Civil Rights Movement and JFK's Campaign

Civil Rights Movement

• The Cold War spurred Harry Truman to initiate a civil rights agenda.
• Executive Order 9981 (1948) ended discrimination in the military.
• Grassroots initiatives emerged, advancing racial equality and fueling the civil rights movement.

1960 Presidential Campaign

• John F. Kennedy (JFK) presented himself as a champion of African American rights during his 1960 campaign.
• He highlighted African liberation struggles, promising federal action on education and housing, and attacking segregation in the South.
• Concerns arose that JFK, once elected, would downplay civil rights legislation due to opposition from Southern Democrats.

Initial Actions and Approaches

• The Kennedy administration prioritized executive action over congressional interventions to advance civil rights.
• Robert Kennedy (Attorney General) played a crucial role, working alongside civil rights groups like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to register disenfranchised African Americans.

Early Results and Challenges

• JFK's administration saw a five-fold increase in black voter registration within two years.
• However, challenges persisted with the FBI's reluctance to protect civil rights activists.
• The Attorney General (Robert Kennedy) had to encourage black voter registration to overcome FBI resistance.
• The Attorney General deployed hundreds of federal marshals to protect civil rights activists.

Birmingham Protests

• Martin Luther King Jr.'s (MLK) large-scale protests in Birmingham, Alabama, aimed at dismantling segregation laws.
• Sit-ins at lunch counters, marches on city halls, and boycotts of businesses were among the tactics utilized.
• The city's police commissioner, "Bull" Connor, employed harsh tactics against protestors, drawing national attention to the struggle.
• Police used dogs, high-pressure water hoses and made mass arrests.
• MLK wrote "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" during his stay at jail to highlight racial injustice issues.

Children's March

• Thousands of children participated in protests to challenge segregation laws.
• Authorities reacted with significant force including using dogs and water hoses against protestors.

Public Advocacy

• MLK used media appearances, including TV broadcasts, to advocate for racial justice.
• His public speeches underscored moral issues and principles embedded in both scripture and American documents.

Civil Rights Act (1963) and Further Legislation

• President Kennedy's administration initiated the Civil Rights Act.
• The law emphasized equal access to public accommodations and full voting rights.
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed segregation in public places.

March on Washington

• A significant march on Washington by 200,000 people occurred to advocate for civil rights.
• Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech advocating for equality and justice during the event.

Assassination and Legacy

• President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963.
• VP Lyndon Baines Johnson assumed presidency and furthered civil rights legislation as well.

Voting Rights Act (1965)

• The Voting Rights Act outlawed literacy tests and ensured federal oversight of elections.

Fair Housing Act (1968)

• The Fair Housing Act prevented discrimination in housing based on race, religion, sex, or national origin, enacted shortly after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.

Further Civil Rights Struggles

• Malcolm X's advocacy for black nationalism and activism was evident.
• The assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert Kennedy highlighted the persistence of racial tensions and inequalities in the US.

Latin American Civil Rights

• The US annexed Mexican territory following the Mexican-American War and promised full citizenship to Mexican Americans.
• Over decades, Latin Americans faced discrimination and segregation, prompting civil rights organizations like LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens).
• Court cases challenged discriminatory practices.
• The civil rights movement for Latinos was a component of larger struggle for diverse social justice initiatives, and contributed to broader socio-political changes.

Conclusion

• The Civil Rights Movement brought systemic change regarding slavery but not all discrimination.
• The movement championed social justice for African Americans in the 1950s and 1960s, with similar movements later emerging for Latinos, women, LGBTQ+ communities and others.