Within the Civil Rights Movement, many great people come to mind, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, and many others; but what about the president? President John F. Kennedy had played a large role in civil rights when he was in office, and had aided in a multitude of different programs and actions such as, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, helping with desegregation in schools and universities, and Affirmative Action within the workplace; even other family members made contributions. Both Robert and Bobby Kennedy assisted the president and even did their own work to help civil rights. Even after his death in 1963, the Civil Rights Movement didn’t stop and nor did his help. His legacy continued within civil rights with the help of Lyndon B. Johnson, his vice president who saw to the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. President Kennedy was one of many great people to step up to injustice; in life and in death, his actions would help to shape the outcome of the Civil Rights Movement.
The start of John Kennedy’s career in civil rights had begun in the election of 1960. Kennedy would win the support of a great many of African Americans who would later vote for him as a result of his actions regarding MLK and Birmingham Jail. As found in the JFK Library, “Across the nation, more than 70 percent of African Americans voted for Kennedy, and these votes provided the winning edge in several key states ” (JFK Library Foundation 1). Because of the black vote, endorsed by none other than Martin Luther King Sr., Kennedy would end up winning a number of swing states that would secure his lead in the elections “The black vote was pivotal in the swing states of Illinois, Michigan and South Carolina that Kennedy carried” (PBS St...
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...his entire movement, full legal equality (JFK Library Foundation 3).
Works Cited
Foundation, JFK Library. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. n.d. 16 April 2014 .
PBS. The Kennedys and Civil Rights. n.d. 23 April 2014 .
Staff, ProQuest. ProQuest. n.d. 16 April 2014 .
—. ProQuest. n.d. 23 April 2014 .
When president Kennedy became president in 1961, an abundance of African Americans in the South were denied the right to vote, and could not expect justice from the courts. In 1960 the presidential campaign, civil rights had come out as a critical issue. A few weeks later, Martin Luther King Jr was arrested for leading a group of people through the streets of Atlanta, Georgia.
Kennedy, J. F. (n.d.). 1962-09-12 Rice University. - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. Retrieved May 6, 2014, from http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/MkATdOcdU06X5uNHbmqm1Q.aspx
“The White House Restoration.” John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. .
In hindsight the build-up to 1963 is obvious; the tension had grown rather than diminished since the Emancipation Proclamation as new laws were enacted but slowly carried out or blatantly ignored. The centennial of the Proclamation was approaching, and the lack of follow-through by both Republicans and Democrats, in both the South and the North, brought disappointment, frustration, and anger. President Kennedy promised changes to housing discrimination but did not sign them into law until two years into his term and was not specific enough for it to bring actual change (p. 8). The black population’s faith in the government waned as they saw countries in Africa rebelling after World War II, the nearly nuclear war of the 1950s, and the Great Depression that lingered even longer for them than for the struggling white public. They were witnessing fighting and determination around the world without experiencing any liberty of their own. The struggle was a daily reality for the individual, and that fa...
Historians offer different perceptions of the significance of Martin Luther King and the 1963 March on Washington. Without examining this event within its historical context the media publicity and iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech can easily overshadow progress that was already underway in America. It was insisted by prominent civil rights activist Ella Baker, ‘the movement made Martin rather than Martin making the movement.’ What is important not to overlook is the significant change that took place in the United States during the previous 100 years. Such that, many influential figures in support of racial equality opposed the March. The Civil Rights Act proposed by President Kennedy in 1963 was already in the legislative process. Furthermore the Federal Government was now reasserting power over the entire of the United States by enforcing a policy of desegregation. It is important to note that these changes all took place less than one hundred years after the Thirteenth Amendment in 1965 abolished slavery, and the Fourteenth amendment in 1968 acknowledged the rights of former slaves to be acknowledged as U.S citizens. With this level of progress Kennedy was against the March going ahead due to the argument that it was limited in what it could achieve. Today, King’s 1963 Speech is viewed as one of the most iconic speeches in history. However, was it a key turning point in African Americans achieving racial equality? Federal endorsement would suggest yes after decades of southern states being able to subvert the Federal law designed to break down segregation. This support built upon the corner stones of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments in the nineteenth century. Therefore looking at the national status of black Americans fro...
“Life of John F. Kennedy.” John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 04
In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected president of the United States. During his campaign he had promised to lead the country down the right path with the civil rights movement. This campaign promise had brought hope to many African-Americans throughout the nation. Ever since Lincoln, African-Americans have tended to side with the democrats and this election was no different. The Kennedy administration had noticed that the key to the presidency was partially the civil rights issue. While many citizens were on Kennedy’s side, he had his share of opposition. Malcolm X differed on the view of the President and observed that the civil rights movement wasn’t happening at the speed Kennedy had pledged. Malcolm X possessed other reasons for his dislike of John F. Kennedy and his brothers, especially Robert. The Kennedy government stood for racial liberalism and Malcolm X argued their true intentions for the civil rights movement weren’t in the best interest of the black population. This tension streamed both ways. John Kennedy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation felt that Malcolm X had become a threat to national security. James Baldwin has written essays that have included the repeated attacks on the white liberal and supports Malcolm in many of his theories and actions.
