Introduction
The selected lecture focuses on the Civil Rights Movement, especially its origin and influence in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Professor Taylor chooses two main events to explore: the Brown v. Board of Education case of 1954 and the Desegregation of the Little Rock Central High School in 1957. He begins the lecture by acknowledging the role that individuals like Martin Luther King Junior played in the fight for civil rights. However, he notes that an even bigger role was played by college students. He goes on to give several examples to demonstrate how ordinary people were actively involved in the movement.
Major Themes
Major themes in the lecture include racial segregation, integration, and inequality. After 1946, African Americans were less tolerant of the racial order, and they were therefore impatient. They were tired of waiting for the law to end racial segregation. The federal government was unsuccessfully using all the means necessary, including military troops to protect African American rights. The Brown decision had two implications: the Court ruled to end segregation and laid a foundation for other arms of government to fight racial segregation, especially in the 1960s (Taylor). The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was also changing and emerging as the lead organization in the fight against segregation. Local chapters filed several lawsuits against racial discrimination. As the organization grew and became more militant, it secured several attorneys who would help to resolve its legal matters. They included Charles Houston, William Hastie, and Thurgood Marshall, and they were remarkably successful.
Houston was the mastermind behind the NCAAP’s victory in the Brown V. Board of Education case. The Supreme Court ruled that segregation was illegal in public schools, and set the foundation for further advocacy initiatives. The organization’s lawyers aimed at the edges of segregation, including the public schools, graduate schools, and the Border States (Taylor). In that regard, they tried to desegregate schools that lay between state borders. For example, the University of Delaware graduate program, the University of Kentucky, the Louisiana State University, and the University of Oklahoma embraced integration due to immense pressure from the NAACP (Taylor). Taylor also talks about the rampant inequality during the 1950s. For instance, the administration of the Polio vaccine was done in different locations for black and white children. The social amenities for black schools were of very low quality and little funding was available. The desegregation of Little Rock Central High School was challenging as the African American students had to be protected by military troops.
Several states allowed their governors to shut down schools that had been ordered to desegregate. The county passed a law denying funding to inefficient schools, which primarily encompassed desegregated schools. Prince Edward County in Virginia had no publicly operated schools between the years 1957 and 1960 (Taylor). White students were enrolled in private schools and African American children who remained in the county did not receive any education. After the Brown ruling, several organizations blocked the desegregation of society. Examples include the White Citizen’s Council, the National Association for the Advancement of White people, and the Mississippi Sovereignty commission (Jeffries 54). These factions were opposed to the eradication of racial segregation.
Historical Relevance
The landmark ruling in the Brown case set the foundation for the eradication of racial segregation and the promotion of equality. The Little Rock crisis created a foundation for the weakening of racial segregation and showed that the courts do not do much in protecting the civil rights of African Americans. It led to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and other laws that ended segregation. The subject is important because it was an ear of activism for equal rights and treatment of African Americans. Today, racism is still an issue in the United States. However, the activities of the Civil Rights Movement led to numerous social, political, cultural, and legal changes that brought equality in the US. Racial segregation was abolished and all races enjoy equal rights.
Interesting Idea
An idea that I found interesting in the lecture was the Supreme Court ruling banning segregation in public schools and the impact it had on American society. Taylor notes that had it not been for the landmark decision, Congress would not have passed laws to fight segregation and the federal government’s efforts would have been hampered. The decision shocked American society because the Supreme Court was comprised of white judges (Jeffries 64). A foundation for equality was created by the Court and an impetus for a sustained fight for civil rights was provided. Protests by college students played a key role in the desegregation of public facilities.
Conclusion
The abolishment of racial segregation can be attributed to the activities of the Civil Rights Movement between the 1940s and the 1960s. The Supreme Court ruling in the Brown case, the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott are examples of occurrences that brought equality to American society. The Movement is historically relevant because it heralded social, cultural, political, and legal changes that introduced equality and ended segregation in America.
Works Cited
Jeffries, Hasan Kwame, editor. Understanding and Teaching the Civil Rights Movement. The University of Wisconsin Press, 2019.
Taylor, Quintard. “1950s Civil Rights Movement.” University of Washington History Department, uploaded by C-Span, 2012, Web.