kennedy african american

What was the 1961 "Freedom Ride" launched by CORE, and what was its core objective?

A repeat of the 1947 Journey of Reconciliation involving 13 black and white protestors riding interstate buses to provoke hostility and expose southern racism to the media.

Which two southern cities saw the most brutal Ku Klux Klan attacks on the original 13 Freedom Riders?

Anniston and Birmingham.

How did the international community react to the televised violence of the 1961 Freedom Rides?

The Soviet Union used the attacks to embarrass the US, accusing President Kennedy of allowing white supremacists to attack black citizens.

What federal action did Attorney General Bobby Kennedy take in November 1961 due to the Freedom Rides?

He ordered the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to completely desegregate interstate transportation.

What was the "Albany Movement" (1961–1962), and why did it initially fail?

A desegregation campaign by SNCC that failed because it targeted too many public spaces at once and was highly unfocused.

How did Albany Police Chief Laurie Pritchett outsmart the civil rights activists during the Albany Movement?

He emptied local jails within 40 miles to avoid overcrowding, denied activists media attention, and repeatedly paid Martin Luther King Jr.’s fines to release him quietly.

Which civil rights organization ultimately succeeded in desegregating the city of Albany in 1963?

The NAACP (after both the SNCC and SCLC had given up and left the city).

Who was Eugene "Bull" Connor, and what did activist Fred Shuttlesworth do to challenge him in March 1963?

The Birmingham Public Safety Commissioner who backed the KKK; Shuttlesworth challenged him by launching a boycott of downtown shops known as the Birmingham Campaign.

What famous historical document did Martin Luther King Jr. write while imprisoned for eight days during the Birmingham Campaign?

"Letter from Birmingham Jail."

What was the "Children's Crusade" of May 1963, and what was its strategic impact?

A march where King sent black children to confront Birmingham police; the televised scenes of kids being beaten and mauled by police dogs shocked the world and forced desegregation.

What occurred on May 11, 1963, immediately after Attorney General Bobby Kennedy forced the desegregation of Birmingham?

A bomb exploded at Martin Luther King Jr.'s hotel, sparking the Birmingham Riot and forcing JFK to deploy 3,000 federal soldiers.

What was the date of the historic "March on Washington," and who was its primary organizer?

August 27, 1963; it was organized by Bayard Rustin of the SCLC.

Who were the "Big Six" Civil Rights leaders who participated in the 1963 March on Washington?

A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, John Lewis, Martin Luther King Jr., Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young.

Why did President Kennedy position 19,000 federal soldiers in Washington D.C. during the 1963 march?

He was deeply nervous that the massive crowd of 200,000 peaceful protesters might spark racial violence.

What famous speech did Martin Luther King Jr. deliver at the March on Washington, and what international honor did it help him secure in 1964?

The "I Have a Dream" speech, which contributed to him winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

What was the purpose of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission created by JFK's executive order in 1961?

To investigate racial discrimination within private companies that received lucrative federal government contracts.

What did President Kennedy's 1962 executive order regarding public housing achieve?

It officially banned racial segregation in all federally funded public housing projects.

What surveillance action did JFK permit FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to take against the civil rights movement in 1963?

He authorized the FBI to wiretap and listen in on Martin Luther King Jr.'s private phone calls.

What was the "Ole Miss Riot" of September 1962?

A violent clash where a mob of 2,500 white protestors and Klansmen attacked 500 federal agents who were escorting black student James Meredith to register at the University of Mississippi.

How many federal troops did JFK have to deploy to the University of Mississippi campus to guarantee James Meredith's safety?

20,000 federal soldiers, which famously outnumbered the student body 5 to 1.

What was the June 1963 "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" incident?

Alabama Governor George Wallace and the state National Guard physically blocked the entrance of the University of Alabama to prevent black students from enrolling.

How did President Kennedy force Governor George Wallace to step down from the University of Alabama doorway?

He federalized the Alabama National Guard, stripping Wallace of his command and forcing the guard to allow the black students inside.

What was the name of the televised address JFK gave in June 1963, and what legislation did it promise?

The "Report to the Nation on Civil Rights," which laid the groundwork for the 1964 Civil Rights Act later passed by Lyndon Johnson.