CHANGING IDEAS IN CIVIL RIGHTS 1965-68
Malcolm X
Left NOI in 1964 and started 'Muslim Mosque'
Went on a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1964, which showed him that Muslims of many different races could be united in their faith
In 1952 he joined 'NOI' an encouraged members to protect themselves ' by any means necessary'. He was very influentially against non-violence
This changed his mind on segregation, he thought maybe it could work and set up 'Afro-Unity' in 1964
In 1946, he was arrested for burglary and sent to prison where he read about 'Nation of Islam'
He gave a presentation in New York and was shot 15 times and killed in 1965
His father was a baptist minister who was murdered and Malcolm went into foster care
his true influence came after his death as he inspired a generation of young, poverty-stricken black Americans who felt their problems were being ignored by other civil rights groups
In 1925, born in Nebraska as Malcolm Little
Promoted black pride and took a socialist stance which is said to have inspired the Black power movement
Black Power
SNCC from 1966
The March Against Fear 1966
Black Panthers
Riots 1964-68
Mexico Olympics 1968
From 1963, a growing number of black Americans disagreed with non-violence. X's death provided the inspiration for the growth of the black power movement
they encouraged black people to be proud of their heritage
rejected help from white people, arguing black people should rely on themselves
argued against integration saying it would not produce real equality
were influenced by Malcolm X and used militant language
in 1966 Stokely Carmichael was elected chairman of SNCC and from then onward the organisation's aims were far more radical than previously
They now aimed for Black Pride and redistribution of wealth
asked all white SNCC members to leave SNCC in 1966 - losing a huge support base
Changed the 'N' in SNCC from 'non-violent' to 'national'
MLK stressed non-violence and Carmichael used militant language which inspired many more to follow him
In June 1966, James Meredith led the March against Fear through Mississippi. He was shot on the second day and, whilst in hospital, MLK and Carmichael led the march with different approaches
Black Panthers were one of the largest Black Power groups led by Huey Newton. They demanded a 'revolution' because they needed black officials and police who would work for the community
They also believed in self-defence and carried guns openly which made the news. They acted as police and social workers in their community
set up ghetto clinics to advise on health, welfare and legal rights
ran breakfast clubs for poor black children
ran courses on black history and citizen's rights
tried to expose police brutality with tape recorders
However, they were never a national organisation and frequently engaged in petty drug related crime
Between 1964-68 there were 329 major riots across America
The short term cause of them were police behaviour - each riot would start with a trigger incident involving the police
The long term cause was ghetto conditions produced by segregation and discrimination - housing for blacks was overpriced and over-crowded, making them angry
This was found in the Kerner Report - an investigation into the cause of the riots. It also determined that white officials should listen to black people more
Winner and third place of 100m race (most popular) were black Americans. On the televised podium, they did the black power sign and refused to look at the American flag. They could not race again which challenged the 'land of the free' - embarrassing for America