, on May 22, 2002, a jury convicted Bobby Frank Cherry (now 71 years old) of the murders. Both Blanton and Cherry were sentenced to life in prison. 

48. Mississippi Goddam! Nina Simone, 1963The name of this tune is Mississippi GoddamAnd I mean every word of itAlabama's gotten me so upsetTennessee made me lose my restAnd everybody knows about Mississippi GoddamAlabama's gotten me so upsetTennessee made me lose my restAnd everybody knows about Mississippi GoddamCan't you see itCan't you feel itIt's all in the airI can't stand the pressure much longerSomebody say a prayerAlabama's gotten me so upsetTennessee made me lose my restAnd everybody knows about Mississippi GoddamThis is a show tuneBut the show hasn't been written for it, yetHound dogs on my trailSchool children sitting in jailBlack cat cross my pathI think every day's gonna be my lastLord have mercy on this land of mineWe all gonna get it in due timeI don't belong hereI don't belong thereI've even stopped believing in prayerDon't tell meI tell youMe and my people just about dueI've been there so I knowThey keep on saying "Go slow!"But that's just the trouble “do it slow” Washing the windows “do it slow” Picking the cotton “do it slow” You're just plain rotten ”do it slow” You're too damn lazy “do it slow” The thinking's crazy ”do it slow” Where am I goingWhat am I doingI don't knowI don't know Just try to do your very bestStand up be counted with all the restFor everybody knows about Mississippi GoddamI made you thought I was kiddin'Picket linesSchool boycottsThey try to say it's a communist plotAll I want is equalityfor my sister my brother my people and meYes you lied to me all these yearsYou told me to wash and clean my earsAnd talk real fine just like a ladyAnd you'd stop calling me Sister SadieOh but this whole country is full of liesYou're all gonna die and die like fliesI don't trust you any moreYou keep on saying "Go slow!""Go slow!"But that's just the trouble "do it slow"Desegregation “do it slow”Mass participation “do it slow”Reunification “do it slow”Do things gradually “do it slow”But bring more tragedy “do it slow”Why don't you see itWhy don't you feel itI don't knowI don't knowYou don't have to live next to meJust give me my equalityEverybody knows about MississippiEverybody knows about AlabamaEverybody knows about Mississippi GoddamThat's it!

49. IV. Political Victories A. Civil Rights Act of 1964 B. Restless Waiting 1. Radicalization 2. Mississippi Freedom Summer 3. M.F.D.P. and mock primary 4. Compromise?? C. Voting Rights Act of 1965