U.S. Civil Rights Movement

yay! more notes! i love it here.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

NAACP formed to fight for the rights, and lives, of African Americans. A large civil rights organization established in 1910, organized most of the civil rights movement’s actions, argued that the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments should be truly applied.

Brown v. Board of Education

Supreme Court case in 1954, unanimous ruling overturned Plessy v. Ferguson “separate but equal” doctrine. First big challenge to Jim Crow Laws. Schools were ordered to be desegregated, proclaimed that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional

Malcolm X

Black Muslim who promoted black separatism, self-empowerment, and cultural pride while fighting for the rights of African Americans. His attitude changed over time, supported non violence and violence.

Nation of Islam

Group of militant Black Americans, focused on black independence, cultural pride, and distancing themselves from white culture while promoting Islamic religious ideas. The organization's founders included Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X. Encouraged self-sufficiency for blacks in the United States.

Massive Resistance

1956, Virginia policy to resist desegregation of schools after Brown v. Board, policy cut state funds to and closed all public schools that tried to desegregate. Widespread and steadfast opposition to racial desegregation, especially in the south, where state governments and residents used different strategies to fight back against court-ordered integration of public schools.

White Citizens’ Council

The group, which had around 15,000 members, was mostly from the South, opposed to racial integration, developed strategies to halt desegregation in America. Movement involved much of the middle and upper class white population of the south and earned themselves the nickname “uptown Klan”.

Rosa Parks

American civil rights activist who started the national bus boycott, refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

1955 - 1956, Mass boycott of the public transportation in Montgomery, Alabama, first massive demonstration against segregation. MLK organized the bus boycott in 1955 after Rosa Parks was detained for refusing to give up her seat on a municipal bus. The Supreme Court declared that segregation on public transportation was unlawful after 11 months.

Little Rock 9

1957, the Little Rock 9 were the first black children to be integrated into schools in the US. Initially, the governor of Arkansas attempted to block this act, but eventually the president heard of this and provided the Little Rock 9 with armed guards.

Eisenhower warned Orval not to meddle with Supreme Court rulings after Alabama Governor Orval refused to let 9 black students enter a white high school. The school was desegregated, and federal troops were sent to protect and escort students into the building.

Martin Luther King Jr

Significant figure of the Civil Rights movement, preacher and orator from Georgia, organized major rallies and united populations across the nation, delivered his most well-known “I Have a Dream” speech in front of over 64,000 people in Washington DC. Recognized for his support of peaceful civil disobedience as a strategy to resist racial segregation and discrimination. Helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Freedom Rides

1961, blacks and whites alike rode buses together in protest of segregation throughout the southern US, the intent was to display that the decision in Boynton, a Supreme Court case mandating desegregation of buses, was not enforced.

Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

Student-run civil rights group that advocated for desegregation through sit-ins, freedom rides, and other acts of civil disobedience founded by a group of young activists, including Ella Baker, James Lawson, and others. Started doing things in the 1960s.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

MLK and other civil rights leaders founded the organization in 1957 to support African Americans' civil rights through nonviolent means. Helped plan and direct civil rights campaigns like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Southern Manifesto

1956, statement drafted by white supremacist politician Senator Tom Thurmond from South Carolina, it aimed to oppose the Brown v. Board decision on a constitutional basis, after multiple drafts and many sign ons, the statement was published

Majority of signatures came from Southern Democrats, who opposed integration and caused split in the Democratic Party.

Freedom Summer

1964, a campaign by civil rights organizations, such as SNCC and NAACP, under a coalition called COFO. Aimed to extend the influence of the civil rights movement into the deep south. Focused on promoting registration to vote and political representation for African Americans, as well as to place pressure on the government.

Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU)

Organization was started by Malcolm X in 1964 after he left the Nation of Islam with the intention of fostering unity among African Americans and people of African origin across the world. Promoted the ending segregation, embraced militancy and cooperation by anyone who wanted to join the fight, short-lived organization due to Malcolm X’s assassination in 1965. Promoted independence, cultural pride, and human rights, saw the group as a forum for addressing problems that Black communities face and participating in global human rights initiatives.

