Discuss the development of television in American culture during the 1950s and 1960s. How did television help or hinder African Americans’ goals? How did leaders learn to play to television audiences?)

Respond to your classmates.  Demonstrate more depth and thought than saying things like “I agree” or “You are wrong.” Guidance is provided for you in the discussion prompt

(Discuss the role of violence and the media during the civil rights movement. Discuss the development of television in American culture during the 1950s and 1960s. How did television help or hinder African Americans’ goals? How did leaders learn to play to television audiences?)

Response should be at least 1 paragraph per post. At least one citation per response. You may use different citations in each post if needed. Scholary sources only.

Textbook:  Darlene Clark Hine, William C. Hine, Stanley Harrold. The African-American Odyssey, Vol. II.

Post 1 – Jamie R

When we look at the violence and media attached to the reactions back in the 1950’s, there is almost a strange resemblance to modern day. The montgomery Bus Boycott is a great example of how the media plays into rallying people up. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white person in 1955 and was arrested. Facing injustice, white allies and blacks joined to see just how racist the segregation laws were. They also boycotted the bus company and it eventually led to the ban of segregated buses. Why does this reflect modern day? We can see when an injustice happens, people are usually informed by social media platforms as it is the best way to spread news. People get behind a cause and there is ultimately a change. Regarding other things like television and leaders for TV, we can see that there were some things that hindered the progressiveness of African Americans. For example, negative stereotypes were imported into commercials, brands, and even TV shows. Black face, animated black face or black caricatures used to hinder the black community. However, some good did come from TV, as black actors were given a chance, although not the best roles, they were still able to succeed into a role a white person dominated in. Black leaders were able to eventually spread their message through different medias at the time to get more support.

Citation: Library of Congress exhibit

Brumsic Brandon.

“The Weary Picket,” 1977.

Ink and tonal film overlay over pencil on paper.

Gift of Brumsic Brandon, Jr. Prints and Photographs Division.

Reproduction Number: LC-USZC4-6172 (9-22)

Courtesy of Mr. Brumsic Brandon, Jr.

“5,000 at Meeting Outline Boycott; Bullet Clips Bus.” Montgomery, Alabama, Bus Boycott.

Montgomery Advertiser, December 6, 1955.

Copyprint from microfilm.

Serial and Government Publications Division. (9-3)

Courtesy of the Montgomery Advertiser.

 

Post 2 – Heather K

Ever since the development of media, it has played an important role in social and political movements. This was especially true during the civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s.  As in our current age media can be used to both positively and negatively influence people’s views and perspectives. I am a visual learner so there is a huge difference in my emotional reaction to things when I see an image attached to them rather than have them read to me or listening to the news. Images can be very powerful and often indisputable. The incident in Selma, Alabama on Bloody Sunday and the march thereafter were documented in picture and on film. This violent treatment of African Americans and whites who were behaving in a peaceful manner was a crucial turning point in the civil rights movement. Watching events take place live where protesters are simply marching, walking or sitting in and then violence takes place in reaction to those simple acts creates a strong and lasting image. The images of civil disobedience being met by police with Billy clubs or individuals attacking them of their own accord were available for all to see. It is hard to ignore injustice when you are staring directly at it. Media was able to show the “Little Rock Nine” trying to overcome segregation in an educational environment and being met with military resistance as well as for the first time. “President Dwight Eisenhower may have had little inclination to support the fight for black rights, but the defiance of Arkansas Governor Orville Faubus forced him to. At the beginning of the school year in 1957, Faubus posted 270 Arkansas national guardsmen outside Little Rock Central High School to prevent nine black youths from entering. Faubus was determined to flout Brown and maintain school segregation. When a federal court order forced the governor to allow the children into the school, he simply withdrew the state guard and left the children to face a hate-filled mob”.^[1]

 

The media also began showing African American athletes in prominent roles despite the athletes being threatened and mistreated on many levels. Showing African American in successful situations rather than the characters that used to exist on TV was helpful but also put those athletes at risk to be targeted by white supremacists so it is a mixed result much like many things that took place in the civil rights era. I was born shortly after this time period and am able to easily recall all these images when people talk about them. This shows to me the very strong effect media has on social causes and injustice especially where violence takes place in response to civil demonstrations.

 

Hine, Darlene Clark, Hine, William C. and Stanley Harrold. “The African American Odyssey, Volume 2, 7th Edition”. Pearson, New York, NY. 2018.

 

NAACP Collection, Prints and Photographs Division.

Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-119154 (9-18b)

Courtesy of the NAACP