Attempts to tackle racial inequality Flashcards
Origins of Bus boycott
One of the first attempts to tackle racial inequality was when Rosa Parks refeused to give up her seat on the bus she was on to a white passenger.
In Montgomery, Alabama 1955, the population was 70,000 white people and 50,000 black people.
The segregation was very strict
A.As had to use separate bathrooms and park benches. They also couldn’t sit in cinemas or restaurants with white people.
Segregation on public transport was the worst even though 75% on the revenue was p
From A.As.
When Parks refused to give up her seat, the man threatens to call the police on her, she said “Yiu may do that”.
Her bravery led to the Montgomery bus boycott which inspired other places in the South to protest for racial inequality.
Boycott plans and prep
Black leaders organised the Montgomery Bus Boycott to tackle racial inequality.
The ‘Women’s Political Council’ distributed 30,000 leaflets for the cause.
The MIA was also created and Martin Luther King was elected as the leader as he had no history with clashing with local authorities.
Church leaders like MLK used churches as a network for organising the Boycott.
They encouraged carpooling so people wouldn’t want to break the boycott.
When A.A taxi drivers were threatened to have their licenses taken off of them for lowering their fares to match the bus fares - $10, the MIA raised $30,000 to subsidise the drivers.
Use of peaceful protests
As the boycott continued, MLK encouraged the use of peaceful protests to tackle racial inequality.
“We must use the weapon of love”.
this was inspired by the Christian ideal to “Turn the other cheek”.
use peaceful protests was crucial so that A.As would’nt be demonised and seen as troublemakers.
in 1965, when Black churches were burnt down and and angry mob of 300 people swarmed MLKs house he told that, “ if you have weapons, take them home”.
using peaceful protests was crucial during the sit ins and the freedom rides which inspired acts like the Civil Rights act 1965 which outlawed discrimination.
Media
90% of People in the US had a TV in the early 60s.
MLK ensured there was media present at the Boycott and other protests so people would see the discrimination.
Images of Innocent, peaceful A.As being beaten by police or subjected to violence from the KKk were being beamed into people’s homes.
This tactic was successful in Events like Birmingham Alabama and the Bus Boycott.
The use of media encouraged the public to see the discrimination and encouraged the passing of the Civil rights Act 1964, which outlawed segregation based on religion, race or gender.
214 cities were segregated after this act.
Sit ins, nashville
in the 60s, A.As were’nt allowed to be served in restaurants.
the the 27th of February 1960, students staged a sit in in Nashville, Tennessee.
over 150 students were arrested for refeusing to vacate store counters when asked to move by the police.
the protesters also got attacked by the white people in the stores.
this campaign successfully desegregated lunch counters, however sit ins continued until the Civil rights 1964 act which desegregated 214 Cities.
SCLC
MLK formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957 to improve Civil Rights for A.As.
The Organisation was active in boycott campaigns and coordinated a network of A.A Churches across the south to support the movement.
The SCLC encouraged the method of Peaceful Protests.
“We must use the weapon of love”.
In its early years the org. had over 100 member org.s across the south.
The SCLC also coordinated the ‘March On Washington’, where 250,000 people participated.
The SCLCs hard work led to the passing of the Civil Rights Act 1964 and the Voting Rights Act 1665.
Birmingham, Alabama
The Protest at Birmingham, Alabama was organised by MLKs SCLC to protests against the racism there.
Birmingham was known as “one of the most racist cities in the south”.
Chief “Bull” Connor enforced segregation with extreme measures like using water canons and dogs to attack protesting A.As.
MLK was arrested after leading the March to protest segregation and discrimination.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”
Kings leadership led to Chief Connor becoming an international symbol of bigotry, which led to extreme change in the South like the Civil rights act which desegregated 214 Cities in the South.
March on Washington
Martin Luther King and the SCLC coordinated the ‘March on Washington’ to demand Civil rights for A.As.
250,000 people including 50,000 white Americans marched to Lincoln Memorial.
MLK made his famous “I have a dream speech”.
“All Men are Created equally”.
King’s perseverance inspired Lyndon Johnson to pass the Civil rights act and the Voting rights act, which outlawed segregation and ended literacy tests and voting taxes.
Selma March
In response to the First Selma March on March 7th, king called for a second March on the 9th.
This was because the first match failed due to the brutal violence which got it nicknamed “Bloody Sunday”.
More than 500 people were hospitalised.
King and other leaders led the March but had to turn around to avoid violence from State troops.
This event highlighted A.A discrimination and led to the Voting rights act 1964 which outlawed literacy tests and pol taxes.
In 1968, 63% of A.As voted.
Civil Rights Act
1964
Lyndon b Johnson knew how to “wheel the deal”
Used Southern background to appeal to doubters.
214 cities segregated
A.a
a unemployment dropped to 7% in late 60s
Voting Rights Act
1665
“Prohibits to deny… Any US citizen to vote on account of race or colour”
A.As regaistered to vote rose from 21% to 63% in 1968
