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King Assasination Riots

Following Martin Luther King’s assassination on April 4, 1968, cities all over the United States were swept by a wave of civil unrest in response to the racial inequality that African Americans were facing during the time. In over 100 cities over the country, citizens used looting, rioting, protesting and arson as methods of protest to demonstrate their detestation of systemic inequality. Some people in legislature responded to the riots with suggestions to improve conditions that helped to arouse hostility, such as urban improvement and the Civil Rights Act of 1968 that was passed following these events. The information that already exists on the page includes background information, the effect of the riots in the different cities that they occurred in the United States, and the federal response to these events. I will be adding new information on the legacy that the assassination riots left, adding details and facts to the information given on the specific cities impacted, and giving more information on the impact that these events had in legislature and on governmental policies.

These riots changed the way we understand human rights history because they are proof of how much African Americans had to struggle to gain equality in a racist world. The amount of deaths, injuries, and arrests are evidence of how important is was to African Americans to gain the same human rights as white people no matter what the cost may be. Dr. Martin Luther King made great impacts in civil rights during his life and after his assassination, because his supporters were dedicated to ensuring that all of his hard work wouldn’t be without reward. I will be using journals and articles from the time of the riots and more recently to get my research for this project.

Bibliography

Denvir, Daniel. “1968 and the Invention of the American Police State.” Citylab.com. April 30, 2015. https://www.citylab.com/equity/2015/04/1968-and-the-invention-of-the-american-police-state/391955/.

---. “Nation's capital still recovering from 1968 riots.” CNN.com. April 4, 1998. http://www.cnn.com/US/9804/04/mlk.dc.riots/.

Risen, Clay. “The Legacy of the 1968 Riots.” The Guardian.com. April 4, 2008. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/apr/04/thelegacyofthe1968riots.

Small, Deborah. “Uprising: When Black America Launched a Violent Rebellion Against One of the Most Oppressive Societies on Earth.” Alternet.org. April 9, 2015. http://www.alternet.org/uprising-when-black-america-launched-violent-rebellion-against-one-most-oppressive-societies-earth.

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Academic Article Outline

Small, Deborah. "Uprising: When Black America Launched A Violent Rebellion Against One of the Most Oppressive Societies on Earth." alternet.org. April 9, 2014. Accessed October 9, 2017. https://www.alternet.org/uprising-when-black-america-launched-violent-rebellion-against-one-most-oppressive-societies-earth.

Main Argument: Riots and rebellions by African Americans were the result of a growing civil unrest and racial injustices against black people even before the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968.

Basic Points:

- Within hours of the news of Dr. King's assassination, African Americans broke out into riots in 110 cities across the United States including Chicago, Kansas City, Louisville, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.

- Rebellions lasted for almost a week, earning the name "Holy Week Uprising"

Past Rebellions leading up to the King Assassination Riots

- The New York rebellion of 1964 was the first in a series of race related uprisings in US cities from 1964 to 1968. The cause of this riot was the killing of fifteen year old James Powell by an off-duty white police officer.

- Another rebellion in Rochester, New York in 1964 was the product of an alleged act of police brutality. Black residents looting stores, burned and vandalized buildings and ruined vehicles.

- The uprisings of 1964 proved there was a need for social and economic change in African American communities in the North.

Dr. King's contribution to civil rights in Chicago

- In 1965, Dr. King moved his family to Chicago to push for better housing for African Americans. There was a 17 month campaign with rallies, boycotts, and grassroots lobbying. They only got a response from the public because of the marches in hostile white neighborhoods that resulted in Dr. King being struck in the back of the head by a rock from a hostile white resident.

Riots in 1966

- In 1966, 43 disorders and rebellions occurred in Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Jacksonville (Florida), South Bend (Indiana), Des Moines and Omaha over a twenty day period. They were widespread and destructive, jumping from city to city across the nation.

The Influence on Government

- President Lyndon Johnson appointed investigators to find the root of the civil unrest among African Americans. This commission was in charge of making recommendations and suggestions to the President, Congress, and state officials for preventing and controlling and future disorders.

- The commission was headed by the Governor of Illinois, Otto Kerner and they were named the Kerner Commission.

- The Kerner Commission predicted that there would be more and worse rebellions caused by race relations.

