Booklet 4 - 'I have a dream' - activism - Sits-in ....

• Martin King's aims - non violent methods to get the support of federal government . Peaceful approach to civil rights. Integration -the ending of segregation and allowing whites, African Americans, and all races to be together whether in schools, buses, or movie theaters. ' I have a dream' - support. Focused on South.
• Malcolm X - rejected non violent approach of Martin ; he felt that when black people were faced with police brutality and attacks by white people , they had to fight back. Separatism . Defend themselves. Criticised ' i have a dream' . Focused on social and economic issues of the North. Black Power.
• 'I Have A Dream' speech - August 28th 1963 at Washington DC. 200,000 supporters attended. Called for an end to segregation and equal opportunities for all. He wanted to make America live up to its promise of equality.
• The March On Washington was organised by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
• King changed his views on the issue of civil rights in 1966-68. Vietnamese war - he expressed sympathy for the Vietnamese Communists who were fighting US forces. He supported the left wing revolutionary movements around the world. He was the main speaker at the Spring mobilisation to end war in Vietnam. It was a deliberate attempt by King to align himself with the younger, more radical element of black civil right movement.
• King's views changed in 1966-68 - alienated the President as he didn't support the Vietnam war . It made him very unpopular with many Americans as he was seen supporting communist countries. When changing its focus in North - he wanted massive redistribution of wealth , federal funding which links with communist ideas and views. Poor Relief Campaign .
• Poor Relief Campaign by King , in 1967- in Chicago. It was poorly organised but it tried to highlight the poor housing accommodation for black Americans and employment. He planned a march to highlight the fact that the USA required a major redistribution in economic wealth downward to aid the poor. March's aim was to try to persuade the US Congress to enact King's proposed bill of rights for the disadvantaged. This would involve massive federal funding for poor relied programmes.
• Part 1) Black Panther Party - key figure - Malcolm X. Membership never exceeded 5000 people. The most radical black American group by 1968- adopts the idea of black power and Marxist socialism as its ideology. Initially the black panther party aimed at reform rather than revolution. In 1967, it began a free breakfast programme for black children in Oakland and offered medical advice to the black residents in Oakland ghetto. It also monitored the levels of police brutality and the harassment of black communities by law enforcement officers.
• Part 2) Black Panther party - their 10 point platform included full employment , decent housing, 'education that teaches us our true black history', reparations, self determination, an end to police brutality and ghetto improvements.They had a considerable impact. Their newsletter had a circulation of around 250000 by 1969 and they impressed many ghetto residents with their practical help. They had over 40 clinics advising on health , welfare and legal rights. They provided free breakfast for thousands of black schoolchildren .
• Black Panther believed that blacks had been oppressed for too long and needed to take control of their own lives. Black Panther advocated self-defense against white violence and set up armed patrols to protect themselves from police attacks. Black Panther used guns to intimidate whites into giving them what they wanted. The use of force by the Black Panthers led to violent confrontations between the two groups. The Black Panthers became known as the Black Panthers because of their uniforms which consisted of black leather jackets and berets.
• The Black Panthers also campaigned for better education and job opportunities for black people. The Black Panthers wanted to establish separate black states within the United States where black people could govern themselves without interference from whites. The Black Panthers saw the establishment of separate black states as the only way to achieve true freedom and independence for black people. The Black Panthers demanded reparation payments from the government for past wrongs committed against black people.
• 1960s - most whites were unwilling to finance improvements , particularly after the Vietnam war which led to tax rises. Whites increasingly perceived blacks as seeking 'handouts'. A 1965 poll showed 88% of whites advocated black-self improvement , more education and harder work, rather than government help.
• Many ghetto residents rejected the older civil rights organisations - they considered King's emphasis on the South, the 'white man's' Christian religion, and non-violence to be unhelpful to black ghetto progress. They were inspired by the success of civil rights activism in the South but looked to new leaders like Malcolm X whose 'by any means necessary' philosophy seemed a more appropriate response to white oppression than King's 'love thine enemy'.
• Sits-in - event : 4 black college students spontaneously ignored a request to leave the all-white Woolworth's cafeteria, North Carolina. Other students took up and retained their seats, day after day, forcing the lunch counter to close. This prompted 'sits-in' across the South that were joined by 70,000 students.
• Sits-in - 1960 - groups involved : CORE, SNCC, SCLC - king assured the students the full SCLC support and Atlanta students persuaded him to join them in sits-in.
• Sits-in - 1960 - Significance & impact : it helped erode Jim Crow : loss of business made Woolworth's desegregate all its lunch counters by the end of 1961 , 150 cities soon desegregated various public places. Sits-in confirmed that direct action was the new focus of black activism. It caused divisions in the movement - NAACP, SNCC and SCLC.
• Freedom Rides - 1961 - Event : 2 buses left Washington DC with interracial passengers who travelled across South challenging segregation laws. Racists attacked the passengers. In Alabama, one bus was firebombed and another attacked at Birmingham. At Montgomery, police arrested the Freedom Riders and jailed them for several weeks. SNCC sent reinforcement riders.
