MLK's campaign in the North Flashcards
reason for King’s campaign in the North (1966)
MLK was shocked by what he saw in Watts and agreed to the request of the Coordinating Council of Community Organisation of Chicago (CCCO) for SCLC to organise a campaign
problems with provisions of housing in northern cities like chicago
rents
overcrowding
public services
role of James Bevel
(from SCLC) helped the CCCO organise tenant’s associations to fight thw chicago Real Estate Board’s segregated housing and unfairly high rents
role of Jesse Jackson
(from SCLC) helped organise operation BreadBasket: boycotts to pressure white businesses to employ more black people
launch of King’s campaign in the North
7th January 1966, the SCLC officialy announce plans for a chicago freedom movement and King goes to chicago
Level of support gained by northern campaign
riot broke out before marches. King appealed for calm but was ignored and abused for not making any significant gains in chicago.
marches in white neighbourhoods went ahead but produced white backlash and unsupportive publicity
Richard Daley
Mayor of Chicago. accused SCLC of starting riots
his response to King’s campaign:
agreed to meetings with Chicago Freedom Movement and Real estate board which lead to agreements on fairer housing practices. king and SCLC left chicago
Successes of King’s northern campaign
there was an agreement
operation breadbasket continued running and became a key protest group in Chicago, helping many find jobs in white owned businesses
failures of King’s northern campaign
violence on both sides and king couldnt stop the riot
board housing policies didnt change. CCCO warned this would happen and couldnt maintain pressure on Daley alone
government didnt push daley and kings opinions on vietnam damaged relations with johnson