A2 Unit F965 - Historical Interpretations and Investigations
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A* Essay To what Extent was Martin Luther King was the most successful African American Civil Rights leader in the US between the period
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A2 Unit F965 - Historical Interpretations and Investigations
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This is a fantastic resource questioning the extent to which Martin Luther King was the most important and successful leader in the endeavour for the improvement of AA civil rights in the US, more so than any other leader during the period such as Booker T Washington, Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, A Phi...
A2 Unit F965 - Historical Interpretations and Investigations
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Martin Luther King was the most successful African American Civil rights leader in the USA
1865-92.
Political
Yes, he was successful
MLK could be seen as the most successful AA civil rights leader, because of the way
his marches subsequently resulted in passed legislation by the federal government
regarding the right to vote for AA’s.
MLK, was the leader of the SCLC (southern Christian Leadership Conference and
organised and used non-violent marches by AA’s. King did this with the knowledge
that they would be filmed and broadcasted on national television and would
generate violence created by the police, consequently horrifying the nation, creating
sympathy for their cause and forcing the government to act. This was seen through
both the campaign in Birmingham and the March on Selma that both respectively
did indeed lead to tangible reform made by the federal government.
The March on Selma was organised by MLK and the SCLC and was an attempt in
challenging voter restrictions and fighting for de jure voting reform.
In Selma, there was a 50% aa population however only 1% of the registered
electorate were black. This was because of the voter suppression imposed by the
south, including literacy tests that many AA couldn’t pass and the use of poll tax that
many people couldn’t afford.
The march gained the support of 25,000 people, both white and black people
As MLK had anticipated and expected, White supremacist and the police, played into
the hands of MLK, which galvanised LBJ that a voting rights bill was needed.
As a consequence of the March and the sympathies raised as a result of the actions
of the police (which became known as bloody Sunday), LBJ passed the voting rights
act 1965 which outlawed voting qualifications including literacy tests and provided
for federal oversight of voter registration to make sure that the 24 th amendment was
ensured.
This was significant as it meant that the right to vote for AA’s was finally
materialised, despite the ratification of the 15th amendment in 1870 almost hundred
years prior. Indeed by 1966 only 4 out of the traditional 13 southern states had less
than 50% AAs registered to vote. Additionally, between this and 1971 AA presence in
congress had doubles as a result.
No others were more politically successful.
For example, Du Bois who was the leader of the earlier Niagara movement and later
the first leader and founder of the NAACP (national association for the advancement
of coloured people). Du Bois and the NAACP were responsible for many cases won
throughout the 20th century.
For example, US vs Guinn 1915, which declared the grandfather clauses to be
unconstitutional
Further, this was achieved whilst under a very hostile presidency in Woodrow
Wilson. On the contrary, MLK enjoyed a very favourable political climate with a pro
civil rights president in LBJ who was also key to push for reforms having only 11
months left in the White House. Thus, it was potentially easier for MLK to enjoy such
success. Therefore, this suggests that Du Bois was more successful than MLK, as he
, was able to do this while working in much more adverse conditions under Woodrow
Wilson who promoted the KKK and the film ‘birth of a nation’.
it also enabled more AA to be able to vote in the south who were unable hitherto
this ruling.
Another Leader who could be seen to be more politically successful than MLK, was
Walter White, the leader of the NAACP in the 1940’s until 1955.
During this time, White won many cases to aid the advancement of AA’s civil rights
such as Smith vs Allwright 1944, that ruled that restricting primary voters to whites
denied Smith equal protection under law in violation of the 14th amendment. This
was a success, because it gave more AA’s the right to vote in segregationist southern
state assemblies. As a result of this ruling, Black registered voters in the USA rose
from 2% of black in 1940, to 12% in 1947
Overall
It is clear through the first half of the 20th century that there were many successful
leaders who were responsible for increasing AA voting rights. Nevertheless, MLK was
the only activist to have any federal legislation materialized and so was very
successful, especially as it was a piece of legislation that ended voter suppression as
a whole. However, it could be argued that he was only able to do this as he worked
in easier climates to create a tangible change.
Social
King was successful
King was seen as very successful due to his work and efforts in influencing the FG to
pass de jure civil rights reform that combated segregation and overt discrimination.
This was first put firmly on the agenda under MLK through the Montgomery bus
boycotts of 1956.
The bus boycotts came after an NAACP activist Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing
to vacate a ‘whites only’ seat on a bus.
King helped to organise and lead the boycott. He became the president of the
Montgomery improvement association and set up to coordinate the boycott.
In addition, His role was pivotal with his speeches to the boycotters, inspiring them
to continue.
As a result of the boycotts, the NAACP won the legal case, Bowder vs Gayle 1956
which ruled that segregation on buses was unconstitutional and set a precedent for
desegregation of local buses.
Kings social success was also showing through the Birmingham demonstrations in
1963 where he used black children at the forefront of the march. He used the march
again well aware that the racist police chief there (Eugene ‘bull’ Connor’) was likely
to resort to violence, which indeed it did. The march and resulting violence shown by
the police, convinced Kennedy that a civil rights act was needed.
In addition, Kings success is shown through the March on Washington in 1963,
where he orated the famous ‘I have a dream’ speech. This provided further
ammunition to Kings cause. It was attended by 250,000 people both white and black,
and his speech where he spoke about his vision for a better future in America was
one that had not been seen or done before.
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