• Freedom Rides - 1961 - Groups involved : CORE , SNCC .
• Freedom Rides - 1961 - Significance & Impact : it highlighted the need for federal intervention to protect civil rights activists. It demonstrated how much opposition there still was to integration in the South. It brought about change - Interstate Commerce Commission banned segregation on interstate transport. Black divisions still continued.
• Birmingham - 1963 - events : Birmingham campaign as Birmingham was famous from being racist and appalling civil rights record. SCLC had to use demonstrators in crowded areas to give the impression of mass action and to encourage onlookers to participate. SCLC enlisted black schoolchildren . It attracted national attention - King defied an injuction and marched knowing his arrest would gain national attention - 'Letter from Birmingham Jail'. 500 young marchers were in custody, treated badly, police sent dogs after them, put in prison - made headlines. It was broadcasted live in Tvs.
• Birmingham - 1963 - Groups involved : SCLC , King , Bull Connor (police chief).
• Part 1) Birmingham - 1963 - Significance & Impact : it showed the power of nonviolent protest. The violence shown by the police led to national condemnation and Kennedy felt he could no longer ignore the issue. It also revealed the deep divisions within the Civil Rights Movement. Was a success. Gained attention - demonstrated segregation at its worst to the USA and the world. Made it crucial for the federal government to get involved . It inspired protests throughout the South.
• Part 2) Birmingham - 1963 - Significance & Impact : it showed the power of nonviolent protest. It led to President Kennedy introducing Civil Rights Bill which outlawed discrimination in employment and education. It also led to the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The violence shown on TV shocked many Americans into supporting civil rights reforms. It increased support for the March on Washington.
• March on Washington, 1963 - event : aimed at encouraging passage of the civil rights bill and promoting black employment opportunities. There were roughly 25% of the predominantly middle class crowd of around 250,000 white/people. Martin King gave his most famous speech ' I have a dream' - his memorable speech made a powerful appeal to white America.
• March on Washington 1963 - groups involved : all black organisations - SCLC, CORE, NAACP, SNCC, black unions.
• March on Washington 1963 - significance & impact : it brought together different civil rights groups and helped to create unity between them. It encouraged more people to join the movement. It gained media coverage and publicity. It highlighted the need for change. It provided momentum for the Civil Rights Bill. It boosted morale among activists who saw that their efforts were making progress. It was peaceful and non violent.
• Part 2) March on Washington 1963 - impact : was the first and only time the major civil rights leaders collaborated on a national under talking/campaign. It impressed television audiences worldwide. Strong emotional appeal and impact. Send the bill to Congress. All major civil rights groups.
• Freedom Summer 1964 - event : organised by SNCC with the aim of registering as many African American voters as possible. Northern white volunteers poured into Mississipi to help - America took notice when 3 young activist - 2 white, 1 black were murdered. Black freedom involvement ; only 5.2% black adults could vote ; opened offices at inconvenient hours to stop black voters registration ; set impossible questions.
• Freedom Summer 1964 - groups involved : SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), NAACP.
• Mississipi Freedom Summer, 1964 - impact : SNCC helped to politicise many poor Missisipians , develop new grassroots , leaders, bring black Mississipi suffering to national attention and ironically to promote black power. To empower local residents to participate in local, state, and national elections.
• Litigation - meaning taking legal action - NAACP - Brown v Board of Education brought to supreme court by NAACP. Its chief lawyer argued that 'separate but equal' educational facilities in public schools was a breach of 14th Amendment which granted all US citizens equal protection of the law. It was a culmination of efforts by NAACP to overturn Plessy v Ferguson.
• Litigation - Brown v Board of Education - 1st major attack on legal segregation in South. It met with criticism from Southern white politicians - Supreme Court declared in 1955 , Brown II case - demanded the speedy integration of public schools within USA. But no actual date set, South government can take as long as they want.
• Litigation - Earl Warren - chief justice of supreme court. He was able to persuade other justices that a unanimous decision was needed in order to ensure the significance of change - to Southern states that were likely to resist the decision. 9-0 voted in favour - unable to challenge - clear and strong message.
• Litigation - in 1956 - Browden v Gayle - declared that legal segregation of black and white passengers on public transports within cities - unconstitutional. Due to the events of the bus boycott Montgomery.
• Litigation - 1960 - Boynton v Virginia - declared that bus depots were illegal.
• Litigation - in 1962 - Bailey v Patterson - declared that legal segregation on interstate public transport was unconstitutional.
• Black power - used to describe the new radical activism. Wanted greater economic and political power - separatism. Freedom no longer appropriate as their aim. The most radical black american group tp adopt the idea of black power was the Black Panther Party.
• Black Power - rose due to the contribution of - influence of Malcolm X, ghetto problems, and experiences of SNCC and CORE. Led to the expulsion of whites from SNCC and CORE. CORE endorsed black power - declared non-violence inappropriate if black needed to defend themselves.
• Black Power - contributed to black pride. Raised black american's morale. Encouraged college courses on black history and culture.