Eyes_on_the_Prize___08___Two_Societies,_1965_1968_(PBS) (2)

Societal Stakes and Unrest

• Stakes in Society: A society is endangered when a significant segment of its population feels detached and has nothing to lose. Such individuals may unconsciously seek to dismantle the social order.

• Watts Uprising (August 1965): In Watts, Los Angeles, widespread anger erupted lasting six days, resulting in 34 deaths, which challenged the nonviolent approach of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Chicago's Civil Rights Movement

• Post Voting Rights Act: The success of the Voting Rights Act left many in Northern cities, like Chicago, feeling unaddressed as systemic poverty and discrimination continued to permeate society.

• King's Move to Chicago: King prioritized Chicago, a Northern city with a large black population struggling with poverty and discrimination, to expand the civil rights movement's reach. He hoped that a successful campaign could serve as a model for other Northern cities.

The Chicago Freedom Movement

• Initial Objectives: The movement aimed to tackle slum conditions, housing issues, and create educational and job opportunities for African Americans.

• Resistance from City Officials: Mayor Richard J. Daley's administration faced off against King's movement, employing strategies to undermine their impact by showcasing municipal responsiveness to issues raised by King.

Challenges to Nonviolence

• Escalating Tensions: By July 1966, civil rights leaders discussed the movement's future amid increasing violent opposition, with some questioning the nonviolent approach. King defended nonviolence during rallies, stressing its importance in addressing city inequalities.

• Response to Riots: When tensions flared in black neighborhoods, King and the movement attempted to advocate for calm and constructive engagement, resisting escalating violence.

Segregation and Resistance in Northern Cities

• Protest Tactics: Freedom Movement volunteers protested by marching into predominantly white neighborhoods to expose and challenge systemic segregation and discrimination in housing practices and real estate.

• Cicero March: Jesse Jackson’s proposed march into Cicero, known for racial hostility, marked a crucial shift illustrating the urgent need for direct action against entrenched anti-black sentiment in white communities.

The Detroit Rebellion (1967)

• Police Brutality and Riots: Following a routine police raid, escalating tensions led to unrest in Detroit, fueled by historical oppression, police brutality, and existing socioeconomic disparities in the black community.

• National Guard Mobilization: As riots erupted, Governor Romney deployed the National Guard and later federal troops to restore order amid widespread chaos and destruction.

• Consequences: The violence resulted in numerous casualties and extensive property damage, reflecting deep-rooted racial tensions that had exploded into open conflict.

Response and Reflection

• The Kerner Commission: Examining the unrest, the commission revealed a significant division between white and black communities, advocating for the dismantling of racial barriers in various societal sectors.

• Political Ramifications: Despite the commission's recommendations, the government's response was lackluster, with missed opportunities for meaningful social reform amid growing racial unrest.