African American progress groups Flashcards
Freedman Bureau 1865-72
Welfare agency for black people paid for by the federal government, gave short-term support to provide a basis for their long-term security.
Built hospitals and gave medical assistance to over 1m.
More than 1,000 black schools built and teacher training was given.
Provided over 21m rations.
BUT, only lasted 7 years and was run by whites. Educational assistance only provided to a minority, 65% of black children could’t read or write by 1890, compared to 15% white children.
NAACP, 1909 onwards
Focused on change through legislation and the Supreme Court.
Brown vs Topeka was a big win for NAACP as they could then challenge separate but equal in other areas.
Anti-lynching, voting, education, employment.
Helped launch the Mississippi freedom summer.
Thurgood Marshall was a main lawyer for the NAACP, he became the first Supreme Court judge to be black.
Challenged Jim Crow in the Supreme Court.
Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 changed how the NAACP operated and introduced the idea of using organisation and economic pressure and publicity.
Instrumental in the 1959 campaign to integrate schools in Little Rock.
BUT slow to progress. The actual enforcement of legislation was beyond the NAACP.
CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) 1942 onwards.
Began the 1947 Freedom Rides in the south when 8 white activists challenged segregation on buses in the south, this was furthered in 1961.
Promoted MLK’s views.
Helped with the freedom summer in 1961.
First public disobedience group.
Worked with SCLC and SNCC.
Non-violent direct action provoked mob violence in Anniston and Birmingham.
BUT, initially 2/3 of membership was white, it provoked more violence from white people. Was split over black power.
Urban league, 1920s onwards
After mass migration North in WW1 and then WW2, there were hundreds of urban communities in the North that were Ghettos.
Gave economic and practical help.
When the movement became more radical in the 1960s they were at the forefront with lots of different sections in local communities, idea of racial uplift.
Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) December 1955 onwards.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 13 months and ended with Browder vs Gayle ruling segregation on all travel to be unconstitutional.
They had lots of influence in the black community, led by MLK.
Continued campaigning into the 1960s.
BUT, after MLK moved to Atlanta they became less influential.
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) 1957 onward
They gained support for non-violent resistance.
Played a significant role in the voter registration fight.
Spread MLK’s message.
Encouraged coalitions and helping each other.
Reacted to events and organised campaigns.
BUT, had lots of internal arguments after MLK death in 1968. Criticised for non-violence and letting black people get harmed. Didn’t adapt to new issues like black power.
SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee)1960-73
Sit in protests such as the Greensboro Woolworth’s sit ins in 1960 challenged segregation laws.
A youth form of the SCLC, originally associated with them.
Participated in the freedom rides/summer.
BUT, separated from SCLC and moved away from non-violence when Stokely Carmichael got involved.
Nation of Islam.
They aimed to improve poverty and economic situation in black communities.
Malcom X was their public speaker.
Marketed Islam as the black people’s true religion.
Extremely strong ideologies.
Gained huge support from poor young black males especially.
250,000 strong under E. Muhammad.
BUT, it alienated white people and created fear, FBI said it was a threat to national security.
Made no progress in law.
Elijah Muhammad was exposed for adultery with his secretaries and fathered multiple children with them.
Black Panthers. 1966 onwards
Had a 10 point programme.
Social programmes included free breakfasts, education and health clinics.
Encouraged black power, wore military style uniforms and policed the police.
Sickle-cell clinics helped massive numbers of African Americans.
Wanted economic and political equality.
BUT, violence lost them some support and slow progress. Communist ties created fear and a ‘red scare’ from white Americans.
Black Power
Pushed for blacks to acheive political, social and economic freedom.
Strong rooting in education for blacks in order for black success to take place.
Encouraged black pride, growing afros, wearing African garments etc.
Mobilised black voters.
Achieved notability in the media.
Encouraged expression of African heritage.
BUT, alienated itself from mainstream CR movement. Supported black separationism. Criticised by politicians and SCLC, accused of being a reverse KKK.
