Birmingham Non-Violent Resistance Campaign 1963
•Written Report – (1) Introduction – what is the chapter, and what social movement will you be discussing in relation to the chapter, (2) Main points – summarize and highlight the main points of the chapter while using at least one specific social movement to examine the theoretical concepts in the chapter, (3) include the historical context of the social movement, (4) cite at least one other text that is relevant to the chapter (5) What is your assessment of the chapter, what points did you agree with and how you were critical of other points. How would you extend the concepts in the chapter. (this can include questions that you would like to pose to the class in your presentation). (6) Conclude with reflective remarks on the chapter and what you learned in your reading and class presentation. (40 points) – due 24 hours after presentation
Birmingham Non-Violent Resistance Campaign 1963
Introduction
This paper discusses the Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign as a strong movement held in 1963 through the help of Southern Christian Leadership Conference members. The group fought on desegregating public facilities in Birmingham (Allen, 2019). The campaign facilitated by Reverends James, Fred Shuttlesworth, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, according to Moore (2018) in this paper, highlights the key objectives and how they related to the historical context for the Black Lives Matter Movement. Additionally, this paper outlines the class chapters to the Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign. Among the class set chapters, this piece outlines and relates to the background, the ideology of the agitators and establishment, promulgation and solidification, non-violent resistance and suppression and adjustment, and the aftermath of the Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign.
Background
In 1963, Birmingham was one of the United States’ most segregated cities, as described by Martin King. The city, 40% black and 60% white, had no black firefighters, police officers, sales clerks in the departmental stores, bank tellers, bus drivers, or store cashiers (Allen, 2019). Also, the black secretaries in white professionals would not work as their jobs were limited to steel mills or participate in yard maintenance or household services. As opposed to the White, the blacks’ unemployment rates were two and half times of the White and that their average income was less than that of the White. The economy in Birmingham also was shifting from blue to white-collar jobs. Therefore Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) members and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr formed Birmingham formed the Non-Violence Resistance Campaign intending to desegregate downtown stores of Birmingham, ensuring there are fair hiring tactics in the city employment and shops, there was the re-opening of public parks and formation of the bi-racial committee overseeing Birmingham public Schools segregation (Moore, 2018). Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign would promote equity and equality of Whites and Blacks in Birmingham.
Agitators’ Ideology
Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign, through the help of Luther and SCLC members, focused on non-violent resistant tactics. The movement necessitated by black leaders incorporated the concept of legitimizers; among them are Robert F. Kennedy, former U.S Attorney General. He has a stiff background and has participated in vast non-violent resistant movements focusing on the civil rights of the blacks (Allen, 2019). Kennedy petitioned Interstate Commerce Commission and eliminated segregation on bus facilities. Dr. Martin Luther King and his members focused on particular demands: desegregation of restroom, lunch containers, drinking fountains, and fitting rooms (Moore, 2018). Additionally, they focus on upgrading and hiring on a non-discriminatory basis the black, the drop of all set charges against prisoned demonstrators, and biracial committee creation to focus on other segregation regions in Birmingham.
The ideology of the Establishment
Ideology establishment was based on segregation maintenance. Local government leaders’ situated in Birmingham concluded Blacks inferiority to the Whites (Moore, 2018). Also, they are apprehensive of interethnic marriages and sorting the prevention of superior White race dilution. The leaders under these practices also believed the Blacks were contented with the segregation practices. To fulfill their objectives fully, the local government leaders utilized coercive power and intimidation to necessitate segregation (Allen, 2019). The processes involved the bombings of properties, particularly for the Blacks, eliminating the Federal Bureau of Investigation capacity to interview the black civil rights leaders.
Promulgation and Solidification
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) members and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr formed Birmingham formed the Non-Violence Resistance Campaign following permit denial by Connor. They thus involved tactics such as economic boycotts occurring during the shopping season of Easter (Allen, 2019). On the other hand, the leaders used vast techniques to facilitate their anger and grievances, which were singing freedom songs and painting their clothes with specific themes highlighting the needs of the lowly black people. The song introduced essential history in America, such as the American Negro.
Nonviolent resistance and suppression
Segregation incidences by local government leaders in Birmingham led to four hundred demonstrations necessitating the arrest of Dr. King and several Southern Christian Leadership Conference members; among them was Reverend Ralph Abernathy (Moore, 2018). In prison, Dr. King managed to communicate with Kennedy Robert, U.S Attorney General and agitators’ legitimizer who aired out the segregation incidences in Birmingham. On the other hand, also, Connor was forced to release some of the demonstrators in prisons following the actual capacity concerns. In addition to that, Connor managed increasing violence levels among demonstrators. Besides using suppression techniques such as fire hoses and police dogs, he threatened black community members in Birmingham’s existence (Allen, 2019). The latter, which was covered in news headlines, necessitated vast supporters arguing for equality among blacks and whites.
