Black Americans in the South, pre-1955 Flashcards
Pre 1955 Context
Jim Crow Laws
Introduced post-1877 in the Old South - segregation of black and white Americans in public schools, lunch counters, toilets etc
Not in Northern states, but racial discrimination remained
Pre 1955 Context
Plessy vs Ferguson (1896)
Reinforced segregation
‘Separate but equal’ facilities legal
Pre 1955 Context
Social Inferiority
Segregation demonstrated inferior social status
Black people relegated to back of the bus, can’t go to lunch counters, have to use ‘coloured’ water fountains + sit in ‘coloured’ sections of movie theatres
Pre 1955 Context
Political Inferiority
80% of black Americans unable to vote
Variety of methods used to prohibit registration - violence, intimidation
White registrars close offices or ask detailed or impossible questions
Pre 1955 Context
Economic Inferiority
Slowly growing black middle class, but most inferior economic status
1949, South Carolina - $179 per annum for white child, $43 for black child in education
Segregated universities - fewer qualifications + materials
Pre 1955 Context
Legal Inequality
Violence + intimidation used to maintain power - no legal protection for black people
1955 - 14 yr old Emmett Till wolf whistled at a white woman, then killed, murderers boasted but not punished
Pre 1955 Context
NAACP
Formed 1909 - National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People
Aimed to make 11 million black citizens economically, intellectually, politically, and socially free
Pre 1955 Context
Three Strategies
Challenge legality of Jim Crow laws in Supreme Court
Pressure politicians to change attitudes
Organise local community and encourage popular resistance
Pre 1955 Context
Tactics
Newspaper, The Crisis - published black grievances
Local branches initiated protests
Lawyers fought inequalities in education + law courts
Pre 1955 Context
Main Aim
Overturn Plessy v Ferguson
1950 - won Supreme Court ruling against segregated universities in the South
1954 - Brown v Topeka Board of Education, segregated schools unconstitutional
Pre 1955 Context
Change?
Removed constitutional support for segregation (de jure)
But no powers of enforcement, so little de facto change
Pre 1955 Context
Significance of NAACP Activity
Multiple strategies used, de jure change
Gained momentum for other legal changes
Supreme Court lacked enforcement power, NAACP needed other strategies
Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56)
Context
Buses in South segregated, black people have to give up seats
1955 - NAACP wanted to bring case to Supreme Court so set up Rosa Parks to be arrested as a figurehead
Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56)
Tactics
Rosa Parks arrested + fined $14, 1/12/1955
Legal case and local boycott
Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56)
Local Boycott
Montgomery Improvement Association (civil rights organisation)
MLK figureheaded movement, hope of uniting black community
Lasted over a year, and 85% of Montgomery’s black community boycotted the buses
Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56)
Impact
Companies lost 65% of revenue
Montgomery authorities arrested King + 156 protestors, King given year in prison - increased media attention + more support for boycott
Led to establishment of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, escalated King to national civil rights leader
Browder vs Gayle (1956)
What Was It?
US Supreme Court ruling - made segregation of all buses illegal
Browder vs Gayle (1956)
Impact
21st December, Montgomery Bus Company desegregated their buses
Demonstrated efficacy of popular direct action
Bus Boycott + Browder v Gayle
Significance
Use of direct action protests effective tactic - set precedent
Demonstrated united strength + economic power
Media attention generated - demonstrated injustice
King established as figurehead
Lack of de facto change - federal law needed
