Week 13: The Black Movement

The Black Freedom movement between the 1950s and 1960s came about because of segregation, disenfranchisement of African Americans, Economic Inequality, Legal Discrimination, and cultural attitudes. The African American people in America didn’t have the respect of people who practiced mainstream American culture. Black Power became a statement for those upset about the federal government's failure to stop violence against civil rights workers and civil rights movements failure to have any impact on the economic problems of black ghettos. The Black Power movements main goal was economic equality, political empowerment and recognition of the value of black culture. They advocated for armed self-defense, not violence.  

Despite the African American protest that had already taking place for decades in hopes of equality, more people became involved during this movement. African Americans and their supporters turned to non-violent tactics during broadcasting that gained public attention. This resulted in television broadcasting. The first non-violent movement was the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 that took place in Montgomery, Alabama. People boycotted busses for 381 days to decrease bus companies' profits. African Americans wanted respect and equality when it came to their bus ride experience. The Montgomery Bus Boycott ended with a Supreme Court decision that segregation was illegal in public transportation. The boycott introduced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who became one of the most famous civil rights leaders. He later became president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conferences in 1956. He ended legal segregation, created EEOC to stop discrimination in employment and public institutions based on race, sex and religion. He also fought for the Voting Acts Right of 1965. This act was after the march from Selma to Montgomery. It outlawed literacy test and poll taxes.  It also authorized federal officials to protect African American Voting.  

 The Birmingham Children’s Campaign was the peak point of non-violent protest in 1963. It bought attention to integration efforts of African Americans in Birmingham. Thousands of students attempted to march into downtown Birmingham where hundreds were arrested. Officials were instructed to use force to stop the protestors.  Students were blasted by high-pressure fire hoses, clubbed by police officers. And attacked by dogs all over television and newspapers. Birmingham was considered one of the most successful campaigns of the civil rights era because the city of Birmingham later desegregated lunch counters, restrooms, drinking fountains, and department store fitting rooms.  

Major organizations formed from the black freedom movement were CORE, SCLC and SNCC. Core was congress on radical Equality. It focused on desegregation in the North. SCLC was the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and they used non-violent tactics. They focused on the legal system. It was led by MLK and ministers. The SNC was the student nonviolent coordination committee and began with sit-ins but later focused on voter registration campaigns in the south by student youth.  

 

Standing for Equality

Mintz, S., & McNeil, S. (2018). 

Digital History : Closing The Western Frontier

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraID=9&smtID=2