social movements (MLK and Malcolm X)

Question 1

what was a controversial method used by MLK during the campaign in Birmingham?

Answer 1

after MLKs own arrest and release his plan to fill the jails with school children, the plan worked and resulted in tenfold arrests and the images of fire hoses and dogs on protestors

Question 2

why was king favoured in the political arena over Malcolm X?

Answer 2

king was favoured by the Kennedy administration, as he removed knives from the street. many of these liberals believed if king loses then worse leaders will take his place.

Question 3

what did the FBI do in regard to MLK?

Answer 3

the FBI had wire tapped his home and phones, and would attend marches undercover.

Question 4

what did the FBI overhear on their wire tap on king?

Answer 4

the FBI had heard plans for a greater demonstration that would force the president to act, the following days after this JFK proposed legislation to outlaw Jim crow. unsure whether the FBI information did this.

Question 5

what did the civil rights leader do after the assassination of JFK?

Answer 5

the leaders of the CRM, and the NOI paused protests until December of that year

Question 6

when was Malcom X killed?

Answer 6

February 21st 1965

Question 7

what did John Lewis think of Malcolm X?

Answer 7

after his assassination Lewis commented that he saw his leadership as important to the movement as a leading black voice

Question 8

what happen immediately after the Civil rights act 1965?

Answer 8

less than a week after the CRA the Watts neighbourhood in LA exploded in the largest civil disturbance since the draft riots in the civil war. 55 people died at the hands of police

Question 9

when did Malcolm X convert to nation of islam?

Answer 9

whilst in prison, where he also read frequently becoming self educated.

Question 10

what did NOI believe?

Answer 10

they believed in black separatism and black superiority.

Question 11

what is the philosophy of black nationalism?

Answer 11

the black man should control the politics and politicians of their own community. it also means to control the economy of their own community, black business in black areas.

Question 12

when did Malcolm X split with NOI and why?

Answer 12

after he visited Mecca Malcolm realised in human equality after meeting white muslims who had no racial hatred towards him. he realised it was an attitude that had been instilled within white America.

Question 13

why did the larger CRM not accept Malcolm X?

Answer 13

MLK and the SCLC saw him as someone who was more damaging to their form of campaign, as he had been more extreme in views and methods.

Question 14

what were the differences between Malcolm X and MLK?

Answer 14

they disagreed on many things such as peaceful protest, integration, attitude towards white supporters.

Question 15

what did Malcolm X think of MLKs methods?

Answer 15

he believed Kings methods of nonviolence and integration played into the hands of the white oppressors.

Question 16

what was the reaction by MLK to Malcolm X coming to Birmingham?

Answer 16

MLK was not pleased with his appearance and even thought the two didn’t meet he didn’t want him to be around this protest. Malcolm did have good intentions.

Question 17

what happened when MLK was driving through Harlem?

Answer 17

he had eggs thrown at his car but not by white men but rather black men, he suspected the NOI were behind it. and saw this as Malcolms influence on black Americans.

Question 18

what were the positives between MLK and Malcolm X?

Answer 18

both had a mutual respect for each other in the cause and the inspiration to young black Americans.

Question 19

what did MLK think of Malcolm X assassination?

Answer 19

he was shocked by his death and saw his death as a symbol of the violent climate America and western society had created.

Question 20

what does Sitkoff argue about the white liberals?

Answer 20

black leaders relied on white liberals in the struggle for equality to support the process, but these whites weakened their effort by advocating gradualism and segregation

Question 21

how did southern whites use communism to attack the CRM?

Answer 21

southern whites and conservatives used anti communism as means to discredit the CRM

Question 22

how did states in the Deep South and black belt react to Brown Vs Board?

Answer 22

they refused to desegregate and formed groups as to ensure Jim Crow was kept in place

Question 23

how did MLK view violent strategies of protest?

Answer 23

he believed black violence would only lead to greater white violence.

Question 24

what are the debates historians have on the Brown vs Board decision?

Answer 24

Klarman did not have huge impact but was rather symbolic in its significance. however David Garrow argued the decision was a catalyst for other acts such as the Montgomery bus boycott

Question 25

how does Mark Newman describe black power?

Answer 25

black power was in some ways a continuation of the CRM and also a departure from it, the result fractured the SNCC

Question 26

what factors led to the divide with the CRM?

Answer 26

both the escalation of the vietnam war and rise in black nationalism

Question 27

what was Malcolm X belief whilst in the NOI?

Answer 27

he was critical of nonviolence and integrationist and asserted that black people can achieve freedom by any means necessary.

Question 28

how was CORE changing with black nationalism?

Answer 28

CORE began to adopt black nationalist sentiment focusing of the problems in northern ghettos and controlling the black economy.

Question 29

how was the SNCC divided?

Answer 29

the SNCC faced dwindling finances as result of opposition to Vietnam war and opposition to black power within.

Question 30

how was black power ambiguous?

Answer 30

there was no definition and the ambiguity was attractive to many, with leaders making their own interpretation of the movement.