Violent Protests

Question 1

VIOLENT PROTESTS – 1960s

MALCOLM X

Answer 1

VIOLENT PROTESTS – 1960s
MALCOLM X
• Believed in black nationalism-to put black Americans first. Wanted to create a black only state so blacks could govern themselves.
• Led the Nation of Islam
• Criticised MLK for not taking enough action. Believed that black Americans needed to fight for better treatment and equality.
• Assassinated in 1965.

Question 2

VIOLENT PROTESTS – 1960s

BLACK PANTHERS

Answer 2

VIOLENT PROTESTS – 1960s
BLACK PANTHERS
• Believed black Americans needed to arm themselves and fight for equality = Black Power.
• Criticised Martin Luther King.
• Leaders = Huey Newton/Bobby Seale
• Wanted equality in education, housing, employment and civil rights.
• Encouraged black Americans to celebrate and be proud of their history and culture.
• Blamed for encouraging race riots in media – focus on violence/ negative coverage. Worried many white Americans = some argue they damaged support for black Americans civil rights.

Question 3

VIOLENT PROTESTS – 1960s

RACE RIOTS

Answer 3

VIOLENT PROTESTS – 1960s
RACE RIOTS
• 1965-67 = violence between black and white Americans. Often black Americans fighting white police officers.
• Caused by tension between police forces – injustice/ discrimination by police force towards black communities.
• Watts area of Los Angeles was one of the worst race riots.
• Television coverage often focused on violence.

Question 4

PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1950s

BROWN VS BOARD OF EDUCATION

Answer 4

PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1950s
BROWN VS BOARD OF EDUCATION
• 1954
• Linda Brown was a primary school student
• Brown’s family (helped by the NAACP) took Topeka Board of Education to court, arguing the segregation of schools was unfair.
• Supreme Court ruled segregation in schools was not ‘separate but equal’ = legal victory for black Americans.
• Some states ignored the change in law as they did not want to stop segregation in schools.

Question 5

PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1950s

MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT

Answer 5

• PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1950s MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT
• 1955 - Rosa Parks sparked the protest. Arrested for refusing to give up her seat to white person.
• Martin Luther King organised a boycott in Montgomery, Alabama – he encouraged all black Americans NOT to use buses.
• Bus owners lost profits – 65% drop.
• Some violent reactions from white people in Montgomery.
• Supreme Court ruled that segregation on buses illegal in 1956.

Question 6

PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1950S

LITTLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL

Answer 6

PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1950S
LITTLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL
• 1957 – State governor Orval Faubus refused to end segregation in Little Rock.
• 9 black students tried to attend – stopped/ verbally abused/ spat at by angry white people.
• President Eisenhower sent soldiers to protect the black students and force Little Rock High School to obey the law and desegregate.

Question 7

PEACEFUL PROTEST - 1960S

FREEDOM RIDES

Answer 7

PEACEFUL PROTEST - 1960S
FREEDOM RIDES
• Started in 1961. SNCC involved (Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee).
• Black/white students travelled by interstate bus into areas that were refusing to desegregate.
• Freedom Riders were attacked by angry groups of whites and arrested by police.
• President Kennedy got involved to help protect the Freedom Riders.

Question 8

PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1960s

SIT-INS

Answer 8

PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1960s
SIT-INS
• 1960. SNCC involved (Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee).
• Started in Greensboro, North Carolina in a segregated café.
• Black students used ‘white’ seats and refused to move/ leave.
• Cafés/ restaurants changed their policies – 126 cities desegregated by end of 1960.

Question 9

PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1960s

MARCH TO WASHINGTON

Answer 9

PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1960s
MARCH TO WASHINGTON
• 1963. 200,000 black Americans and 50,000 white Americans marched to Washington.
• Martin Luther King gave his famous ‘I have a dream’ speech.
• Martin Luther King met with President Kennedy following the march, new law Civil Rights Act followed in 1964.

Question 10

PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1960s

SELMA VOTING MARCH

Answer 10

PEACEFUL PROTEST – 1960s
SELMA VOTING MARCH
• Only 2.4% black Americans were registered to vote in Selma, Alabama.
• Led by Martin Luther King in 1965, marchers hoped to raise awareness of the tactics used to stop blacks from registering.
• Sheriff/ Police used brutal violence when dealing with protestors – shown on tv and attracted lots more support for marchers (black and white)
• New law – Voting Rights Act 1965.