2 - Civil rights in the 1950s Flashcards
How was Segregation ad Discrimination enforced in the 1950s?
In 1950s most states had some segregation laws meant black and whites had to use different facilities. Segregation laws were more strictly enforced in te south, more applied in all aspects of life. ‘Jim Crow’ laws meant African Americans attended separate schools separate areas in restaurants, libraries and public transport these laws passed by state legislation.
In North fewer legal barriers to equality racism and discrimination meant AA mostly lived separately from whites. Worse wages high unemployment and lived in the poorest areas. Facilities often segregated without war.
How were African Americans affected by voting?
Making AA pass a difficult literacy rest many had poor education so literacy levels were low an could not pass the test
Making people pay a poll tax many could not afford to pay this
Using violence to threaten to use violence against AA who tried to vote
AA often faced violence and discrimination and violence particulary in the south. Black men suspected of crimes frequently attacked by white mobs. Lynching’s feared the black community. Police were racist and did nothing to prevent these attacks and taking part in it many white people were never found guilty.
How did the gov maintain segregation?
. In 1896 the federal supreme court rules Plessy vs Ferguson separate facilities were allowed if they were equal. rarely were equal.
What was Brown Vs Topeka?
In 1951, the parents of Linda Brown applied for her to attend summer elementary school in town Topeka, Kansas. Which was closer to the school she attended. She was rejected by the Board of Education of Topeka on grounds of race she was black and summer Elementary school was for white pupils only. Linda’s parents with support of the NAACP took their case to local court it was rejected because of Plessy vs Fegerson. NAACP persuaded them to take it to the supreme court.
In DEC 152, it was decided that a retrial of Brown vs the board of education of Topeka would be needed judges failed to each a verdict. Before retrial a new judge, Earl Warren, joined supreme court became Chief Justice. Case restarted. NAACP lawyers led by Thurgood Marshall argued that separate schools damaging to psychologically even if the schools were equal in terms o funding and facilities. On 17 May 1954 the supreme court ruled that the school segregation was unconstitutional. A year after the brown decision a second supreme court ruling decided that school desegregation should be quick
What was the importance of Brown vs Topeka?
Despite NAACP celebrations. Brown versus Topeka limited immediate impact. Schools in towns and cities inside the deep south started to integrate. Progress was slow did not and did not always benefit AA pupils and it was hard for their families as they faced anger and their education suffered. Many AA teachers lost their jobs as many of the schools that provided a good education were closed. In some towns and cities, segregation became more extreme due to ‘white flight’ white people left areas large number of black residents extreme backlash for white racist.
Verdict was a great victory for the NAACP brought an increased awareness of AA civil rights. It provided new legal prevent many more legal cases and campaign for desegregation US political system willing to hep AA citizens new hope to civil right.
What was the Revival of the Ku Klux Klan?
In deep south day of supreme courts decision on Brown vs Topeka as ‘Black Monday’. Many white southerners furious and were determined to maintain segregation. First white citizens council was set up in Mississippi organised and protests and petitions it put pressure on state authorities to resist integration. Many WCC members were inspired to join KKK. Branches reappeared all across the south memberships grew. It reached very high levels they had meetings to encourage racial hatred . Target mainly civil rights protestors and supporters. After civil rights began to grow so did the violent action from the KK they began to use bombs they were very violent
How did the death of Emmet Till have impacts on the civil rights campaign?
Emmet Till was 14 and was from Chicago. He was used to discrimination and attended a segregated school not prepared for extreme racism of the south when he visited relatives in Mississippi in summer of 1955 on 24 August. Till boasted to friends about his white girlfriends they dared him to go into Bryant’s Grocery and meat market shop and talk to the owners wife. Teenagers said he whistled at her outside the store. Four days later in the middle of the night. Till was taken from his great uncles house by Roy Bryant owner of shop and husband and his half brother J.W Milam beat him shot him and threw his body inti river found 31 August.
What was the reaction to Till’s death?
Authorities wanted to bury Till quickly but his mother, Mamie Bradly insisted his body be sent back to her in Chicago. She could not recognised her son his face had been beaten she left coffin open so people could see what had been done. Photographs of Till’s body were published thousands saw him and many white as well as AA were shocked. It took an hour for an all white jury to find the pair not guilty. Many Americans angered by lack of justice when they confessed to beating and killing Till in a magazine article. Under US law they could not be tried for the same crime.
What were the impacts of Emmet Till’s death?
Many white Americans in the North saw for the first time to extreme racism that AA were suffering. This brought an increased awareness of the problems African Americans faced.
It motivated many AA to take a more active role to bring about change. Many AA the same age identified with Emmett Till and went onto join huge civil rights protests of the 1960s
What were the causes of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
On 1 Dec 1955, Rosa parks was travelling home from work in Montgomery Alabama buses were segregated. Parks sat in the first row for coloured people when the bus got busy a white man did not have a seat. Rosa and the other black people in her row were told to move. The whole row had to stand as mixed race rows were not allowed. Rosa refused the driver stopped the bus called the police and Rosa was arrested.
