Challenges and Changes in the Movement

Northern Segregation◦De jure segregation Segregation by law

◦De facto segregation Segregation by practice and custom Harder to fight Requires change of racist attitudes, not laws

African Americans Seek Greater Equality

Urban Violence Erupts◦July 1964 – Harlem riot Response to death of 15-yr old African

American student

Aug. 11, 1965 – LAPD arrest Marquette Frye for drunk driving◦Crowd gathered around scene Threw rocks at officer

◦Frye, his brother Ronald and their mother arrested

◦Crowd became agitated and became violent

Watts Riots

Riots last 6 days◦34 killed◦$30 million in property damaged

1967 – riots in 100 cities◦Causes Need for economic equality of

opportunity in jobs, housing, education War in Vietnam

African American Solidarity◦Malcolm X Studied Elijah Muhammad Member of Nation of Islam Becomes minister in 1952 Favored by Elijah Muhammad

New Leaders Voice Discontent

Preached views of Muhammad◦Whites were cause of black suffering◦Blacks should separate from white society

◦Armed self-defense◦“White Devil”◦Helped convert Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali

Gains Publicity◦Effects Call for armed self-defense frightens whites and moderate African Americans

Attention for Malcolm X caused resentment within Nation of Islam

Ballots or Bullets?◦March 1964 – Malcolm X breaks from Nation of Islam

◦Makes pilgrimage to Mecca – holy city of Islam Learns orthodox Islam preached equality of all races

Worshiped alongside people from many countries

Radically changed Malcolm’s thinking◦Maintained hatred of racism and injustice

“Any Negro who teaches other Negroes to turn the other cheek is disarming the Negro…of his natural right to defend himself. Now you’re facing a situation when the young Negro’s coming up. They don’t want to hear that ‘turn –the-other-cheek stuff, no…There’s new thinking coming in. There’s new strategy coming in…It’ll be ballots, or it’ll be bullets. It’ll be liberty, or it will be death.

◦Ballots or Bullets becomes motto If people don’t vote, then they will be

forced to fight Voting should be tried

Malcolm X fears for life◦Feb 21, 1965 – assassinated

June 6, 1966◦James Meredith shot during “march against

fear” ◦220 miles from Tennessee to Jackson, MS

March carried on by leaders of civil rights groups◦SCLC – MLK◦CORE – Floyd McKissick◦SNCC – Stokely Carmichael ◦SNCC and CORE more militant than SCLC

Black Power

Carmichael arrested in Greenwood, MS◦Marchers protest arrest◦Carmichael speaks – “Black Power”

Black Power◦Call for black people to define their own goals

◦Lead own organizations◦Urged SNCC not to recruit whites

◦Tommy Smith and John Carlos 1968 Mexico City Olympics Stripped of their medals

Huey Newton and Bobby Seale◦Oakland 1966◦Political party organized to fight police brutality in ghettos Advocated taking control of communities in which African Americans lived

Wore all black Carried guns

Black Panther Party

Full Employment Decent Housing Decent Education that teaches Black History Immediate End to Police Brutality Land, Bread, Housing, Education, Clothing,

Justice, Peace and People’s Community Control

Ten Point Program

Dr. King’s Death◦April 3, 1968 – gives “Mountaintop

speech” ◦April 4 – assassinated by James Earl Ray Memphis, Tennessee

1968 – Turning Point in Civil Rights

Reactions◦RFK calls for nonviolence Wants to prevent riots

◦Rage leads to rioting 125 cities

Kerner Commission◦March 2, 1968 Identified white racism as main cause of urban violence

Called for nation to create new jobs, housing

End de facto segregation

Legacy of Civil Rights Movement

Civil Rights Gains◦Civil Rights Act of 1968 Banned discrimination in housing

◦Increased African American pride in racial identity

◦Political gains 1970 – 2/3 of eligible voters registered

Unfinished work◦Challenges for movement changed Housing and job discrimination Educational inequality Poverty and racism

◦Require change in attitudes and behavior Whites resist changes

Inspires other groups to gain rights