The Quest for Civil Rights - Topic 2.3 Flashcards
The search of minority rights - 1960-80
Why did Hispanic Americans begin to campaign for equal rights?
1962
The main aim for them was the equality of rights and the removal of segregation nationwide. Similar to black Americans, Hispanic Americans faced discrimination and segregation too.
What issues did Hispanic Americans fight and protest for?
- Land - Mainly New Mexico became a main contentious issue based on the rights they had in previously Mexican territory
- Workers’ rights - Workers from the ‘bracero’ programme were often put in appalling conditions. As they didn’t have unions, there was a large pool of illegal migrant workers
- Segregation - Similarly to black Americans, Spanish-speaking areas (barrios) were in the worst part of towns and cities with poor government provisions and funding
- Education - Like black Americans, education was poor and didn’t get Hispanics anyway in life in relation to job opportunities
- Housing - As Hispanics often lived in poor communities, housing protection as well as the conditions were poor and not equal compared to white Americans
- Immigration - Deportation of Hispanics were incredibly common in the early 1950s because of the government led Operation Wetback (1953-58)
‘Bracero programme’ - a program that moved farmers and workers to the US
What was the importance of Hispanic Americans protesting?
And what were some important protests?
To make all civil rights laws equally apply on all people instead of certain groups.
- In 1968, Chavez goes on a 25-day hunger strike; Robert Kennedy joins him for the end of the strike
- In 1971, Brown Berets march 1,000 miles from Calexico to Sacramento to protest police brutality and all forms of discrimination
Key groups in the fight for Hispanic American rights
- NFWA - National Farm Workers Association
- AWOC - Agricultural Workers Organising Committee
- UFWOC - United Farm Workers Organising Committee (NFWA + AWOC)
- YCCA - Young Citizens for Community Action
- Brown Berets
- YLO - Young Lords Organisation
To what extent did Hispanic Americans achieve equal rights?
1962-80
In 1974, the First Southwest Voter Education Program was enacted; over two million voters registered by 1994.
In 1975, California’s Agricultural Labor Relations Act recognises the right of farm workers to unionise and, in the same year, the Voting Rights Act extensions provides language assistance at polling stations and extended rights to (originally Puerto Ricans) Native Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanic groups as well.
Racism and discrimination still plague Hispanic Americans and Trump’s border wall has only increased the hate received.
Why did Native Americans begin to campaign for equal rights?
1969
Dedicated areas for Native Americans to live in (reservations) were established as they’ve been pushed out of their native areas. Native Americans cannot live in the way that they do which was nomadically across irrigable land. These reservations were confined, sterile and dry land.
What issues did Native Americans fight and protest for?
- Land - As they had been driven away from their homelands, Natives fought for retribution and the returning of old native lands to Native Americans
- Employment and poverty - As Natives had been left with nothing after their relocation, when the Great Depression hit, Native Americans were hit worse compared to most others
- Education - Preventing the assimilation of Native Americans and instead providing equal education like all citizens get in America
- Self-governance - To maintain their traditions and culture, a necessary amount of self-governance is needed to keep themselves alive
What was the importance of Native Americans protesting?
And what were some important protests?
To make all civil rights laws equally apply on all people instead of certain groups and also achieve self-autonomy for all Native American nations to govern their reservations and possibly have their old lands returned to them.
- On 20th November 1969, the Alcatraz Red Power (ARPM) takes over Alcatraz Island and occupies it until 1971
- In 1972, the AIM Trail of Broken Treaties, a protest drive to Washington outside the BIA about their management of many issues, including its not renegotiating the many government treaties that originally took over Native American land; BIA building is occupied
- In 1973, AIM occupies the village of Wounded Knee and declares independence as the Oglala Sioux Nation; unlike all other occupations, the US sent in American marshalls and the state police. The siege lasted 71 days and AIM only withdrew when the federal government agreed to investigate on AIM’s demands and grievances
Key groups and people in the fight for Native American rights
- ARPM - Alcatraz Red Power Movement
- AIM - American Indian Movement
- NCAI - National Congress of American Indians
To what extent were Native Americans seen as equals?
1969-80
President Nixon rejected both termination and forced assimilation while in office and his advisors consluted triabl leaders on solutions. Nixon brought bills to Congress for Indian autonomy and by 1980, the 1972 Indian Education Act, the 1974 Indian Financing Act and the 1975 Indian Self-determination act were passed.
The Voting Rights act was expanded, including Native Americans and in 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act gave Native Americans more control over the adoption of Native children.
Congress returned land in 1970 in New Mexico and Alaska in 1971.
The BIA wasn’t reformed however and Nixon didn’t renegoiate about Native American sites and Hawaii continued to evict Native Americans from their land.
Why did the Gay Rights movement gain traction in America?
1969
The gay rights movement was formed in the Stonewall Inn, Greenwich Village, New York on 28th June 1969 after the police raided the inn because of “violating liquor laws.” The Stonewall Inn was a famous gay bar. 400 people began to fight the police officers over several nights.
What issues did gay Americans fight and protest for?
Being gay was illegal under sodomy laws and unlike other minority groups, gay Americans were unidentifiable. In the 1950s, Congress deemed homosexuality a ‘mental illness’ because homosexuals were seen as ‘sexual deviance’. In 1974, homosexuality was deemed a mental illness by the APA (American Psychological Association). Gay rights activits fought for the protection gay rights and criminalise segregation and discrimination based on sexuality.
What was the importance of gay Americans protesting?
And what were some important protests?
The Gay Liberation Front was established in the onslaught to demonstrate peacefully to protect gay rights and criminalise segregation and discrimination based on sexuality. In light of many street protests that happened rapidly in a short time, the gay rights movement grew quicker than others, mainly because of the predominantly progressive society and liberal climate. Highly visible gay communities started to show in San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Seattle near counterculture communities (hippies) where they were widely accepted.
- On 28th June 1969, police raid on Stonewall Inn, New York; three-day riots follow; unlike black American riots, this gets very little media coverage
- In 1977, Harvey Milk is elected in San Francisco; introduces a ruling to stop people being fired for being gay; campaigns against Proposition 6. He had previously been an avid activist for gay rights
- In 1979, National March on Washington for lesbian and gay rights (at least 100,000 people) urges equal rights and protective legislation
Key groups and people in the fight for gay rights
- GLF - Gay Liberation Front
- Harvey Milk
- Kathy Kozachenko
How far did gay Americans achieve success in fighting for equal rights?
1969-80
Gay liberation groups srang up across the US with many either joining the GLF or local gay rights groups. Highly visible gay communities began forming, spreading awareness and acceptability of gay people partly because people already knew previously closeted gays and had been friends with them for a while and all prejudices disappeared.
As early as 1977, polls suggested that over 50% of people believed in equal rights for gays.
Groups like the KKK were still anti-gay amd there was a lot of hostility in the rural Bible Belt and Republican dominated counties where religious fundamentalism fuelled hatred. Discrimination and homphobia is still prevalent today.