Nonviolent resistance and adjustment
Following economic boycott and disapproval of Birmingham events by the Blacks and their impact on business detrimental in the region, Burke Marshall was forced to develop communication between the establishers of the Non-Violence Resistance Campaign and the agitators (Moore, 2018). A former Attorney General under Civil Rights Division and legitimizer, Marshal outlined how political and business establishers were facing pressure to reach a firm agreement with agitators. Birmingham’s political and industry personnel were forced to adhere to the list of demands provided by agitators insisting on desegregation (Allen, 2019). The latter followed desegregation cases of black in restrooms, lunch counters and ensuring non-discriminatory issues existed in the promotion and hiring of salesman and clerks. Also, the Fair Employment Committee provided the release of all Negroes and that the Biracial Committee fulfilled their objectives.
Aftermath
Following the demands of desegregation provided by agitators, Birmingham experienced several bombings, one happening in the homes of Martin Luther King Jr.’s younger brother. Additional buildings bombed were the Gaston Motel and the church resulting in the death of four young ladies. It later resulted in the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the agitators in 1969 managed to achieve their desegregation objectives (Allen, 2019). The Negros, in addition to the whites, for instance, have strategic positions in the civil association department, the planning commission, and the education board, among others (Moore, 2018). Contemporary students of all colors can also attend all-white schools, with the population rate being more than five-hundred thousand.
Historical Context of the Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign and the Black Lives Matter Movement
The Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign began April 3rd, 1963, with volunteers boycotting downtown stores, marching via the streets, holding sit-ins at all-white lunch counters, and kneeling in all the White churches (Allen, 2019). It was a series of protests against Birmingham’s racial segregation. Birmingham, as of the 1960s have different restaurants, schools, water fountains, and living places for the whites and blacks. To bring segregation issues in the region, vast African-American leaders organize mass protests, with Martin Luther King Jr. leading it in addition to Fred Shuttlesworth and Tee Walker. Other than stooping for confrontation, the blacks were later arrested by politician Bull Connor; among them was Dr. King Jr. was later released on April 20th, 1963 (Moore, 2018). The Birmingham Campaign indeed broke some of the barriers with segregation in the city. For instance, it broke national-level issues and got leaders such as President John F. Kennedy in the government to further address the needs of the Negros.
Indeed, the Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign has heavily related to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. BLM is a social and decentralized political movement against police brutality and racially-oriented violence against black people (Taylor, 2016). Like the Birmingham Non-Violence Movement, it raises the severe cases the police forces reinforce on the black people resulting in incidences such as death. Also, it entails a broad category of people to fulfill the set objectives like the Birmingham Campaign. Other than advocating against police brutality and violence, it also addresses incorporates street demonstrations. Also, the movement, likes Birmingham Campaign returned to national headlines and gaining further international attention (Taylor, 2016). Besides advocating for racial justice incidences, it also emphasized the role of local and national leaders in supporting racial justice incidences.
Assessment of the Chapter
Indeed analyzing the impact of the Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign and Black Lives Matter Movement raises specific questions vital for presentation and presentation. For instance,
- Do you think the Southern Christian Leadership Conference joining an existing local movement of Alabama, the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, was vital for a massive direct action campaign to stop Birmingham’s segregation system?
- Why do you think Birmingham Campaign was posted from March 1963 to April 2nd?
- Perhaps you were a Negro in the Birmingham Campaign; what strategies would you incorporate to prevent the consequences of the Agreement, such as the bombing of the church killing four innocent girls?
Conclusion and Reflective Remarks
The Black Lives Matter Movement and the Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign are critical in the history of America. For instance, they note the violent history of police officers when handling African-Americans and vital via the incidences of black women such as Opal Tometi, Alicia Garza, and Patrisse Cullors. The primary focuses of the above movement, other than discussing the adverse impacts of segregation practices in the lives of the blacks, also call for the stop of police brutality and how equity and equality should be paramount among the blacks and whites citizens. Also, the Black Lives Matter movement has indeed achieved specific phenomena in the United States of America. It changes how civil rights laws are achieved and how the government would tackle police brutality. The movement following the death of Mr. Floyd outlines the significant steps and interventions the Police Department must incorporate to address the issues of police violence and brutality. On the other hand, the Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign research aids one’s understanding of the vast peaceful civil rights demonstrators. They faced police fire hoses and dogs in the battle for equity and equality, and freedom.
I believe that the Birmingham Non-Violence Resistance Campaign is vast in further analyzing why Birmingham was a far most segregated city in the U.S. Other than having racial zoning and urban renewals, the local government ensured the placement of interstate highways. The practices which lead to the formation of the Birmingham Campaign breaking all the segregation tactics further, remain critical in the history of the U.S. It outlines how the civil rights leaders protested against racial discrimination despite Bull Connor as its significant opponent. They incorporated unique steps, which were negotiation, self-purification, and direct action.
References
Allen, N. (2019). Violence and Non-Violence as Constitutional Argument: An Analysis of the 1963 Civil Rights Demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama. In Justice and Violence (pp. 133-146). Routledge.
Moore, N. D. (2018). Moderate Resistance in” A Call for Unity”: A Historical Perspective on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Prison Epistle. Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato, 18(1), 4.
Taylor, K. Y. (2016). From# BlackLivesMatter to black liberation. Haymarket Books.
