New Issues

Problems Facing Urban African Americans

• Racism was a real problem for African Americans who had moved to the cities

• Many whites refused to live in the same neighborhoods as blacks

• Landlords refused to rent to African Americans

Problems Facing Urban African Americans

• Most African Americans worked low-paying jobs

• Half of all African American families lived in poverty

• Many blacks were aware of the gains made in the civil rights movement– But recognized these gains did not solve their

social/economic issues

The Watts Riothttp://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/watts-riot-begins

• Race riots broke out in many inner-city neighborhoods such as Watts in Los Angeles– Here over 34 people were killed and hundreds

injured

• Rioters tended to loots and burn entire neighborhoods

The Kerner Commission

• headed by Illinois Governor Otto Kerner

• responsible for researching the causes of these race riots

The Kerner Commission

• found that white society and racism were to blame for most inner-city problems

• Recommended 2 million jobs and 6 million new housing units be created– However most of the nation’s money was going

towards the Vietnam War• No changes were made

The Shift to Economic Rights

• MLK began to shift his focus towards economic issues

• He went to Chicago to work with community organizations in order to improve living conditions for the poor in Chicago.

http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=76,4,5,7

The Shift to Economic Rights

• The Chicago Movement was unsuccessful

• Though many plans were put in place to improve living conditions, little progress was made in the mid 1960s

Black Power• MLKs failure in Chicago made many African Americans

believe that nonviolence could not change their economic positions.

• They turned to more aggressive forms of protest

Black Power

• Many called for black power (had 2 interpretations)– Belief that self-defense, even violence, were acceptable

when defending one’s freedom.

– Belief that blacks should take control of the social, economic, and political direction of their struggle for equality.

• became very popular in the poor neighborhoods where many African Americans lived.

Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam

• Malcolm X became the symbol of black power

• He had spent time in prison where he joined the Nation of Islam, or Black Muslims

The Nation of Islam (Black Muslims)

• They believed African Americans should separate themselves from whites and form their own communities.

• Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam gained a lot of support

Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam

• By 1964 Malcolm X had broken from the Black Muslims due to scandals involving their leaders

• He eventually changed his view towards an integrated society

• Malcolm X was assassinated by members of the Nation of Islam in February 1965.

The Black Panthers• Malcolm X’s ideas

continued to influence African American leaders.

• The Black Panthers was one such group.– Urged African Americans

to arm themselves and confront the white society to force the whites to grant them equal rights.

The Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr

• At this point, the civil rights movement was split

• April 1968 MLK was assassinated as he stood on his hotel balcony– Set off riots in over 100 cities

The Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jrhttp://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/naacp/civilrightsera/ExhibitObjects/CivilRightsAct1968.aspx

• After his death Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968– Banned discrimination in the sale and rental of

housing

• The civil rights movement continued on, but lacked the vision that Dr. King had given it.