Youth and Rebellion
The 60’s and 70’s Civil Rights &
the Emergence of Racial consciousness
California as well as the rest of the United States became a hot bed of racial revolt in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s as African Americans fought to become equal in the eyes of the law. Segregation and inequality of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness fueled the fire that eventually erupted in race riots throughout the country.
Civil rights advocates demanded an end to segregation, equal opportunities in education, housing, and employment at the end of the 1950’s. The protests were mostly peaceful which included the protests in San Francisco where picketer protested unjust hiring practices. However, the protests in California became more treacherous following President John F. Kennedy’s (1963) and Malcolm X’s (1965) assassinations. After years of police brutality and social discrimination the African American community exploded into violence in Watts in Los Angeles County. The Watts riots involving over ten thousand people, lasted seven days and lead to 34 deaths. At the time, the Watts riot, was that most destructive riot in Unites States history. After Watts was destroyed the city banned together to rebuild and grow.
Huey Newton and Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense in Oakland California in 1966. The Black Panther Party, a militant organization, originally set out to patrol the streets in black neighborhoods and protect the African American families from police brutality. Unfortunately, the Black Panther Party developed into a Marxist Revolutionary Organization of 2,000 members that wanted to arm all African American citizens. On April 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and because of this a new subject called “Negro History” began being taught in schools.
On the heels of the racial riots, racial consciousness emerged. African Americans and Hispanics began to understand the uniqueness of their own race in regards to physical characteristics, history, culture, and traditions. Although Hispanics were originally classifies as white, they did not receive the same security as other racial minorities. Not until a federal court ruled in 1970 that Mexican Americans constituted an "identifiable ethnic minority with patterns of discrimination." As a movement of racial pride, the Mexican culture consisting of a complex family bond, feelings, food, music, history and social mannerisms that are accepted as “Mexican.”
Civil rights advocates demanded an end to segregation, equal opportunities in education, housing, and employment at the end of the 1950’s. The protests were mostly peaceful which included the protests in San Francisco where picketer protested unjust hiring practices. However, the protests in California became more treacherous following President John F. Kennedy’s (1963) and Malcolm X’s (1965) assassinations. After years of police brutality and social discrimination the African American community exploded into violence in Watts in Los Angeles County. The Watts riots involving over ten thousand people, lasted seven days and lead to 34 deaths. At the time, the Watts riot, was that most destructive riot in Unites States history. After Watts was destroyed the city banned together to rebuild and grow.
Huey Newton and Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense in Oakland California in 1966. The Black Panther Party, a militant organization, originally set out to patrol the streets in black neighborhoods and protect the African American families from police brutality. Unfortunately, the Black Panther Party developed into a Marxist Revolutionary Organization of 2,000 members that wanted to arm all African American citizens. On April 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and because of this a new subject called “Negro History” began being taught in schools.
On the heels of the racial riots, racial consciousness emerged. African Americans and Hispanics began to understand the uniqueness of their own race in regards to physical characteristics, history, culture, and traditions. Although Hispanics were originally classifies as white, they did not receive the same security as other racial minorities. Not until a federal court ruled in 1970 that Mexican Americans constituted an "identifiable ethnic minority with patterns of discrimination." As a movement of racial pride, the Mexican culture consisting of a complex family bond, feelings, food, music, history and social mannerisms that are accepted as “Mexican.”
Discussion questions:
USE INFORMATION FROM THIS AND OTHER TABS TO BEST ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION
1.) Why did the watts riots happen?
2.) Who died first kennedy or King jr.
3.) did the ASSASSINATIONS of Kennedy and King make matters worse or better for race rioting and disagreement in american.
"Watts Riots." Watts Riots. Civil Rights Digital Library, n.d. Web. 15 April 2015. <http://crdl.usg.edu/events/watts_riots/?Welcome>
"Watts Riots." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/times/times_watts.html>.
"144 Hours in August 1965." 144 Hours in August 1965. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2015. <http://www.usc.edu/libraries/archives/cityinstress/mccone/part4.html>.