"Life of John F. Kennedy." - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
Kennedy gained the support of African American voters. Many will argue that this support started when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was arrested. John F. Kennedy spoke to Coretta Scott King about her husband’s release from prison. “‘He was in contact with officials in Georgia during my arrest and he called my wife, made a personal call and expressed his concern and said to her that he was working and trying to do something to make my release possible,’” (CNN) said Dr. King on an audio tape. This wasn’t the only contribution Kennedy made to the Civil Rights Movement during his campaign. John F. Kennedy spoke out on the issues pertaining to African Americans. This included desegregation, racial tension in the workplace and poor living conditions. (John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum) African Americans saw that Kennedy was willing to end the racial tensions in the South and other places in the country as president. Many felt as though the issue was very important in Kennedy’s eyes and that he would bring real change for African Americans. This was very important because when the 1960 Nixon and Kennedy election came around, almost 70% of African American votes went to Kennedy. (John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum) Without the support of African Americans and non-white races, John F. Kennedy might not have won. According to a Gallup statistics report, Kennedy dominates Nixon with support from non-white voters, 68 to 32. However, Nixon wins with
Dr. Martin Luther King Junior was an excellent speaker and activist during the civil rights movement throughout 1954-1968. The civil rights movement was a time of racial injustice and unfair treatment towards people of different races. During that time many African Americans boycotted and protested against the unfair treatment in America at that point in time. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of these people who protested to create a difference in the community. The goal of these marches and protests that he led were to change the feelings of the government and the people’s feelings about racial injustice. However, Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4th, 1968 because he stood up for what was right. He was though able to do many
The Civil Rights Movement is one of the most important events of the history of the United States. Although many people contributed to this movement, Martin Luther King, Jr., is widely regarded as the leader of the movement for racial equality. Growing up in the Deep South, King saw the injustices of segregation first hand. King’s studies of Mahatma Ghandi teachings influenced his views on effective ways of protesting and achieving equality. Martin Luther King’s view on nonviolence and equality and his enormous effect on the citizens of America makes him the most influential person of the twentieth century.
In his speech Kennedy uses the approach of Logos to strengthen the idea the African Americans and Caucasian men have not been given equal right and opportunities. The way logos was used in his speech greatly assured the public that action needed to be taken immediately. He provided both reasoning and logic to better forward his point that a change needed to be made. One area specifically he states, “The Negro baby born in America today, regardless of the section of the state in which he is born, has about one-half as much chance of completing a high school”. The statistics that John F Kennedy provides seriously strengthen his argument, with logic and statistics to back up his argument it creates a stronger pull. John F Kennedy also makes the statement “…about one-seventh as much chance of earning $10,000 a year,” showing the difference in wag...
Civil rights movement had been started before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, however, it picked after Rosa Parks arrest and became a significant event in the history of America. The boycott was developed mainly by Dr. Martin Luther King and led to success after several months. Hence, the movement strengthened and gained respect and attention. African-American continued struggling in compliance with Dr. King`s non-violent demonstrations and protests. They continued demanding their rights with the weapon of peace and love. Dr. King was not only leader of the movement, but also he was its voice and he formed and identified the movement ideally. After Dr. King`s death, the country lost a great leader who had struggled throughout his life to make the world better place. The loss of Dr. King was not only sorrowful for the African-Americans, but it was for all human races. He was the voice of justice, equality and brotherhood among people. The legacy of the civil rights movement was the major changes in the U.S. law and justice system. Eventually, the black people achieved their citizenship rights as equal as the white people. As a consequence, Barack Obama became the first African-American president in the history of the United States. After all, we do not have to forget that every person has the power to change the world. If we want to change something in the world, we have to be the cause of the
Lyndon B Johnson was elected president on November 22, 1963 directly after the assassination of John F Kennedy, “the elevation of Lyndon B Johnson to the office of the president of the United States was impressively smooth”(Robert E. Gilbert, 761). Prior to his election Johnson was worked closely with the US government as a member of Congress, the US Navy, and as a US Senator. From his first political position to his last Johnson had one goal, making America into a "Great Society". It was through this idealist philosophy of his that he became invested in the Civil Rights Movement. Lyndon B Johnson’s role in the Civil Rights Movement was key to its success; Johnson proved his devotion to the people and their rights when he said, "The Great Society rests on abundance and liberty for all. It demands an end to poverty and racial injustice, to which we are totally committed in our time. But that is just the beginning”(Government Printing Office, pp. 635-640). Johnson wanted nothing more than to see the movement, in which so many fought f...
Both Dr. Martin Luther King and President John F. Kennedy were the change they wished to see. They didn’t worry about the consequences or the repercussions. They were tired and fed up, but most of all they did not want their children to grow up in such a hard and harsh generation. Unlike some civil rights leaders, Dr. King was adamantly against violence. I can truly appreciate and am envious of how King kept such dignity and composure throughout the entire civil rights movement. He believed in forgiveness and sought out his commitment to non-violence while trying to educate as many Americans as he could. Reading about him being throw in jail time after time broke my heart, but nothing could hold him back from seeking out what he was so passionate about. I am forever grateful for Dr. Martin Luther King and his