“The Ballot or the Bullet” Speech

April 3, 1964: A famous speech given by Malcolm X in Cleveland, Ohio, outlined struggles of Civil Rights movement and encouraged the African American community to take action and vote (ballot) or use force (bullet) if needed.

Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP)

Fannie Lou Hamer, Bob Moses, and other civil rights activists founded MFDP to oppose racist tactics of the traditional Mississippi Democratic Party. Majority black party that served as an alternative party to the exclusively all-white Mississippi Democratic Party. It offered delegates to the Democratic National Convention to challenge the Democratic party’s condoning of segregationist state parties.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

1964, a legislation first stated by Kennedy, that Pres Lyndon B. Johnson put it into effect prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in a number of public places and services as well as in employment. Additionally, it granted the federal government the power to compel integration in public institutions like schools.

Supported voting rights, public accommodations, desegregation, and limits on discrimination in employment and federal programs. It did not solve the problem but was a big step in accountability

Lyndon B. Johnson

The 36th POTUS, renowned for his work on the "Great Society" projects (challenged poverty and civil rights issues, healthcare reform). After Kennedy was assassinated, he was elected president and participated in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

24th Amendment to the Constitution

1964, abolished the poll tax. Had been used in Southern states to deny African-American citizens the right to vote by charging a price to cast a ballot.

Bloody Sunday/Selma to Montgomery March

March 7, 1965: To demand voting rights for African Americans, the SCLC organized a march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery, which resulted in a violent conflict. Police attacked the nonviolent protesters with severe brutality as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, using tear gas, clubs, and horses.13 people died. The beatings were highly publicized and showed the world the extent of the discrimination.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

1965, outlawed literacy tests and other discriminatory practices that were used to deny African-Americans the right to vote. Gave the federal government the power to monitor and enforce voting rights in places where racial prejudice had a long history.

Freedom Schools

Developed in response to the fact that African-American students in the segregated South lacked access to resources and educational opportunities. Temporary schools in the South during the 60s formed by civil rights activists like the SNCC to give education and empower African American youth denied a good education, 41 total schools, many in churches and under threat of bombing, many activists were skeptical as many of the teachers were white and upper class. These schools offered a curriculum that prioritized social justice, African-American history, and civil rights in addition to traditional topics, empowering students and fostering activism. Provided better education for African-Americans.

“Beloved community”

Notion made famous by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which reflected his idea of a society built on tolerance, equality, and nonviolent advocacy for social justice that helps build a community where people from all races and backgrounds may coexist. No poverty, etc. Motivated many leaders of Freedom Summer.

Klu Klux Klan (KKK)

Hate group established in 1865, white supremacists, anti-Semitic, and anti-immigrants. Infamous for their history of using violence and terrorism against African Americans and other minority groups in order promote white supremacy and block racial equality. Used violence and intimidation to prevent African Americans from voting and registering to vote. Very active in the deep south, where members occupied positions in government, business, and law enforcement. Responsible for murders of civil rights activists.

Fannie Lou Hamer

She played a significant role in the MFDP and was well-known for her work in the 1960s to register African-American voters in Mississippi. Through her speeches, especially her statement at the 1964 Democratic National Convention, Hamer advocated for voting rights and brought attention to the hardships and injustices experienced by African Americans in the Deep South.

John F. Kennedy

35th President of US, was noted for his involvement in the Cold War's early years, his support for civil rights, and the advancement of racial equality in the country throughout his administration. He served from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Put forward the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Murder of Emmett Till

1955, Black teen lynched in cold blood, sparks mass outrage and increases support for the Civil Rights movement.

Birmingham Campaign

1963, as students peacefully protested in the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, firemen sprayed their hoses at them on full blast, police at the scene allowed canines to bite viciously at the protestors, and many were beaten with police batons

March on Washington

August 28, 1963: More than a quarter million people of all races participated in a massive protest march in Washington D.C. for Jobs and Freedom, gathering near the Lincoln memorial, where MLK gave his “I Have a Dream” speech

Church Street Bombing

1963, the KKK bombed a Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama, claiming the lives of 4 African-American girls.

Redlining

A practice throughout the 1950s that put blacks in low income neighborhoods that were crowded together, often called ‘housing projects’, typically had lower quality of education and was effectively segregation without explicitly stating it, this occurred in the Northern cities as well so it was not exclusively in the south