Violent vs Nonviolent Protest in the Civil Rights Movement

The Southern and Northern Blacks had very different views, aims and

backgrounds. They had different views and aims because of their

different experiences of segregation and their different perceptions

of White Americans themselves.

The Southern Blacks were mainly from small towns and rural areas. They

were part of the small and almost non-existent middle class of Black

Americans. Most of them came from professional or largely business

backgrounds, the younger members were also lucky in the fact that most

of them got the chance to go to college and gain good educations and

therefore have the chance to progress on to the small percentage of

good jobs that would accept Black employees. The leaders themselves

tended to be Protestant clergymen. The Southern Blacks had a different

experience of segregation to those in the North. They had the formal

segregation as a result of the ‘Jim Crow’ Laws. These laws kept Blacks

and whites apart in all aspects of their lives, unless they were

working for them; this was why they were classed as working-class

citizens. They were well aware of all forms of White pressure and

violence before they got involved in the campaigning for civil rights.

Northern campaigners originated mainly from the big developed cities

of the North such as New York and Chicago. They were often of working

class origin, and mainly young, there were also quite a few

ex-convicts who were successfully recruited. The main religion of the

Northern campaigners was either Muslim or none at all. No form of

legal segregation existed in the North this made it more difficult for

the Northern Blacks to fight against. There was however...

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...the other differences. They had these

different views and aims because of their different experiences of

segregation and their different perceptions of White Americans

themselves. Due to their different backgrounds, experiences and views

their tactics were also different, Northern Blacks were more prepared

to use violence, Southern Blacks tried not to use violence no matter

what was done to them. Since the Blacks from the North and South had

different supporters to please their achievements, aims and tactics. I

think that neither the Northern nor Southern Blacks were better than

each other in any way. They did things in different ways and I think

if they had compromised with a small amount of violence to protect

themselves and a mix of their aims they would have got things done

quicker and at less of a human cost.