Civil Rights in 50s Flashcards
Segregation and Discrimination
- In most states there were segregation laws in place
- They were called Jim Crow laws and they meant Blacks had to go to different schools, sit on different parts of the bus, use different parks, etc
- This was most prevelant in the South but even in the North discrimination meant that Blacks had much worse standards of living
- Blacks had lower incomes, and higher unemployment rates, forcing them to live in poorer areas called ghettos
- Theoretically blacks had the right to vote, but few could due to the difficult literacy tests, expensive poll tax and violence against those who tried to vote
- They faced many lynchings, especially in the south, and it was hard to get justice because the police were often racist
The Influence of the Federal Government in Segregation
- Congress needed the support of southern racist politicians
- Meant presidents who wanted change could not enact it
- The supreme court was independent of politics and should have banned segregation, but they didn’t
- Instead they set a precedent of seperate but equal through Plessy vs Ferguson, which made it hard to overturn in courts
The Impact of Brown vs Topeka
Prior to Brown vs Topeka whites and blacks had to go to different schools. White students got 4x the spending per student, led to the NAACP focusing on stopping segregation in education.
In 1951, Lyndon Brown was applied for a elementary school, was rejected based on race, Lyndon’s parents brought the case to court, they were rejected because of Plessy vs Ferguson, the NAACP pushed the issue to the supreme court.
In 1952, the trial was opened in the supreme court, a therapist stated that segregated schools damaged Black American children psychologically. In May 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation was unconstitutional, breaking the legal precedent and theoretically desegregating schools.
This had little immediate impact, progress was slow and black people felt integration was difficult. However it brought hope that conditions for black people could change.
Effects:
- Broke the legal precedent of Plessy vs Ferguson, government accepted segregation was wrong
- Intensified racism and segregation against blacks
- Caused White Flight
- Closed down good Black schools
- Integration was difficult for black children
- Progress was slow
Revival of KKK
In the Deep South, after Brown vs Topeka, many southerners were furious and tried to preserve segregation, leading to protests and the creation of the White Citizens Council.
Some of these poeple joined the KKK, causing an increase in membership. The KKK once again began meetings, and started putting up burning crosses as a symbol.
The KKK conducted beatings, lynchings, and shootings, targeting civil rights protestors.
Death of Emmett Till
Emmett Till was a 14 year old teenage black northerner, went to the south to visit his relatives. He talked to a white persons wife, the lady claimed he touched her and flirted with her, and her husband beated him, shot him, and dumped his body in a river.
When his body was found, authorities wanted to bury him, but his mother insisted that he be returned to her, His mother had an open casket funeral to show the brutal disfigurement he faced from the beatings.
Pictures were taken by the media, and many northeners were shocked by the brutality of the murder. The trial was widely broadcasted and the murderers were found not guilty.
Effects:
- Spread awareness of racism in the south
- Widespread protests against racism, Rosa Parks was inspired by Emmett Till
Montegomery Bus Boycott
On December 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her seat to a white person, she was arrested, the Women’s Political Council in Montegomery decided to fight against the bus laws.
The NAACP called for the Black community to boycott buses, this lead to most buses being empty as black people were poorer and used the bus the most.
On the 5th of December, a group of black people created the MIA, the Montegomery Improvement Association, with MLK as chairman. They created several demands, such as blacks being granted respect on buses, black drivers should be used on black routes, and blacks shouldn’t have to leave their seats for whites.
The MIA met with the bus company, they refused the demands, and led to the boycott continuing, and demands increasing to end all segregation in buses.
Continuing the boycott was difficult, but the MIA organised carpooling systems where people shared church bought cars, with pickup and dropoff points being organised. The church also bought shoes for people as their soles were wearing out from walking so much.
Black boycotters were harassed and carpoolers were arrested. However the boycott did not end thanks to MLKs oratory skills and it even grew thanks to media coverage.
The NAACP brought the issue to court and the case Browder vs Gayle began. On the 5th of June, the court ruled that buses should be desegregated. The bus companies attempted to appeal twice but failed both times, ending the boycott.
The boycott was regarded as very successful, they acheived all their demands, but the main effect was it demonstrated the power of nonviolent protest and media attention. It also showcased the effectiveness of churches in uniting the very religious black community.
Effects:
- Displayed effectiveness of nonviolent protest
- Brought public attention to MLK, chairman of the MIA
- Membership of racist groups rose
Little Rock 9
By 1957, not a single school was integrated in the deep south. Many southern senators apposed desegregation. Some senators even closed public schools to prevent desegregation.
Eisenhower did nothing, but little rock forced him to act. Little Rock Central High School had to integrate by 57, so they accepted multiple applications from black families.
Many of these families faced threats, but 9 of them still accepted.
Arkansas govener decided to send the national guard to stop the students from entering the school.
The students were blocked by a mob of angry racists and the national guard, and were forced to go home, all of this was captured by the news.
The guardsmen continued to stop the students, until Eisenhower ordered the troops to be removed, and the police escorted the students onto the school campus on the 23rd of December.
Eisenhower sent federal troops in to protect the little rock 9 and control the national guardsmen. Finally the little rock 9 could go to school as they were protected by the troops, yet they still faced harassment, until the Arkansas governer closed all schools. Supreme court forced the schools to reopen, there were still protests but much less.
The significance of little rock was that the president shown he was willing to intervene in state affairs to protect African Americans, and shown the importance of media.
Effects:
- Damaged US international reputation
- Proved that supreme court was not enough
1957 Civil Rights Act
Eisenhower declared himself in support of blacks, but he wasn’t willing to act as he believed legislative changes would be ineffective without a change in attitudes, however, the achievements of Brown vs Topeka and the Bus Boycott put pressure on the government, so in 57 the civil rights bill was passed, focusing on increasing the number of African American voters.
Effects:
- Paved the way to improved voting rights, US commission on civil rights set up to invest how Blacks were prevented from voting, allowing federal courts to prosecute states who were preventing voters from voting Would lead to the Civil Rights act of 64 and the Voting Rights act of 65
- Little immediate impact, juries that could prosecute states often were against civil rights, leading to few guilty verdicts, civil rights disappointed by extent of act, determined to further improve black rights
- Showed that the government wanted to improve the conditions of African Americans
1957 Civil Rights Act
Effects:
- Paved the way to improved voting rights
- US commission on civil rights set up
to invest how Blacks were prevented from voting
