Mass Media and the Civil Rights

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Media, MLK and the Civil Rights Movement

This video is about how the people involved with the Civil Rights Movement knew that they had to put their lives on the line to get the white media's attention. They knew that without the help of the media the Civil Rights Movement never would have gone anywhere.

Childrens March 1963

The Children’s March took place on May 2, 3, and 4, of 1963. Hundreds of school children gathered in Birmingham for a non-violent protest march. “Bull Conner” the head of the police used fire hoses, gas, and police dogs on the children. These horrifying images of police brutality on children were broadcasted all around the world which greatly helped gain support for the civil rights movement.

The Jackson, Mississippi Woolworth Sit-In

The Woolworth Sit-In Jackson, Mississippi occurred on May 28, 1963. This sit-in was one of the most violently attacked sit-in in the 1960s. It was also one of the most publicized sit-ins. The sit-in involved two Tougaloo College students: Anne Moody, an African American who was born and raised in Wilkinson County, Mississippi; Joan Trumpauer, a white student from Tougaloo College. A young professor from Tougaloo was also involved, his name is Hunter Gray (John R. Salter Jr.). During the sit-in an angry mob of several hundred whites formed and they began to attack Moody, Trumpauer, and Gray. The Jackson police just stood there and allowed all of the violence to go on. And to top it all of two FBI agents were standing in the crowed just observing what was going on to Moody, Trumpauer, and Gray.

Monday, November 26, 2012

March on Washington 1963

The March on Washington occurred on August 28, 1963. Over 250,000 from all across America gathered in Washington that day to show their support for the proposed civil rights bill. The day included performances by musical artists and speeches from famous activists. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his legendary "I Have a Dream" speech that day. The event garnished extensive media attention. These iconic images were broadcasted all around the country and into people’s living rooms on their TVs. The media attention helped progress the civil rights movement.

Bloody Sunday 1965

Bloody Sunday occurred on March 7, 1965. A non-violent protest march was organized starting in Selma and ending in Montgomery. Just short of the bridge that the protestors had to cross to reach Montgomery they were met by state troopers who ordered them to turn around. When the marchers refused they were beaten with billy clubs and sprayed with teargas. The above video show some of the images captured on Blood Sunday. Live footage of the assaults was televised around the world which led to more protestors traveling down to participate in marches. This ultimately helped further the civil rights movement.

This video is a interview of Alabama’s Governor George Wallace about the police brutality in Selma, Alabama on Bloody Sunday. The interview was shown on CBS news. The reporter’s question Wallace about how necessary the violence taken against the non-violent protestors was. Wallace also shows how other forms of news media were reporting other police brutality. This video shows that the media was helping to spread a pro-civil rights movement sentiment across the nation.

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Death

The death of Martin Luther King, Jr. was an event that rocked the entire nation. The famous Civil Rights leader was gunned down in Memphis on April 4, 1968. Countless newspapers covered the assassination. Walter Cronkite reported King's death on CBS News shortly after it happened.

The video above is the CBS news report that Cronkite delivered on the night of King's death.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

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