Taking on Segregation

Objective & Do NowObjectiveIdentify the origins of the civil rights movementDo NowWhat are some injustices in our society today? How are we fighting against those injustices?Taking on SegregationChapter 29 Section 1I The Segregation SystemA. Plessy V. Fergusson1890 separate but equal in Louisiana RRPlessy V Fergusson SC case = did not violate 14th Amendment which guaranteed al Americans equal treatment under the lawPlessy decision S states to pass Jim Crow LawsAimed at separating the blacks & whitesSeparate schools/RRs/elevators/restroomsBlack facilities were always inferior than white facilities

II Challenging Segregation in CourtNAACPs strategy would be to point out the stark inequality between schools for both races & challenge segregation in schoolsThe US spent 10x more $ on white student than black studentBrown v. Board of Ed (Topeka, Kansas)Linda Brown sued for denying her admission to all white elementary school four blocks from her house forced her to attend all black school further awaySC puts end to segregation in school separate but equal is inherently unequal

III Reaction to the Brown DecisionWhites resist segregation in areas where Af. Amer are majority of popFeared loosing control of schools resurfacing of KKKEisenhower doesnt enforce ct. decision but is forced to in Little RockLittle Rock 9Little Rock Central High School (Arkansas) desegregated & enrolled 9 Af. Amer. Gov. orders Natl Guard to turn those students away judge orders to allow them into schoolMobs assemble to harass Little Rock 9Eisenhower sends Natl Guard to Little Rock to protect Little Rock 9

IV The Montgomery Bus BoycottRosa Parks sat in front row of colored only seatsAsked to get up to allow white man to sit w/o having to sit next to Af. AmerRefused and was arrested Bus Boycott led by MLKBoycotted bus for 381 days and remained non-violent despite the bombing of MLKs home SC outlawing segregation in 1956

V Dr. King and the SCLCBus boycott prove ordinary Af. Amer. Could organize effectively in protestAlso proved the power of non-violent resistanceMLK drew inspiration from various teachings (Jesus= love your enemies/Thoreou=civil disobedience/a Philip Randolph= org. mass demos)Some questioned his philosophy after anti-black violence swept across SSouthern violence Emitt Till Murder & murder of civil rights workers

Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) used non-violent resistance to stage protests and demontrations throughout SElla BakerStudent Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC AKA snick)SNCC org. sit-ins = protesters sit down at segregated lunch counters and refuse to leave until servedTV covered event and saw real face of racism as whites threw food at SNCC members and physically beat themSome members of SNCC had more confrontational views to combat injustice