4.4 SCLC and the work and impact of MLK Flashcards
Why did King choose Birmingham?
SCLC felt it needed to demonstrate that it oculd be dynamic and successful in the face of compting civil rights organsion and the increasing acttractiveness of Black Nationalism
King described B as ‘by far’ America’s ‘ worst big city’ for racism = under the public safety commissioner ‘bull’ connoer = B likely to produce violent white opposition that would gain media attention = national symp
Events in Birmingham 1963
SCLC and King led, rather than being invited.
Use of police dogs and water canon against non-violent protests by police chief ‘Bull’ O’Connor = publicity.
Kennedy send federal troops to restrore peace.
King arrested – ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’. ( people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws and to take direct action rather than waiting potentially forever for justice to come through the courts.)
Only limited concessions won within Birmingham
But JFK promised a Civil Rights
Publicity produced sig factor in Kennedy pressing forward with CR leg.
Poll after Birmingham showing that 42% of people thought race was America’s biggest issue, compared to just 4% in 1962
Poll after Birmingham showing that… of people thought race was America’s biggest issue, compared to just …. in 1962`
Poll after Birmingham showing that 42% of people thought race was America’s biggest issue, compared to just 4% in 1962
Significance of Birmingham
1) Little changed in B itself, but SCLC’s campaign inspired Protests throughout the south and demonstrated seg at its worst.
2) Made Kennedy push for CR act 1964
Problems/Failures Birmingham
Little impact in initial years after its creation. E.g. A longer-term campaign to get B.A to vote was less successful. It was called the Crusade for Citizenship, 1958 – 1960 – to encourage more voter registration amongst black Americans. Ineffective, partly due to poor organisation and lack of money.
1963 Birmingham. King criticised for being hypocritical over tactics, e.g. non-violent actions did promote violent actions from opposition. Knowingly planned demos that would lead to violence
March On Washington 1963 –
not organised by SCLC, but by A. Philip Randolph.
250,000. King gave Key note address ‘I have a dream’.
But – Congress was left unmoved by it.
Combination of events 1963 promoted pres.
Kennedy to go nationwide tele to announce that he would introduce a civil rights bill to congress to outlaw racial discrimination
Problems/Failures March On Washington 1963
1960 King moved the HQ of SCLC to Atlanta. Felt the SCLC had not achieved much. Problem of lack of organisation and ideas. (e.g. sit-ins, freedom rides not initiated by King. Greensboro sit-in had had a major impact).
1964 – King awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize = an international figure
1964 King visited Harlem during black riots but seen by some as
an ‘Uncle Tom’.
1965 – Selma, Alabama.TO MONGOMERy
Alabama. half of pop black. Wide segregation. E.g. newspaper kept white and black news separate. Huge difference between standards in white and black areas. Only 23 blacks registered to vote. = a symbol of resistance to the civil rights movement – 1964 act, little effect. Sheriff Jim Clark – expected to act brutally = the SCLC would achieve publicity.
What happened? 1965 – Selma, Alabama.
King led would-be voters to register BUT no registrations. Black youth shot. Black woman clubbed = publicity, but not as much as hoped for. A March was organised by SCLC & SNCC to Montgomery, calling for a Voting Rights act. 80 whites joined. Marchers attacked by state troopers with clubs, tear gas. ‘Bloody Sunday’ – national criticism. (and international). King criticised for getting marchers to approach state troopers, then retreat.
Significance Selma, Alabama.
King pleased with extent of national criticism. Other interracial marches in other cities, e.g. Chicago, NY, Boston, Detroit. Voting Rights Act succeeded.
Roughly half of Selma’s …. population was black but despite an SNCC Campaign, there were only 2.. reg B. Voters
29,000
23
Which to CR organisations organised the march from Selma to Montgomery?
SCLC + SNCC
Y was it called the ‘bloody sunday’ = sELMA
Television viewwers saw state troopers attack the marchers with clubs and tear gas in a ‘bloody sunday’ that aroused nationwide criticism of Selma’s whites.
