HISTORY 104 - A LINE 100 YEARS LONG

BLACK POWER
THE WEST
LAISSEZ FAIRE
BLOOD AND ROSES
FEELING OUR OATS
DAY OF THE DREAMER
TAKE A SPIN
LET THE FUN BEGIN
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE
THE UNQUIET TIMES
A LESSON UNLEARNED
A LINE 100 YEARS LONG
MODERN TIMES
WHERE TO FROM HERE

WHAT IS HISTORY?

A LINE 100 YEARS LONG

Too often people believe that the African-American civil rights movement began in the 1950s or 1960s. The truth is that the fight for freedom and rights goes back to the very beginning. There were suicides and rebellions of various forms on the ships bringing them to America. There were incidents of breaking tools, cutting down crops instead of weeds, talking back, running away, fights and attempted rebellions throughout the history of slavery in America. Participation as soldiers, workers and spies during the Civil War helped to elimate slavery. Unfortunately after the Civil War there was a shining moment called Reconstruction which ended with the attempts of the redeemers to reinstitute slavery in a new form. Even after Reconstruction there were sit-ins, boycotts of modes of transportation and other demonstrations. Often these activities led to violence and lynchings.

There are a number of important factors to note in the movement of the 1950s and 1960s. First to note is that events did occur spontaneously but much of the campaign involved planning and strategy. Television was used very effectively to convey their message. Their opponents also planned their responses. Secondly, as in the past, much of the leadership came from the clergy until the advent of the Black Panther movement. Thus Christianity was very much a part of the movement. The third factor is that the civil rights movement was composed of normal everyday people who were willing to risk their lives for a dream. The African -American community had no lack of heroes.

Why was religion so central and important to the civil rights movement? Would Martin Luther King have been successful if he had advocated violence rather than peaceful protest? Why did Martin Luther King change his campaign from civil rights for African- Americans to wlefare of all the poor and opposition to the war in Vietnam? Why did the young turn to the Black Panther movement? What was the reaction of the white community to the Black Panthers?

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