Chapter 15 African Americans in the North and South- Johnson Flashcards
what was the significance of the timing of Kennedy’s death?
His death came after the successes of Birmingham and the March on Washington, King and the SCLC were aware of the need to pressure Johnson into reviving the Civil Rights Bill that Kennedy had introduced. They had planned to target cities that would produce the maximum media response.
In early 1964 the SCLC went to St Augustine in Florida where they were able to help the local NAACP organise sit-ins.
what was the significance of increasing the black vote?
In mississppi during the summer of 1964 the SNCC and CORE extended their involvement in the deep south, this was to deal with the violent opposition that black Americans were facing whilst trying to vote. Only 6.2% of African Americans were on the voting rolls. SNCC activist Robert Moses proposed that northern white student volunteers join black acitivists for local campaigns in Mississppi. Despite the high chance of arrest over 1000 students joined the protest, they recieved training and travelled to the south to register voters, they also taught literary and civics at 41 freedom schools. They also wanted to promost the MFDP challenge to the all-white Democratic delegation at the summer’s Democratic National Convention in Atlantic city, New Jersey.
what were the consequences of the campaign to increase the black vote in the Summer of 1964.
after just one week of the campaign three civil rights workers were reported missing in Mississppi.
Two white northerners disappeared while visiting Philadelphia and were later found dead after an FBI investigation.
The killings outraged the SNCC who felt that the federal government had offered no protection to the Freedom Summer participants.
17,000 black residents of mississppi attempted to vote and only 1600 were approved which highlighted the need for further legislation.
The MFDP, which was led by Fannie Lou Hamer travelled to Atlantic city and succeeded in getting some of its members seated in the Democratic Party Convention.
During the campaign as a whole there were 1062 arrests, 37 churches were bombed and 80 workers reported being taken.
SNCC members became fustrated by government inaction and the focus on King, who in October 1964, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize- the populous was becoming fustrated that he was entangled with the elite.
who was Fannie Lou Hamer?
she was sterilised without her consent in 1961 this was part of a programmed to reduce the poor black population. She soon became an active SNCC member and she was delegate of the MFDP in 1964 and was active in both anti-war movement and the feminist movement., yet Johnson would convince her not to speak- displayed how he valued the white-texan vote. “ I am sick and tired of being sick and tired”.
in 1962 she was prevented from voting and would have to take a literacy test, even in 1963 when she wouldnt have to take the test, though she would not have any poll-tax receipts.
This is key as she witnessed white supremacy on mass.
what was the significance of selma?
this was caused by the failure of the CRA 1964 to address voting and the Freedom Summer led to the SCLC to target voting and triggered the events of Selma in 1965, this was said to be “the movements finest hour”. 50% of selma’s population was black and only 23 of them were able to vote.
Jim Clark was a combustible figure and many people during the Selma march were beaten. 3000 were arrested, this included King, King also planned a march from Selma to Montgomery but was attacked. This was known as “bloody sunday” and brought attention to the need to push for a Voting Rights Act, this would come in 1965 would display the impact of federal intervention.
what was the opposition to mainstream Civil Rights Movement?
The SNCC accused King and the SCLC of leaving a “string of embittered cities” as they would gain maximum media attention from the towns and move on. The SCLC was accused of having a “leader worship”, this is a key example of King become connected to the elite. The SCLC increasingly spent money on campaigns in the north of the USA.
in the north the NOI had lost influence after Malcom X left the organisation, he made negative comments about the death of JFK, Malcom came into conflict with fellow ministers and chose to embark on a pilgrimage to Mecca. it seemed that Malcom X was coming to an agreement with southern civil rights groups and was less critical of them than he had been previously, he was soon assassinated in February 1965.
what was the significance of Johnson’s role in passing Civil Rights legislation?
As he was a southern senator he had a mixed record when it came to civil rights, he didn’t sign the 1956 southern manifesto, he was senate majority leader in 1957 and made sure that Eisenhower’s CRA was diluted. As Kennedy’s civil rights bill was struggling to pass through he did show enormous skill when he was able to pass it through. He did also show evidence that he was in support of the Civil rights movement noticing how black people were viewed, wrongly as someone to “look down upon” by white people.
The CRA was hard to pass and despite 68% of the public support the bill was subject to a 54 day filibuster, this was an attempt by the Dixiecrats to stop the bill. This meant that the south would turn to the Republican party.
The 1964 CRA made de sure segregation a crime, for example it would further school desegregation.
The voting rights act would also further the efforts that were made by Johnson, this abolished literacy tests.
The 1968 civil rights act, outlawed racial discrimination in the sale of houses- this policy was significant as Johnson was able to succeed against the dixie cats.
what was significant about King furthering the fight for inequality?
the achievements of the 1964 and 65 legislation, led King and the SCLC to look North for more their next intervention. This new movement led King to Chicago in 1966, a city where 700,000 were black.
how did Chicago fail?
- there was a lack of political support and poor planning.
- King was becoming part of the elite, he had an apartment that was furbished to avoid media attention
-a July 1966 rally gathered 30,000 people instead of 100,000. - meetings between King and Daley were unproductive
- $2 million dollar damages at an event
- there was a march through the white- working class area of Cicero, there was opposition with derogatory terms spouted.
- $4 million of federal funds was made available by Johnson though this was not the correct amount that was needed.
- 1966 James Meredith attended a 200 mile walk, on the second day he was shot and unable to continue.
- there was the increasing difference between the Stokely Carmichael leader of the SCLC group, he demanded black power, this increased militancy alarmed King as he felt it had the power to alienate Johnson.
what was King’s suggestion of how to deal with the issues at hand?
King believed that Washington was the place to go, rather than Chicago, King received a message from Bobby Kenney, encouraging him to bring the “poor people to Washington”. Yet, before the events could take place King was assassinated on 4th April- his death sparked riots that lasted a number of days. There were disturbances in 200 cities during this time.
he died on 4th April 1968
what was the significance of Riots during this time?
In the summers from 1965-68 ghettos all across America erupted in violence. In the riot of Watts, LA there were 34 deaths, 3500 arrests and $40 million of damage.
There was also serious rioting that took place in Detroit, the Kerner Commission report, reported that America was moving toward societies that were “separate and unequal”.
These riots angered Johnson as he felt that he had done more than any presidents in recent history to help deal with the problem of civil rights.
With there being a lot of focus on the riots in the media, the prospect of radicalisation did allow the matter to be kept firmly in the media.
what was the significance of Carmichael and his speech at the University of California?
This speech is seen to be in the move of the American Dream, California is a liberal place, home to the youth. “intellectual ghetto of the west”, detachment from his culture, calls out white privilege. Sarcasm- is able to connect with the youth.
what is the significance of MLK?
he is appreaciated within political groups which leads to change, his publicity means that he can gain media attention.
though, him being a part of the black elite means that there are limits to his access to people.
how does he compare to Carmichael?
Carmichael was able to refashion the SNCC, he represents the younger generation.
Though, Carmichael does also have the intellectual skills of MLK.
What is the significance of Malcom X? and how does he compare to Carmichael?
He is a black man who has spent time in prison, so he knows the system.
He will turn white people away from the CRM, 1959 the hate that hate produced.
He is not united among the other groups, his religion differs from the other groups.
Malcom X does not seek to engage with white people.
