Timothy J. Minchin and John A. Salmond
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780813129785
- eISBN:
- 9780813135625
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Kentucky
- DOI:
- 10.5810/kentucky/9780813129785.003.0004
- Subject:
- History, African-American History
Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed by James Earl Ray—an escaped convict who supported Klan efforts—as he stood on Lorraine Motel's balcony on April 4, 1968. King tried to help several people, ...
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Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed by James Earl Ray—an escaped convict who supported Klan efforts—as he stood on Lorraine Motel's balcony on April 4, 1968. King tried to help several people, and all of these people felt that King's death left a significant impact on their lives. Liberal hopes for racial healing went on a decline after the said event and after presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy was also assassinated. Blacks and whites were further polarized as a result of the riots that followed the assassinations. Richard Nixon's new administration, however, did not foster good relations with the civil rights groups, and they found themselves at ends with NAACP leaders who accused them of pandering. King's death particularly left a mark for the civil rights movement in terms of the fact that the media no longer had a charismatic figurehead to focus on. As such, it became difficult to initiate action protests that would draw national attention.Less
Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed by James Earl Ray—an escaped convict who supported Klan efforts—as he stood on Lorraine Motel's balcony on April 4, 1968. King tried to help several people, and all of these people felt that King's death left a significant impact on their lives. Liberal hopes for racial healing went on a decline after the said event and after presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy was also assassinated. Blacks and whites were further polarized as a result of the riots that followed the assassinations. Richard Nixon's new administration, however, did not foster good relations with the civil rights groups, and they found themselves at ends with NAACP leaders who accused them of pandering. King's death particularly left a mark for the civil rights movement in terms of the fact that the media no longer had a charismatic figurehead to focus on. As such, it became difficult to initiate action protests that would draw national attention.
Timothy J. Minchin and John A. Salmond
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780813129785
- eISBN:
- 9780813135625
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Kentucky
- DOI:
- 10.5810/kentucky/9780813129785.003.0010
- Subject:
- History, African-American History
Among other disappointments during Carter's administration one of the most apparent was the country's economic situation. Since African Americans were often susceptible to being laid off, they often ...
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Among other disappointments during Carter's administration one of the most apparent was the country's economic situation. Since African Americans were often susceptible to being laid off, they often felt the devastating impact of economic problems throughout the presidency. Civil rights groups drew much attention to economic issues and asserted that they would be needing help in addressing such issues. Carter was more responsive in terms of achieving full employment compared to Ford, but his various efforts proved to be unsuccessful. According to a SRC report, the blacks were still experiencing the same segregated conditions they had to face during the 1950s. Aside from this, the blacks earned significantly smaller incomes and were experiencing higher unemployment compared to in the 1950s. As such, black leaders expressed that the gains brought about during the civil rights era should not be overemphasized.Less
Among other disappointments during Carter's administration one of the most apparent was the country's economic situation. Since African Americans were often susceptible to being laid off, they often felt the devastating impact of economic problems throughout the presidency. Civil rights groups drew much attention to economic issues and asserted that they would be needing help in addressing such issues. Carter was more responsive in terms of achieving full employment compared to Ford, but his various efforts proved to be unsuccessful. According to a SRC report, the blacks were still experiencing the same segregated conditions they had to face during the 1950s. Aside from this, the blacks earned significantly smaller incomes and were experiencing higher unemployment compared to in the 1950s. As such, black leaders expressed that the gains brought about during the civil rights era should not be overemphasized.
Tracy E. K’Meyer
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780813125398
- eISBN:
- 9780813135274
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Kentucky
- DOI:
- 10.5810/kentucky/9780813125398.003.0006
- Subject:
- History, African-American History
This chapter discusses the role of various civil rights groups in building bridges, fighting poverty and empowering citizens. It notes that the West End Community Council organized residents of ...
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This chapter discusses the role of various civil rights groups in building bridges, fighting poverty and empowering citizens. It notes that the West End Community Council organized residents of public housing projects to demand garbage pickup and a traffic signal; hosting weekend-long arts festivals where blacks and whites could have fellowship while enjoying music, theater, and dance; and coordinating the fight against poverty in one of the poorest sections of the city. It notes that the Louisville Area Council on Religion and Race, while sponsoring vigils of laypeople and clergy for open housing, also attempted to bridge the gap between whites and blacks by hosting discussion sessions on race relations. It further adds that young men who came to town with the Southern Conference Educational Fund to work for open housing legislation joined Volunteers in Service to America and worked with WECC to organize for the empowerment of the black community.Less
This chapter discusses the role of various civil rights groups in building bridges, fighting poverty and empowering citizens. It notes that the West End Community Council organized residents of public housing projects to demand garbage pickup and a traffic signal; hosting weekend-long arts festivals where blacks and whites could have fellowship while enjoying music, theater, and dance; and coordinating the fight against poverty in one of the poorest sections of the city. It notes that the Louisville Area Council on Religion and Race, while sponsoring vigils of laypeople and clergy for open housing, also attempted to bridge the gap between whites and blacks by hosting discussion sessions on race relations. It further adds that young men who came to town with the Southern Conference Educational Fund to work for open housing legislation joined Volunteers in Service to America and worked with WECC to organize for the empowerment of the black community.
