Contribution of MLK to US Affairs Flashcards
Boycott plans and prep
MIA was set up and MLK was selected as the leader a he had no history of clashing with the authorities.
The MIA ordered people to boycott the buses until they were fully desegregated.
The ‘Women’s Political Council’ gave out 35,000 leaflets.
Churchmen like MLK used churches as a network for organising the boycott.
MLK encouraged carpooling so people wouldn’t break the boycott.
A.A taxi drivers were threatened. To have their taxi licences taken off them when they lowered their bus fares to match the busses ones ($10) so MLK and the MIA subsidised $30,000 to the drivers inane it happened
Peaceful protests
As the boycott continued, MLK insisted that protests would remain peaceful.
“We must use the weapon of love”
This was inspired by the Christian ideal to “Turn the other cheek”.
It was recommended so that A.As wouldn’t be demonised or seen as troublemakers which would make people dislike them even more.
In 1965, when black churches were burnt down, a mob of 300 angry A.As turned up at MLKs house.
He told them “if you have weapons, go home”
This idea of peaceful protests inspired the Sit-ins in Nashville and freedom rides
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.
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 and MlK
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
Voting rights act
MLK opposition to Vietnam War
