The Meredith March - 1966 James Meredith was famous for being the university of Mississippi’s first black student (1962). He planned a 220 mile walk from Memphis to Jackson (Mississippi’s capital) to encourage blacks to vote. He was shot on 2nd day of march and temporarily injured. This led to civil rights organisations declaring that they would continue the walk. By the 3rd day MLK and others had joined march including SNCC leader - Stokely Carmichael
Divisions emerged on the march - NAACP wanted the march to focus attention on the new civil rights bill while Carmichael criticised It King welcomed white participants while the SNCC rejected them The SNCC were becoming increasingly militant - phrase black power emerged When the march arrived in Jackson 15,00 marchers were divided chanting either ‘Freedom Now’ or ‘Black Power’
The Ghetto Riots Between 1954 and 1965 the Civil Rights movement had managed to bring about change in the south, however they had achieved little for the inhabitants of the ghetto’s of the north. Ghetto life was a cycle of poverty 32% ghetto children finished high school compared to 56% white children, furthermore 46% unemployed were black. 1964-1968 riots - 1st major riot was in Watts, Los Angeles in 1965 - 34 deaths, 1000 injuries, 3,500 rioters and looters arrested and over $40 million worth of damage done. 238 other race riots in over 200 cities between 1964 and 1968.
Why did the Ghetto’s reject the older civil rights organisations? •many ghetto blacks felt that groups such as NAACP and SCLC knew little about ghetto life and did little to improve matters •many younger activists rejected ‘de great lawd’ MLK and rejected his emphasis upon the south and the white man’s christian religion and non-violence •many were inspired by the leaders of newly independent African nations While MLK was a product of peaceful black Christian activism Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X were the products of seperatism
