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White America's Positive Contribution to the Civil Rights Movement Page 2
by Roger Smith

In 1861, with the attack on Fort Sumter by the Confederate Army, America began its Civil War, which would last until 1865. Although slavery played a major role in the Civil War, it was not the direct cause. The direct cause was secession. In 1860, President Abraham Lincoln caused concern in southern states because of his beliefs about slavery. This led to the formation of the Confederate States of America and their impending withdrawal from the Union. Chances are, if the southern states did not try to secede then there may have not been a war, at least not a civil war.

You can argue whether or not the Civil War happened because of slavery but you cannot deny the impact slavery had on the Civil War. Even though President Lincoln took a "hands off" approach to slavery at the beginning of his term and did not believe the races could ever be equal and live together, he did despise slavery and was probably the single most instrumental factor (during his time) in helping blacks to achieve their freedom. In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, and during a brief silence, President Lincoln put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all slaves in the southern states, approximately three million of the total slave population. However, the "Proclamation" did not apply to all slaves, about 800,000 were not included in the document. It was not until December of 1865 that all slaves would actually become free.

Between 1865 and 1870 the majority white Congress (at least two congressmen, Senator Hiram R. Revels and Representative Joseph H. Rainey who served in 1870 were black) would pass three Constitutional Amendments that would forever change the lives of black Americans.

The Thirteenth Amendment finally gave all slaves freedom. Of course blacks were happy with this development but it also posed other problems for them. A lot of former slaves did go their own way but many of them also stayed where they were because either they were too old to travel, were injured, had no where to go, or just felt comfortable where they were. In the meantime, blacks were still being persecuted by many whites who were angry about their freedom, and it would be three years before the next amendment would try to change that.

In 1868, the newly ratified Fourteenth Amendment provided equal protection to anyone who was a citizen of the United States. Blacks were now legally protected by the Constitution and, during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's and 60's, the Fourteenth Amendment would be the foundation that it would build on. Two years later, in 1870, with the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment black Americans were now, at least in theory, American citizens.

The Fifteenth Amendment gave people of any race and color (although not gender) the right to vote. The right to vote made black Americans an active part of American society and along with the other amendments propelled them into the 20th century searching for the freedom that would not be denied to them.

During the early sixties the Civil Rights Movement was in full stride. The White House was now in the hand of the Kennedy brothers; John, the President, and Robert, the Attorney General. The two would become very important factors in the "Movement", especially Robert. Although John Kennedy was diplomatic, charming, and the politician, Robert Kennedy was tenacious, determined, and most of all caring. He was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in, not afraid of a fight, and not afraid of making enemies. His personal involvement in many aspects of the "Movement"; the Freedom Rides, the Birmingham Confrontation, and also in getting Martin Luther King Jr released from an Atlanta jail after he had been arrested during a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) sit in, gave black Americans many important victories. Robert Kennedy's impact would be remembered by blacks later on when he would also run for the Presidential Office.

Besides those white people who made daily headlines during the Civil Rights Movement, there were also lesser known, but equally important, participants. Virginia Durr, whose husband was a prominent lawyer, strongly supported the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Grace Lorch, who during the crisis in Arkansas, came to the rescue of Elizabeth Eckford (one of the Little Rock Nine). And, James Peck and Jim Zwerg were Freedom Riders. These people and many others are the ones who saw past color and realized that what was being done was wrong and they took a stand, some with their life.

Although I went outside the scope of the modern day Civil Rights Movement, I felt it was important to note that white and black America's contribution started long before Ralph Abernathy, Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, Thurgood Marshall, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee or any other related person or group of the time. In order for racial perceptions to change, people have to be educated, and more important, they have to associate with other cultures to understand different lifestyles. Then, and only then, can we hope to rid ourselves of racial strife.