African Americans Flashcards
- position in 1865, Reconstruction, white reaction and discrimination - the role of African Americans in gaining civil rights (e.g. Booker T Washington, Dubois, Martin Luther King, the Black Panthers) - the roles of Federal (Presidents, Congress and Supreme Court) and State governments in the struggle - the role of anti and pro-civil rights groups - the Civil Rights Movement to 1992
How did the position of African Americans change from 1865-1992?
(What were the turning points?)
Possible turning points:
- 1930s New Deal
- 1960s Civil Rights movement
Many sig. gains made over the period i.e the right to vote, integration of schools etc.
However socially still regressive as shown through the 1992 Rodney King assault by police officers - discriminatory attitudes still present
What was the social trend over time for AAs CR? Judgement on how far AA rights had improved socially?
The period between 1865-1992 saw significant improvements to the social position of AAs . Although substantial improvements were made regarding the social position of AAs, the struggle for full social equality continued well into the 1990s as despite symbolic legislative progress, racist notions and systemic racism had not been eradicated as clearly demonstrated by the 1992 Rodney King case.
Judgement concerning the improvement etc of economic rights?
Whilst there were marked improvements by the end of the 20th century, there was still a significant economic/wealth gap between AAs & Whites, indicating that the economic integration of AAs was far from incomplete by 1992.
- Median income for Black families by 1990 = 42% less than white families
Judgement concerning political rights across the period?
What was the position of AAs post Civil War?
- The war left unresolved the position of African Americans- former slaves should leave or ensure African Americans had the same rights as white people.
- ‘Sharecropping’- white landowners allowed former slaves to work on their land in return for a share of what’s produced.
- Violence and limitations after the war- Post-war period was characterised by uncertainty, Govt didnt know what to do with the freed slaves and Southern rebels.
- White pop reluctant.
- African Americans were uncertain about their role in post-war America and how to push for equality.
How important were the US govt in the devt of AA rights
Influence of SC on AA CR: Brown vs Board - 1954
overturning
Plessy vs Fergusson - 1896
Demonstrates a somewhat significant change as this was the SC overturning its own decision. Set a legal precedent that was later used to overturn other laws enforcing segregation, but did little to actually integrate schools.
Federal Govt helped improve rights (politically) - synthesis
Federal Govt helped improve rights (socially) - synthesis
Socially, it can be argued that the Federal Govt, despite hindering AA’s rights at intervals throughout the period, was crucial in advancing AA rights through the pursuit of landmark legislation:
- 13th Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery in the United States, 14th Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all US citizens & 15th Amendment (1870): Prohibited the federal government and states from denying citizens the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
- 1954 Brown vs. The board of education overturned the 1896 Plessy vs. Fergusson ruling that enshrined a ‘seperate but equal’ ideology in law = segregation now unconstitutional!
- 1964 Civil Rights act
- 1968 Fair Housing Act
- 1971 Swann Vs. Charlotte Board of Education act = Govt. enforced desegregation
All led to eth dismantling of the racist system of segregation.
Federal Govt failed/hindered improvement of rights (socially) - synthesis
- The 3 different amendments = poorly enforced
- 1877 Jim Crow laws = heavily restricted Black people socially as they enforced segregation in most if not all areas of life i.e. black ppl couldn’t use teh same public transport, bathrooms, restaurants etc as whites.
- 1896 Plessy vs. Fergusson SC ruling upheld the idea of ‘seperate but equal’ & backtracking on any previous progress
- 1930s The New Deal somewhat enforced discrimination socially as work camps provided through the Civilian Conservation Corps were segregated & Blacks were given the worst jobs.
- Failure to correctly address brutality & racially motivated crimes: 1955 Emmett Till murder, the perpetrators are found not guilty. This persists up to the end of the period as 1992 5 white police officers involved in the assault of Rodney King are acquitted.
Federal Govt helped improve CR (economically) - synthesis
How important was the role of individual AAs in devt of civil rights.
How did Ida B Wells affect/advance the AA’s CR?
- assisted in the successful SC overturning of…in 1892
- Her campaigning & use of journalism exposed the horrors of lynching
How did Booker T. Washington advance AA CR?
Advanced:
- Emphasis on vocational training & econ. self-sufficiency for AAs through the Tuskegee institute = AAs gained skills that made better jobs & econ. stability accessible
Hindered:
- many viewed his approach as an acceptance of racism so radicals like DuBois thought compromise was betrayal
- created rifts between key AA CR leaders
How did W.E.B DuBois advance AA CRs?
Advanced:
- Niagra Movement = laid the foundations for NAACP
- Publicised the fight for CR through media, press and org. marches
Hindered:
- Radicalism isolated him from moderate civil rights leaders & campaigners so faced criticism as a result
How did Marcus Garvey advance AA CRs?
Advanced:
- estab. of the ‘Black Star’ line shipping company and the UNIA successfully mobilised & thus united many (claimed to be 4 mil) AAs.
- Provided a viable strategy of collective action & grassroots mobilisation for future black leaders (Malcolm X)
- emboldened AAs = gave them the notion that they were equal to whites so caused them to push for better rights
Hindered:
- Economic ventures = ult a great failure
- Development of Black Nationalism
How did Philip Randolph advance AA CRs?
Advanced:
- March on Washington 1963, and in 1941 pressurised Truman into the desegregation of the Armed services
- thoroughly understood non-violent protests which were key to the advancement of AA CRs
Hindered:
How did MLK JR advance AA CRs?
