What Happened in 1957 Civil Rights?
The year 1957 was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. It was a time of significant progress and challenges for African Americans, who were fighting for their basic human rights and equality. In this article, we will explore the major events and developments that took place in 1957 and their impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
** Little Rock Nine
One of the most significant events of 1957 was the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. On September 4, 1957, nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, entered the previously all-white school, accompanied by federal troops. This historic event marked a major milestone in the Civil Rights Movement, as it was the first time African Americans had been allowed to attend a previously segregated school in the South.
The Arkansas Governor’s Resistance
The Little Rock Nine’s entry into the school was met with resistance from the Arkansas governor, Orval Faubus, who had refused to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Faubus had called out the National Guard to prevent the students from entering the school, but the federal government intervened, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed federal troops to Little Rock to ensure the students’ safety.
** Emmett Till’s Murder
Another significant event in 1957 was the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, a African American boy from Chicago who was visiting his relatives in Mississippi. On August 28, 1955, Till was accused of flirting with a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, at a grocery store. A few days later, Bryant’s husband, Roy, and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, kidnapped Till from his great-uncle’s home and brutally murdered him. Till’s body was found three days later, and his death became a symbol of the brutal racism and violence that African Americans faced in the South.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
In 1957, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was still ongoing. The boycott began in December 1955, after Rosa Parks, an African American woman, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus. The boycott lasted for 381 days, ending with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Montgomery’s segregation laws were unconstitutional.
** Civil Rights Act of 1957
In September 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957, which was the first major federal civil rights legislation since the Reconstruction Era. The act established the Civil Rights Commission, which was tasked with investigating and reporting on civil rights violations. It also strengthened the voting rights of African Americans by providing federal oversight of voter registration and voting practices.
** Key Provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1957
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 had several key provisions, including:
- Establishment of the Civil Rights Commission to investigate and report on civil rights violations
- Strengthening of voting rights by providing federal oversight of voter registration and voting practices
- Authorization of the U.S. Attorney General to bring lawsuits to enforce the Civil Rights Act
- Establishment of the Office of the Civil Rights Commissioner, which was responsible for investigating and reporting on civil rights violations
Conclusion
In conclusion, 1957 was a significant year in the Civil Rights Movement, marked by major events and developments that shaped the struggle for racial equality. The desegregation of Little Rock Central High School, the murder of Emmett Till, and the Montgomery Bus Boycott all highlighted the brutality and injustice faced by African Americans in the South. The Civil Rights Act of 1957, although limited in its scope, was an important step towards federal intervention and oversight of civil rights violations. These events and developments laid the groundwork for the more significant civil rights legislation that would follow in the years to come.
