Reading #6

Consequences of the Civil Rights Movement -

The Rise of Black Power

Objective…

-Describe how the Civil Rights movement gave rise to the

Black Power Movement.

-Analyze the progress of the CR Movement (1954-1968).

Dr. King is the primary spokes person for civil rights, but not everyone supports his

methods….

The opposition to Dr. King argues…- King’s Techniques are outdated - Progress was too slow

- Black Separatists … - Questioned a racially integrated

society - Advocated a back to Africa

movement- Sought land grants within the US

1965: The Voters Rights Act• Outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for disenfranchising African American voters… i.e. Literacy tests• The act allowed the federal government to oversee elections.

• 34 dead- 1,032 injured- 3,400 arrested- $40M in damages• The most severe riot in the LA's history …until 1992

The 1965 Watts Riots

• A commission investigated & identified the root causes… • Police brutality• High unemployment • Poor schools, and other • Inferior living conditions

The commission’s recommendations were ignored.

In 1966 & 67 more than 100 riots & violent clashes in… Detroit , Newark, Cleveland, Chicago, Philadelphia, Milwaukee & Dayton

Detroit 1967 – 43 deaths - $40M in property damage “Fire, smoke, gunshots, shouting, screaming, looting, rocks, bottles,

Molotov cocktails, blood spilling and some people dying, and hundreds of injured. Citizens mostly. Spiraling confrontations all

over the city proper.”

LBJ appoints the Kerner Commission to investigate the urban violence of 1967…

• Task: Provide recommendations for the future• The report's most infamous passage …

"Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white — separate and unequal.“

• The finding of the commission… - Urban violence was related white racism - Black frustration with economic opportunity. - Failed policies… education; social-services - Unrealized expectations of CR movement & LBJ’s promises of a “Great Society”

• Solutions… Job opportunities; better housing; hire diverse police forces; invest in housing programs; stop de-facto segregation

• Martin Luther King Jr., pronounced the report a… "physician's warning of approaching death, with a prescription for life."

Malcolm Little

AKA: - El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz

- Malcolm X

Born: May 19, 1925 Died: February 21, 1965

Advocates… • Radical change from MLK’s methods• Non violence tactics doesn’t work• Encourages violent tactics• “black power”& “black separatism”• “Any means necessary to fight against the blue-eyed white devils”

• 1925: Born in Omaha, NE …Father & uncle were murdered by white supremacists & mom was institutionalized for mental illness …His family lived in constant fear of the KKK …He was raised in foster homes

1946: Age 20, sent to prison …Joins the Nation of Islam …Changes name: El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz

1952-1964: Released from prison… became the leader of the NI …taught black supremacy, advocated separatism — NO INTEGRATION

1964: Breaks with the NI …"I was a zombie then ... pointed in a certain direction and told to march"—disavows racism & expresses a willingness to work with civil rights leaders …Remained an advocate for black self-determination & self defense.

1965: Assassinated by members of NI while giving a speech on racial harmony

Malcolm X…

Malcolm X - Assassinated by members of the Nation of Islam while giving a

speech on racial harmony in NYC on Feb 22, 1965

Admirers saw MX as an advocate for the rights of African Americans who held white America accountable for crimes against black Americans.

Detractors accused him of preaching racism, black supremacy, anti- Semitism & advocating violence.

* He is considered to be one of the most influential African Americans in history.

Stokely Carmichael

& SNCC

1966: • Under the leadership of Stokely Carmichael SNCC breaks ties with the mainstream civil rights movement … Carmichael is considered the "Honorary Prime Minister" of the Black Panther Party• SNCC is no longer influenced by MLK & the use non violence• Main issues …Black power & protest against the Vietnam War.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HGr-UJSf9k

The Black Panthers

• 1966: Founded by Huey Newton & Bobby Seale in Oakland, CA …BPP membership peaks at 10K in 1969

• Goals: Promote socialism/ Marxism; Protect black neighborhoods from police with armed patrols & evaluated police behavior; Started the Free Breakfast for Children program.

• FBI (Director J. E. Hoover) called the party "the greatest threat to the internal security of the country” …The FBI/ J.E. Hoover worked to undermine BP leadership, incriminate party members & drain the organization of resources.

• BPP …criminal actions & violent tactics against police …Popular support for the BPP declined… Reports of the group's involvement in drug dealing & extortion …1980 the BPP has 27 members

The Black Panthers

Party

"We got some difficult days ahead, but it really doesn't matter to me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will

get to the promised land." -MLK

Dr. Martin Luther KingBorn: January,15th 1929 - Died: April, 4th 1968

Dr. King’s assassin…James Earl Ray

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C.