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presidency and civil rights essay
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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 .
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. .
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
A man name James Earl Ray shot and killed Martin Luther King out of pure hatred for the man doing so much good in the world. Even though MLK was killed, his dream carried on, and his people began to gain equality and segregation soon became a thing of the past. “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood,” (Americanrhetoric.com). Although it took time and hard work, MLK’s dream of peace and brotherhood was finally reached. The loss of MLK definitely fired up those involved in the Civil Rights movement, and helped them push through to their goals. Even though he lost his life in the process, surely he would be very prideful for his accomplishments, and will surely never be
On June 11, 1963, John F. Kennedy made history when he pleaded for support on live television. While a majority of the American people were shocked by his plea, many Americans saw the broadcast as a spark igniting a change in the way African American’s were treated. That evening, John F. Kennedy asked the American people for their support of his Civil Rights Bill. The bill, one of the examples in which Kennedy responded to the Civil Rights Movement, would bring an end to segregation in public places among other Jim Crow laws. However, much of his response involved the national outlook on the events that took place in the Civil Rights Movement. John F. Kennedy started a national conversation on the Civil Rights Movement throughout America promoting
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.
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 are the rights to personal liberty and are provided by the law. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights promises everybody civil rights. But many people, including lots of black people, have been denied their civil rights. Black people, and also some white people who help them, have struggled for these rights for a long time. Many people have helped and many kinds of groups have been formed to help win equal rights for everyone. Things are a lot better used to be, but the struggle is not over.
Swisher, Clarice, People Who Made History: John F. Kennedy (San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 2000)
The Civil Rights Movement and President Johnson are closely linked in history. Though there were many other faces to the Civil Rights Movement, Johnson’s was one of the most publicly viewed and instrumental in its passing. It was Johnson who carried the weight and responsibilities of the issue after the assassination of JFK, and it was he who would sign it. Lyndon B Johnson was the most influential forces in establishing the movement that would ensure civil rights for black americans. Johnson was a constant and unwavering supporter of civil rights. Without his supreme efforts in establishing civil rights for all, equality would never have come to pass.
African Americans have a history of struggles because of racism and prejudices. Ever since the end of the Civil War, they struggled to benefit from their full rights that the Constitution promised. The fourteenth Amendment, which defined national citizenship, was passed in 1866. Even though African Americans were promised citizenship, they were still treated as if they were unequal. The South had an extremely difficult time accepting African Americans as equals, and did anything they could to prevent the desegregation of all races. During the Reconstruction Era, there were plans to end segregation; however, past prejudices and personal beliefs elongated the process.
Petersen, Jennifer B. "John F. Kennedy." John F. Kennedy (2005): 1-2. History Reference Center. Web. 22 May 2014.
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