Sekou M. Franklin
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- March 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780814789384
- eISBN:
- 9780814760611
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9780814789384.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, American Politics
What happened to black youth in the post-civil rights generation? What kind of causes did they rally around and were they even rallying in the first place? This book takes a close look at a variety ...
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What happened to black youth in the post-civil rights generation? What kind of causes did they rally around and were they even rallying in the first place? This book takes a close look at a variety of key civil rights groups across the country over the last forty years to provide a broad view of black youth and social movement activism. It examines popular mobilization among the generation of activists—principally black students, youth, and young adults—who came of age after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The book argues that the political environment in the post-civil rights era, along with constraints on social activism, made it particularly difficult for young black activists to start and sustain popular mobilization campaigns. Building on case studies from around the country—including New York, the Carolinas, California, Louisiana, and Baltimore—the book explores the inner workings and end results of activist groups such as the Southern Negro Youth Congress, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the Student Organization for Black Unity, the Free South Africa Campaign, the New Haven Youth Movement, the Black Student Leadership Network, the Juvenile Justice Reform Movement, and the AFL-CIO's Union Summer campaign. It demonstrates how youth-based movements and intergenerational campaigns have attempted to circumvent modern constraints, providing insight into how the very inner workings of these organizations have and have not been effective in creating change and involving youth.Less
What happened to black youth in the post-civil rights generation? What kind of causes did they rally around and were they even rallying in the first place? This book takes a close look at a variety of key civil rights groups across the country over the last forty years to provide a broad view of black youth and social movement activism. It examines popular mobilization among the generation of activists—principally black students, youth, and young adults—who came of age after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The book argues that the political environment in the post-civil rights era, along with constraints on social activism, made it particularly difficult for young black activists to start and sustain popular mobilization campaigns. Building on case studies from around the country—including New York, the Carolinas, California, Louisiana, and Baltimore—the book explores the inner workings and end results of activist groups such as the Southern Negro Youth Congress, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the Student Organization for Black Unity, the Free South Africa Campaign, the New Haven Youth Movement, the Black Student Leadership Network, the Juvenile Justice Reform Movement, and the AFL-CIO's Union Summer campaign. It demonstrates how youth-based movements and intergenerational campaigns have attempted to circumvent modern constraints, providing insight into how the very inner workings of these organizations have and have not been effective in creating change and involving youth.
Derek Charles Catsam
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780813125114
- eISBN:
- 9780813135137
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University Press of Kentucky
- DOI:
- 10.5810/kentucky/9780813125114.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, American History: 19th Century
In 1961, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and other civil rights groups began organizing the Freedom Rides. The Freedom Riders were volunteers of different backgrounds who travelled on buses ...
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In 1961, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and other civil rights groups began organizing the Freedom Rides. The Freedom Riders were volunteers of different backgrounds who travelled on buses throughout the American South to help enforce the Supreme Court ruling that had declared racial segregation on public transportation illegal. This book shows how the Freedom Rides were crucial in raising awareness among decision makers and in bringing the realities of racial segregation into American homes through national media coverage.Less
In 1961, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and other civil rights groups began organizing the Freedom Rides. The Freedom Riders were volunteers of different backgrounds who travelled on buses throughout the American South to help enforce the Supreme Court ruling that had declared racial segregation on public transportation illegal. This book shows how the Freedom Rides were crucial in raising awareness among decision makers and in bringing the realities of racial segregation into American homes through national media coverage.
Brian Dolinar
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- March 2014
- ISBN:
- 9781617032691
- eISBN:
- 9781617032707
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Mississippi
- DOI:
- 10.14325/mississippi/9781617032691.003.0002
- Subject:
- Literature, African-American Literature
This chapter focuses on the National Negro Congress and how it built a coalition of labor organizations and civil rights groups. While the NNC has typically been viewed as a strictly political ...
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This chapter focuses on the National Negro Congress and how it built a coalition of labor organizations and civil rights groups. While the NNC has typically been viewed as a strictly political organization typical of the Popular Front era, it also included a vital cultural component. The NNC’s cultural wing exposed the lack of black artists in the culture industries and worked to place more of them in various fields. At their national conferences, they held special cultural sessions to bring together black writers and artists on the Left and sponsored talent contests to encourage amateur black artists. Before the NNC, other groups were promoted by the Communist Left to organize cultural workers.Less
This chapter focuses on the National Negro Congress and how it built a coalition of labor organizations and civil rights groups. While the NNC has typically been viewed as a strictly political organization typical of the Popular Front era, it also included a vital cultural component. The NNC’s cultural wing exposed the lack of black artists in the culture industries and worked to place more of them in various fields. At their national conferences, they held special cultural sessions to bring together black writers and artists on the Left and sponsored talent contests to encourage amateur black artists. Before the NNC, other groups were promoted by the Communist Left to organize cultural workers.