- A solution to the problem would involve getting the nation to agree to support the social and political change to integrate African Americans into the American life as equals. A way to do this would be to improve the relationship between African Americans and police officers. Suggestions to improve the quality of education, employment, welfare and housing were laid out in detail as actions that could prevent any future riots and rebellions.

Response and Resistance

- The response to the Kerner Commission report from African Americans was positive because is conveyed the message that they wanted to get across in clear language. The recommendations were consistent with the reforms Dr. King wanted to enact with regards to civil rights.

- President Johnson and White America were not satisfied.

- Richard Nixon, as a presidential candidate, sided with American Americans and were sympathetic to their problems. He based his campaign on restoring law and order and voicing views that combined repression with reform, this won him the position of President in 1968.

The majority of the evidence found in this source will be used in my contribution because there is no information already in the article about related events leading up to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Academic Article Outline Redo

Elfenbein, Jessica I. "Bringing to Life Baltimore '68: Riots and Rebirth--A how-to Guide." The Public Historian 31, no. 4 (Fall, 2009): 13-27, https://search.proquest.com/docview/222799306?accountid=40599. (accessed October 27, 2017).

Main Argument: Baltimore '68: Riots and Rebirth is an initiative that was started to hear the voices of the Baltimore community and document the causes and effects of the King Assassination Riots

Basic Points:

Baltimore '68: Riots and Rebirth

- The 1968 riots resulted in six deaths, 5,700 arrests, damage to 1,000 businesses and homes, and the "acceleration of suburban flight and urban disinvestment."

- Public History Conferences in 1996 and 1999 were powerful but they made no mention of the civil unrest that resulted from King's assassination in 1968.

- Interviews conducted on the streets of Baltimore revealed that the events in 1968 weren't centralized but rather spread out in various neighborhoods in the city, meaning that there was no clear narrative.

- Scholars at the University of Baltimore created a project called Baltimore '68: Riots and Rebirth to gain perspective into the causes and effects of the 1968 riots by witnesses.

- Faculty, students, and staff at the University of Baltimore with a personal or professional interest in the causes and effects of the civil disorder during April 1968 were brought together to work on the project.

- The project investigated the efforts put forth towards civic healing by the government and legislature.

- They wanted their work to be a kind of truth and a reconciliation effort in regards to the race relations that still divide the city.

- Many political activists were recruited to work on the project and share the work that they've done.

- They took field trips to areas in Baltimore and New Jersey to visit specific places where riots broke out, many of the areas and buildings were still destroyed, even after 40 years.

- The project received grants of up to $45,000 which was used to pay for student workers, recording equipment, printing, postage, and catering for events.

- Various local radio stations helped to promote the work that Baltimore '68 produced and partnered with them on oral histories. The initiative worked hard to get a wide range of people in the community and surrounding communities to support and share their work.

- They worked hard to ensure that all of the information found would be available to the public.

This is a brand new article that I recently found and the information here will be added to my article contribution.

Contribution Outline

I. The article I will be contributing to is on the "King Assassination Riots."

II. The information already on the entry includes a little background information on the riots and how they got started, the impact that the riots had in some of the different cities in the United States, the response from Lyndon B. Johnson and legislature, and the political and physical impacts these riots had on the country.

III. Past Rebellions leading up to the King Assassination Riots

- The primary cause the the King Assassination riots was the killing of Dr. Martin Luther King but there was already tension between individuals in the country against acts of racial injustice for years prior to the Holy Week Uprising.

- The New York rebellion of 1964 was caused by the killing of a fifteen year old boy named James Powell by an off-duty white police officer. This riot was the first in a series of race related uprisings in US cities from 1964 to 1968. Eight thousand Harlem residents took part in breaking windows, setting fires and looting both black and white local businesses for six days. One resident died and there were over a hundred injuries. Over 450 people were arrested.

- In Rochester, New York in 1964, another act of police brutality set off another rebellion, with African American residents looting and burning and vandalizing stores, buildings, and vehicles. This caused Governor Nelson Rockefeller mobilized the National Guard. These uprisings brought national attention to the growing civil unrest and racial injustices in northern cities. It proved that there was a social and economical change was necessary for African Americans in cities in northern and southern states in the country.