Women Political council in Montgomery had been fighting discrimination on buses since 1950. Wanted to improve the service particular on AA women who were bullied by drivers warned Mayor Gayle wold be a boycott if it did not improve. Rosa parks was not the first AA to be arrested for not complying with seg laws but she was chose as she was highly respectable and already involved in civil rights being secretary of the NAACP in Montgomery. WPC called for all AA to boycott buses on 5 December day of Parks trial. Church and college groups helped to publise the boycott it was a huge success . Success 70% pf all bus passenger were AA 90% of all passenger did not use buses it was very useful.
What was the Montgomery Improvement Association?
On evening 5 Dec large group gathered at holt street Baptist church. Set up Montgomery improvement association aimed at improving integration throughout Montgomery beginning with buses. MLK was chosen as the chairmen Decided to continue the Boycott until bus companies agreed to their demands.
Drivers treat all AA passengers with respect. Black rivers should be used for routes with mostly black passengers
AA should not have to eave their seats in the coloured sections of the bus so whites could sit down.
Bus companies refused all the demands boycott continued for 381 days. Serious financial harm to the company.
How was the boycott maintained?
MIA realised that the boycott would be difficult to maintain without help because of distances and being unable to walk it. Initially arranged black taxi companies to charge lower fares and those with cars to give each other lifts. Some American colleagues gave lifts as well. Two of these options became unavailable as white community put pressure on those who were giving lifts to black people to stop doing so and minimum taxi fares were raised to make them expensive for most AA. Black community needed another solution
MIA began organising a car pooling system, where people shared cars and many churches brought cars. It developed pick up and drop of points and routes around the city to make sure there was an effective method. Support of churches was essential in Montgomery success. Most AA attended church so was a great place to create support for the boycott . Churches provided meeting places for planning and discussion and raised money for shared cars. Bought people shoes for walking.
Boycott faced issues
AA verbally and physically harassed while waiting for cars to arrive
Drivers of shared cars were frequently arrested for minor driving offences.
Laws prevented crowds gathering were used to arrest groups of people waiting for shared cars
Violence levels increased when MLK’s house was bombed.
How was there a move to complete integration?
Due to support of car pools and inspiring speeches by King. The boycotters did not give up and it was a success. As boycott continued media became more interested and coverage increased. Raised awareness of problem of segregation and attacking support of the cause. NAACP stepped in and challenged the issue of segregated transport in court as it had done with segregated education. On 1 Feb 1956 case of Browder vs Gayle began. Case argued that segregation of the buses was a violation of the 4th amendment. MIA demanded total desegrigation of the buses as well.
On 22 Feb, around 90 members of the MIA including King and Parks were arrested for distrusting lawful business. They were jailed and found guilty and had to pay fines. Trial gave MIA an oppotunity to show evidence of the abuses of white bus drivers gave trail large amounts of publicity attracted funding from all of US allowing Boycott to continue
On 5 June 3 judges in the Browder vs Gayle case ruled by 2 to 1 buses should be desegregated because B vs T should be applied to transport as well as education. The bus company supported by white citizens council appeared to the supreme court and lost 2 cases. MIA ended the boycott in Dec 1956 AA returned to the buses and could do what they wanted.
What was the significance of the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
Montgomery Bus Boycott regarded as very successful. After buses in Montgomery were integrated seating first come first serve rather than by race bus drivers no longer ordered AA to make room for white passengers. After boycott some other places began to integrate transport. Significance of the boycott was that it provided an example of a form of protests that worked inspired more civil right campaign. Bus boycott showed that if a large number of AA took direct action it could bring about change.
Demonstrated effectiveness of non violence in gaining support for civil rights and attracting publicity. It showed how effective AA could organise themselves and the church in brining people together for a cause. Brought attention to the work of MLK. He blame very important in raising awareness of civil right and gaining support
Boycott not all positive only led to changes in a small area. Only facilities in Montgomery remained segregated for many years afterwards. memberships of racist groups grew increase in violence against AA. Hooded patrols of KKK drove around trying to intimidate and sometimes attacking AA. wave of bombing of churches and homes.
What events led up to the 1957 Civil rights act?
By 1957 only one of the 3 parts of the federal gov (supreme court) has taken action on AA civil rights in education and pub transport. Other 2 parts president and congress had yet to act. President Truman had attempted to get a civil rights bill passed in 1948, blocked by republicans. Truman replaced by Republican President Eisenhower in 1952 hoping to pass his own bill.
Eisenhower declared himself to be in support of AA civil rights, but unwilling to act. He like many politicians believed that changed law would not really work till peoples attitudes changed. Aware of how strongly people valued old rights and did not want Federal gov to interfere in what was seen as state affairs. Achievements of B V T and Boycott extreme violent action caused by this put pressure on president and congress for a federal law to help achieve AA civil rights.
