L21. The Voting Rights Act of 1965

Question 1

Who were the major civil rights organizations in “Eyes on the Prize: Bridge to Freedom”

Answer 1

Student Non-violent Coordinating committee (SNCC)
- considered more radical and confrontational

Southern Christian leadership conference (SCLC)
- older population, lots of ministers
- led by MLK
- wanted to strategically achieve justice through the judicial system

Question 2

What was the role of law and courts in the Voting Rights act

Answer 2

• role of reasoned argument
• authority

Question 3

What was the role of religion in the Voting rights act?

Answer 3

• organized religion was strong within the civil rights movement and helped create unity within groups
• churches has organizing efforts

Question 4

What was the nature of racism within the voting rights act period?

Answer 4

• many white didn’t think of themselves as racist but didn’t get involved in the movement until a white activist was killed
• suddenly there was an outpouring of support which raises questions about the pervasiveness of racism in the US

Question 5

Re-account the events within the documentary “Eyes on the Prize: Bridge to Freedom”

Answer 5

• People (SNCC) in Selma had been protesting for over (barriers for black people to vote) a year and were running out of money so they asked SCLC to come aid
• wanted publicity on the issue so Washington would notice
• teachers association got involved
• police officer punched innocent man in the face and there was also a violent march on other side of town where whites were attacking people on grand scale and one black man was killed
• This led to the idea of marching (bloody Sunday)
• Bloody Sunday happened when the townspeople were trying to walk across the bridge and so many police waiting to stop them with orders from the gov of state
• insane amount of violence occurred
• videos of this violence was broadcasted all over the nation
• people from all over country came to selma to support
• white man was killed
• Washington judges cleared the march as good to go
• federal guard keeping people safe
• helped the formation of the black panthers party
• President Johnson signed the voting rights act bill in 1965