The influence on government

- To find the root of the civil unrest among African Americans in the United States, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed a commission of investigators in charge of making recommendations to the President, Congress and state officials for prevention and knowledge of how to control and future disorders. The commission was headed by Otto Kerner, the governor of Illinois, and they were named the National Advisory Commission on civil disorders.

- Governor Spiro Agnew brought light to the fact that the goal of equal opportunity was overshadowed by the desire for instant economic equality.

- One solution that the Kerner Commission came up with was to get the nation to support the integration of African Americans into the American life as equals and not lesser than Caucasians. Improving the relationship between African Americans and police officers was a suggested first step to relieve tension between African Americans and figures of authority. The Commission also suggested that improving the quality of education, employment, welfare and housing were actions that could prevent future disorders by demonstrating that the government is not against improving the livelihood of African American individuals.

Response and Resistance

- African Americans responded positively to the Commission report because they felt it conveyed the message they wanted to deliver to the nation in clear language. The reforms recommended by the Kerner Commission supported the reforms that Dr. King advocated for with the civil rights movement.

- President Johnson suspected that black and political radicals were the cause of the rebellions but learned that his "war on poverty" did not meet the demands of American Americans for equal rights and opportunities and power in politics. Johnson refused to receive the report formally and ignored the impact it had. He later stated that he was disappointed that it didn't mention the civil rights and poverty reduction efforts he administered for during his presidency.

- During his campaigning to become president, Richard Nixon sided with African Americans and were sympathetic to their problems. He based his campaign on restoring law and order and voicing the views and opinions that combined repression with reform, this won him the presidency in 1968.

- The uprisings were seen as an effect and not a cause of unequal segregation and joblessness.

- We live in a police state because policing, prisons, and the military have become a more important feature of government since the 1960s. Mass incarceration has removed black men and women from society and has become an extension of racial segregation in housing.

Recovery and Impact

- It took Washington, DC 30 years to rebuild the city after the uprising, it was a slow recovery and there are still many buildings and businesses that are still locked and boarded up. Race relations in former riot areas have improved but there is still room for improvement, as stated by civil rights leaders.

- Nixon sent money to police departments for anti riot gear such as body armor, tear gas and surplus tanks. An anti-riot infrastructure was put in place by the early 1970s.

IV. Sources

- Denvir, Daniel. “1968 and the Invention of the American Police State.” Citylab.com. April 30, 2015. https://www.citylab.com/equity/2015/04/1968-and-the-invention-of-the-american-police-state/391955/.

---. “Nation's capital still recovering from 1968 riots.” CNN.com. April 4, 1998. http://www.cnn.com/US/9804/04/mlk.dc.riots/.

-Risen, Clay. “The Legacy of the 1968 Riots.” The Guardian.com. April 4, 2008. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/apr/04/thelegacyofthe1968riots.

-Small, Deborah. “Uprising: When Black America Launched a Violent Rebellion Against One of the Most Oppressive Societies on Earth.” Alternet.org. April 9, 2015. http://www.alternet.org/uprising-when-black-america-launched-violent-rebellion-against-one-most-oppressive-societies-earth.

Contribution Draft

The article that I will be contributing to is on the King Assassination Riots. There is currently no information on past rebellions leading up to the assassination riots. I will be contributing information and details about other riots related to the rebellions, the influence these riots had on government. (Good, but need to write out in full sentences / paragraph format and provide sources for each of your bits of information)

Past rebellions leading up to the assassination riots

- During the summer of 1964, seven cities in the states of New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Illinois were the beginning of a pattern of rebellions that would last throughout the summer.

- The shooting of 15 year old James Powell by police officers set off six nights of consecutive riots in the neighborhoods of Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant.

- After the riots in New York, governor at the time, Nelson Rockefeller, mobilized New York's National Guard to keep any future disorders under control

Influence on Government

- The Kerner Commission held investigations and case studies in 23 cities in the United States. (about these riots???)

- Trials were held to get testimonies from witnesses of racial injustice for the commission report

- During the time of the riots, governor of Maryland, Spiro Agnew held a meeting with local civil rights leaders and accused them of causing the riots.

- The report stated that white racism was to blame for the civil unrest in the country.

- Recommendations on improving housing, welfare and education in black communities were never effectively put into place.

Impact and Recovery

- Cities in Washington, DC, Chicago, New York and many other states have still not recovered from the uprisings.

