Lansville [KKK] - The Rise and Fall of the Civil Rights 2016

Documentary, Lansville [KKK] - The Rise and Fall of the Civil Rights 2016
The "rise and fall" of the Civil Rights Movement, typically understood as the period from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s, refers to the ascent of a coordinated mass movement and its later fragmentation. While the movement dismantled legal segregation and secured landmark legislation, its decline as a unified, nonviolent effort is generally attributed to the assassination of key leaders and the emergence of more militant, fragmented, and nationalist ideologies.
The rise of the movement (mid-1950s–mid-1960s)
The rise of the Civil Rights Movement was characterized by mass, nonviolent protest and civil disobedience aimed at overturning Jim Crow laws and racial discrimination.
Key factors and events:
Legal groundwork: The NAACP, led by figures like Thurgood Marshall, spent decades laying the legal foundation to challenge segregation. This culminated in the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal," overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine of Plessy v. Ferguson.
Catalyzing events: The brutal 1955 murder of Emmett Till and the subsequent acquittal of his white killers sparked national outrage. This was followed by the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–1956), sparked by Rosa Parks's arrest, which brought Martin Luther King Jr. to national prominence.
Mobilization and organization: The movement was not led by a single person but was a combination of grassroots activists and organizations. Key groups included the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
Nonviolent direct action: Activists employed tactics like sit-ins, freedom rides, and mass marches to challenge segregation. These actions often provoked violent, racist backlash, which gained national media attention and garnered support for the movement.
Legislative victories: Widespread activism resulted in major legislative achievements.
Civil Rights Act of 1964: Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public facilities and employment.
Voting Rights Act of 1965: Outlawed discriminatory voting practices like literacy tests.
Fair Housing Act of 1968: Banned discrimination in the sale or rental of housing.
The fall of the movement (late 1960s)
The decline of the unified, nonviolent movement was a complex process resulting from several factors that revealed persistent challenges beyond legal segregation.
Factors contributing to decline: