African-American Civil Rights: MLK v. Radical Black Activism

Civil Rights and Social Movements in the Americas IB History 12

Martin Luther King Jr. (Non-Violence)• Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Civil Rights

efforts were based on the teachings of Mahatma Ghandi and were non-violent.

• The intentions of non-violent protest were to highlight discrimination and violence towards of non-violent African-Americans.

• Martin Luther King Jr.’s efforts were organized through the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and was copied by college students in the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee.

Results of MLK/Non-Violent Protest• The efforts of MLK, the SCLC, and the

SNCC all gained the attention of national and international media by highlighting discrimination and violence against African-Americans.

• This attention forced President John F. Kennedy to take action or he would appear weak.

• The efforts that were shown by the media focused primarily on marches in Birmingham, AL and Washington DC, Freedom Rides across the South, and efforts to get African-Americans registered to vote in both Alabama and Mississippi.

Radical Black Activism• Malcolm X, some members of the SNCC

(Stokley Carmichael), the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Black Panthers all emerged as sources of Radical Black Activism.

• Radical Black Activism was focused on making the African-American community self-sufficient, or even separating it from the United States, and protecting African-Americans using force if necessary.

• Radical Black Activism was the product of some African-American leaders losing faith in the non-violent approach of MLK, SCLC, and SNCC.

Results of Radical Black Activism• Radical Black Activism had a positive

impact on the African-American community in its effort to promote self-sufficiency. This effort led the creation of many efforts to improve the community such as schools, daycares, and job training centers.

• However, isolationist and separatist efforts within Radical Black Activism seemed contradictory. In fact, Malcolm X, who was Muslim, visited the Muslim Holy Land in Saudi Arabia and witnessed people of many races worshiping together. As a result he abandoned his isolationist and separatist efforts after returning.

Research Simulation • Radical Black Activism rose from

dissatisfaction with the lack of progress from the non-violent approach to African-American Civil Rights.

• Some members of the African-American Community lost faith in the non-violent approach in terms of being able to cause positive change for African-Americans in the United States.

• If you were an African-American during the 1960’s would you have lost faith in a non-violent approach to African-American Civil Rights and began to favor a more isolated, self-sufficient, and militant approach?