Advanced:
Marches & demos brought attention to movement = allowed CR legislation to be passed
- V. aware of importance of media ‘I have a dream speech’ drew int. attention to the movement, pressuring the US govt.
Hindered:
- Whilst he helped to introduce legislation, racism = heavily ingrained in society
- criticised for coop w/ whites by other CR leaders
How did Malcolm X advance AA CRs?
Advanced:
Promoted ‘Black Nationalism’ & involvement w/ Black panthers promoted a sense of pride/identity not reliant on integration.
Influenced ‘Black power’
Hindered:
- not much success in actually engendering CR legislation
- less popular/less support w/in black circles (i.e MLK jr) bc v. extreme
- extremism isolated him from many esp. white liberals = v. key
How strong was opposition to AA civil rights?
The KKK
Attitudes & Actions of State Govt.
The White Citizens Council
Supreme Court
How important were orgs. in AA CR?
Arg. most important was the NAACP or CORE bc NAACP introduced legal acts to improve lives & CORE actually tested the effectiveness of this legislation.
Least important/impactful would be the Nation of Islam or Black Panthers - moreso NOI bc highly militant and exclusionary.
NAACP
Advanced:
- Spearheaded the Montgomery Bus Boycotts which demonstrated the power of local organisations
- Legal campaigns & the role of Thurgood Marshall = Brown vs Board ruling was instrumental in the fight for desegregation & 1944 SC ruling that prevented voting discrimination
- Longest lasting organisation & the 1st group which meant they were key in laying the foundations for other groups i.e the SCLC
Limitations:
- Failed to recruit mass following - only 6000 members by 1915
- Main tactic = litigation & law, didn’t acc change the social atmosphere of the time & often these laws weren’t enforced!!!
CORE
Advanced:
- successful campaigning through freedom rides in 1947 & 61 led to the desegregation of interstate transport
- United white lib. opinion & expertise which showed that there was potential for cooperation and integration
- Freedom rides raised awareness to the cause as provoked mob violence which illustrated the plight of AAs to the public
- Arg. more effective than the NAACP bc they tested the legislation to prove whether it made a difference
SCLC
Advanced:
- Demonstration of 1961 highlights police brutality & draws awareness to movement
- Kings speech 1963 - draws mass support & international attention to the movement
So the effective use of media & bus boycotts etc demonstrated how to implement a grassroots strategy
UNIA
Advanced:
- use of parades = mass mobilisation of AAs with a membership of 1 mil which also gained international support thereby pressurising the US govt. to react
- use of capitalism to devt the Black star shipping company demonstrated that Blacks were equal to Whites & also a viable econ. asset.
Limited:
Continued to restrict the ability to cooperate w/ white liberals due to Black nationalism
NOI
Advanced:
Instrumental in elevating the position of Malcolm X, helping him devt. ideas regarding separatism.
- Provided a community for AAs to develop ideas that they were important ppl, boosting their self-respect.
Limited:
Although key in devt. Malcolm X’s ideas etc which enabled him to have a long-lasting legacy, ult. not v. positively impactful as their radicalism undermined the CR movement
Black Panthers
Advanced:
- Essential in socially boosting AAs in terms of devt. Black culture outside of harmful stereotypes
- Carrying weapons = boosted their confidence & gave rise to the belief that white views could be challenged.
Limited:
Major hinderance bc militant style isolated them from groups i.e SCLC, other CR leaders & lib. whites which were all essential to integration
Economic data: By 1990, how much lower than white families was the median income for Blacks? = what does this suggest??
- 42% lower
- This demonstrates that the wealth gap between Whites & AAs was still quite large & consequently AAs had far from achieved full economic equality by the end of the period.
Economic data: By 1988, what was the % AA poverty rate compared to that of Whites? What does this suggest?
- AA = 31.6%
- Whites = 10.1%
Fact that AA poverty rate was double that of Whites again suggests that near the end of the period, full economic equality had not been achieved despite the previous significant gains.
What year was the Swann Vs Charlotte Board of Education act passed & what was its impact
- 1971
This SC act essentially compounded on the gains put forth in Brown Vs Board, dismantling segregation and allowing Black students to gain an equal education. = demonstrates that the SC now becoming more sympathetic to AA rights.
What year was the Brown vs. Board of Education SC act passed & what was its impact?
- 1954
This act was a landmark event as the SC overturned its 1896 Plessy V. Fergusson ruling, beginning to dismantle segregationist policies.
Political: What year was the Williams vs. Mississippi SC ruling passed & what was its impact?
- 1898
The SC declared that discriminatory legal mechanisms like Black Codes, Grandfather clauses, Literacy tests & Poll taxes that infringed on AA right to vote were constitutional = HUGE undermining of the 15th amendment of 1870 shows that the GOVT is uninterested in preserving or advancing AA CRs!!!!!!
Political: What year was the Smith Vs. Allwright SC act passed? What was its impact?
- 1944
This act essentially declared the discriminatory legal mechanisms preventing AAs from voting unconstitutional.
Highly significant as shows the beginning of a Switch in FG mindset.
BUT most likely motivated by WW2 as had been fighting for the freedom of people & countries yet with AAs still subjugated they seemed hypocritical.
Social opposition: How many members did the KKK have by 1920?
4 million !