- Failure to act on the Kerner Report was evident with Hurricane Katrina when many citizens of Louisiana weren't helped after the natural disaster. Big leap in reasoning

This topic is significant to human rights because many people followed Martin Luther King in their journey to gain equal human rights. African Americans in the United States sacrificed many things to become equal with white society.

Sources

- Denvir, Daniel. “1968 and the Invention of the American Police State.” Citylab.com. April 30, 2015. https://www.citylab.com/equity/2015/04/1968-and-the-invention-of-the-american-police-state/391955/.

- Elfenbein, Jessica I. "Bringing to Life Baltimore '68: Riots and Rebirth--A how-to Guide." The Public Historian 31, no. 4 (Fall, 2009): 13-27, https://search.proquest.com/docview/222799306?accountid=40599. (accessed October 27, 2017).

- Faye P., Haskins. 2007. "Behind the Headlines: The Evening Star's Coverage of the 1968 Riots." Washington History 50. JSTOR Journals, EBSCOhost (accessed October 27, 2017).

- Hart, Chris. 2009. "In the first place: civic dialogue and the role of the University of Baltimore in examining the 1968 riots." Public Historian no. 4: 48. General OneFile, EBSCOhost (accessed October 27, 2017).

---. “Nation's capital still recovering from 1968 riots.” CNN.com. April 4, 1998. http://www.cnn.com/US/9804/04/mlk.dc.riots/.

-Risen, Clay. “The Legacy of the 1968 Riots.” The Guardian.com. April 4, 2008. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/apr/04/thelegacyofthe1968riots.

-Small, Deborah. “Uprising: When Black America Launched a Violent Rebellion Against One of the Most Oppressive Societies on Earth.” Alternet.org. April 9, 2015. http://www.alternet.org/uprising-when-black-america-launched-violent-rebellion-against-one-most-oppressive-societies-earth.

Response to Peer Review

The article that I will be contributing to is on the King Assassination Riots of 1968. There is currently no information on previous rebellions that led up to the assassination riots so I plan to add more information and details about related uprisings that added to the racial tension in the country leading up to the riots of 1968.

Past Rebellions leading up to the assassination riots

During the summer of 1964, seven cities in the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Illinois began a pattern of rebellions that would last throughout the summer. In 1964, the shooting of 15 year old James Powell by a white off-duty police officer set off six consecutive nights of riots in the neighborhoods of Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant. After the incident, eight thousand Harlem residents started a large scale rebellion in the streets and began vandalizing and looting businesses. These riots resulted in the death of one civilian, over a hundred injuries and the arrests of more than 450 people. Not long after, more uprisings in Rochester, New York took place because of another alleged act of police brutality. Over a three day period, protesters caused over one million dollars worth of damages. After these riots, the governor of New York at the time, Nelson Rockefeller, mobilized New York's National Guard in hopes of being able to control any future disorders.

Influence on Government

The Kerner Commission was put into place in 1968 to make recommendations for legislature and Congress for ways to reduce the racial tension that caused these riots. The Commission held investigations and case studies in 23 cities in the United States about these riots to get details of the accounts from first-hand witnesses. Trials were held to get testimonies from witnesses of racial injustice for the report. Many people in politics were strongly against the report, such as the former governor of Maryland, Spiro Agnew. During the time of these riots, Agnew called a meeting with local civil rights leaders and blamed them for causing the riots despite the Kerner Report stating that white racism was to blame for the civil unrest in the country. In the report, recommendations that were made to improve housing, welfare and education in black communities were never effectively put into place.

Impact and Recovery

Cities in Washington, DC, Chicago, New York and many other states have still not recovered from the uprisings, even up to 40 years after the rebellions. Failure to act on the Kerner Report was evident with Hurricane Katrina when many citizens of Louisiana weren't helped after the natural disaster. This proved that the national government wasn't invested in the ensuring the well being and livelihood of minorities in the country.

This topic is significant to human rights because many people followed Martin Luther King in their journey to gain equal human rights. African Americans in the United States sacrificed many things to become equal with white society.

I am rejecting Mychelle's changes because my article is specifically on the riots related to the assassination of Martin Luther King. I believe adding information on other figures would belong better on a page about the civil rights movement, it may seem out of place on the article I am contributing to.

"Be Bold"