FINAL RESEARCH PAPER
nteasley
HIST420-Unit3-InnerCityRebellionsandtheDeathoftheCivilRightsMovement.pptxINNER CITY REBELLIONS AND THE DEATH OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
BIRMINGHAM MOVEMENT (1963)
Meticulously planned nonviolent assault on Birmingham’s white economic power structure
On April 3, 1963, the movement launched with mass meetings, lunch counter sit-ins, a march on city hall, and a boycott of downtown merchants
By April 7th (day 4), segregationist police chief Eugene “Bull” Connor attacked protesters with fire hoses, clubs, dogs, etc.
On May 10, 1963, movement leaders announced an agreement with the city of Birmingham to desegregate lunch counters, restrooms, drinking fountains, and department store fitting rooms
City saw an increase in Klan violence against blacks
1963
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1963
MEDGAR EVERS
NAACP Field Secretary for the state of Mississippi
Fought for voting rights and equal access to public accommodations
He became a high-profile target for threats, violence and terrorism by the KKK and White Citizens Councils
His home was firebombed twice in reaction to an organized boycott of Jackson’s downtown white merchants; after the first bombing, he and his wife Myrlie began practicing safety drills with their children and Medgar raised the height of his children’s bedroom windows to protect them from stray bullets
On June 12, 1963, he was shot by KKK member in front of his home and later died at a local hospital
1963
FOUR LITTLE GIRLS
On September 15, 1963, 4 Klansmen planted sticks of dynamite with a time delay under the steps of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL
Around 10:30 AM, an anonymous man called the church and simply yelled, "Three minutes!” and hung the phone up
Minutes later, the bomb exploded as five children were present within the girl's bathroom, changing into their choir robes in preparation for Sunday service
Four of the girls: Addie Mae Collins (age 14), Carol Denise McNair (age 11), Carole Robertson (age 14), and Cynthia Wesley (age 14), were killed in the attack
Investigation of Klansmen ended with no indictments
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FREEDOM SUMMER (1964)
Brought northern white students into South in a campaign to register Mississippi’s black voters; organized by SNCC and CORE
Registered more than 60,000 by summer’s end
CORE activists James Chaney (MS native, age 21), Andrew Goodman (New York, age 20) and Michael Schwerner (New York, age 24) were participants in the campaign
They were arrested by the police for “speeding” and later released and chased by the Klan
Chaney (beaten/castrated/then shot in head); Schwerner (shot in heart) and Goodman (shot/buried alive) by the KKK and police; Missing persons report filed; bodies found buried 6 weeks later
1964
INNER CITY REBELLIONS
RIOTS (1964-1968)
In a speech in 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. characterized the act of protest through riots in the following way,
But it is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention.
And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last twelve or fifteen years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo
than about justice and humanity.
INNER CITY REBELLIONS
RIOTS (1964-1968)
Demonstrated that legislation failed to solve deeper, structural problems of racial inequality
The cause of urban riots during the 1960s stemmed from a number of issues including discrimination, poverty, high unemployment, poor schools, poor healthcare, housing inadequacy and police brutality
In some cases, these riots were a reaction to some of the pivotal moments and tragedies that occurred during the modern Civil Rights Movement
INNER CITY REBELLIONS
PHILADELPHIA COLUMBIA AVENUE RIOTS (1964)
Began in August of 1964
Argument between husband and wife
Police arrive on the scene and assault woman
A bystander attempts to stop the police from assaulting her
Bystander and the woman are beaten and taken into police custody and a crowd began to form
Rumors spread stating that the woman had been killed
Led to two days of civil unrest
Looting white-owned shops where blacks were disrespected and exploited; Some white businesses were protected
Demonstrations against the police and the evil tactics of Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo
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INNER CITY REBELLIONS
WATTS RIOTS (1965)
Chain of violent confrontations between Los Angeles police and residents of Watts and other predominantly African American neighborhoods of South-Central L.A. that began August 11, 1965
Lasted for six days
Cause by the arrest and police beating of a black man by a white California Highway Patrol
Also caused by the use of excessive force by white police officers against black citizens
The riots resulted in the deaths of 34 people, while more than 1,000 were injured and more than $40 million worth of property was destroyed
CHICAGO RIOTS (WEST SIDE RIOTS) (1966)
The uprising began on July 12 after police and African American youth clashed over the youth opening fire hydrants and playing in the water
Outside of the incidents related to the hydrants, police habitually harassed and brutalized black citizens
African Americans complained that the police were singling them out while in the nearby Italian neighborhood, police did not interfere with open fire hydrants
Police continued to harass black citizens regarding the hydrants, which ultimately led to rioting and looting
Led to 3 days of civil unrest; Illinois Governor Otto Kerner Jr. ordered 1,500 National Guardsmen to Chicago’s West Side with orders to shot looters on sight
INNER CITY REBELLIONS
DETROIT RIOT (1967)
Series of violent confrontations between residents of predominantly black neighborhoods of Detroit and the police department that began on July 23, 1967
The immediate cause of the riot stemmed from illegal, frequent and random police raids of black neighborhoods and constant brutality by the police
Led to five days of civil unrest
The riot resulted in the deaths of 43 people, including 33 African Americans and 10 whites
The riot is considered one of the catalysts of the militant Black Power Movement
INNER CITY REBELLIONS
NEWARK, NJ RIOTS (1967)
A black cab driver was pulled over and badly beaten by the police when he double-parked
It happened within sight of the residents of a large public housing project
After the cab driver was taken to the police station, an angry, large crowd quickly gathered outside
Given the Newark Police Department’s continued acts of police brutality against blacks, the crowd had lost patience with peaceful protests and began to throw rocks at the building
Police came charging out of the station with night sticks, shields, teargas, riot gear and attacked the crowd
Led to 5 days of civil unrest
INNER CITY REBELLIONS
ASSASSINATION OF DR. KING
KING’ S MURDER
Martin Luther King, Jr. traveled to Memphis in support of striking black city sanitation workers
On Thursday, April 4, 1968, King was staying in room 306 at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis
King was shot while standing on the hotel balcony in front of his room
He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors opened his chest and performed surgery
He never regained consciousness and died an hour later
He was only 39 years-old, but doctors said he had the heart of a 60 year-old
Black America became angry and frustrated after King’s murder
Coretta Scott King & Bernice King at Dr. King’s funeral
ASSASSINATION OF DR. KING
1968 RIOTS
Following the assassination of King, riots ensued in more than 120 cities across the country
Fires burned, property and businesses were destroyed, and anger and fear of what was to come took root in black communities throughout the nation
Nationwide news coverage of the aftermath of King’s assassination, showed violence and looting in a number of major cities including Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Washington, D.C. and New York
DEATH OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
STOKELY CARMICHAEL (KWAME TURE) AND BLACK POWER
By the late 1960s, the message of non-violent protest began to wear thin in many black communities
At a freedom rally during the James Meredith March (for voting rights), Stokely Carmichael cried out the words “Black Power,” which transformed history
Chosen to lead SNCC; reflection of SNCC’s new militancy; believed violence should be met with violence
Carmichael believed independence from whites would enhance blacks’ ability to integrate so he expelled all white members from SNCC
Emphasized self-worth, self-love, and self-respect, and control of black institutions and communities
