The American Civil Rights Movement, 1895–1992

The American Civil Rights Movement, 1895–1992

Early Struggles and Key Figures

  • Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896): This Supreme Court case upheld racial segregation, establishing the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’, which emboldened segregationist practices across America, mainly in Southern States.
  • Booker T. Washington: An influential black leader who believed in the notion of economic self-help and vocational training for African Americans. He is best known for his ‘Atlanta Compromise’ speech.
  • W.E.B. Du Bois: He held a more radical stance, favouring political action and civil rights, over the accommodationist approach of Washington. One of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.
  • Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka (1954): Landmark case where the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning ‘separate but equal’.
  • Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–56): Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat sparked a mass boycott against bus segregation led by Martin Luther King Jr. The boycott resulted in the integration of Montgomery’s bus system.
  • Civil Rights Act of 1964: This significant law ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin.
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965: This allowed federal oversight of voter registration in areas with a history of discriminatory voting practices, enabling numerous African Americans to register and vote.

Emergence of Different Approaches and Movements

  • Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC): Founded by Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders in 1957, it played a major role in the civil rights struggle, advocating for nonviolent resistance.
  • Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC): Formed in 1960, this organisation focused on mobilising young people and was central to sit-ins and Freedom Rides.
  • Black Power Movement: In the late 1960s, disappointment over the perceived slow pace of change led to a more militant and radical approach, exemplified by groups like the Black Panthers.

Later Years and Legacy

  • Affirmative Action (1961–): Policies aimed at increasing representation of minorities in areas of employment, education, and business from which they had been historically excluded.
  • Civil Rights Act of 1991: This reaffirmed and extended the provisions of the 1964 legislation.
  • Continuing Struggles: Despite legislative changes, issues such as police brutality, economic inequality, and racial profiling remain ongoing issues, as highlighted by movements like Black Lives Matter.

It’s key to understand the interplay and evolution of ideologies, political action, legal changes, and public sentiment over these decades. The Civil Rights Movement was not a uniform or linear process.