John F. Kennedy's Civil Rights Speech

In response, Martin Luther King wrote a letter hoping that he and all of the other African Americans would be treated with racial equality. King simply wanted the unjust laws reversed. According to text “He was near exhaustion from stress, and his speeches increasingly alluded to his possible death, as in the speech at the Mason Temple Church in Memphis, Tenn., on April 3, 1968, the night before he died: “I’ve been to the mountain top and seen the promised land” (Funk & Wagnalls,2014). The next item we found was the assassination of JFK newspaper. John Fitzgerald Kennedy also known as Jack Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States of America. Some of the remarkable events that happened while John F Kennedy was holding office in the 60’s was the space race, the Cuban missile crisis, and the establishment of the Peace Corps. John F Kennedy had served in the navy as a secretary before being elected as president and also served as senator. JFK had two brothers who died in action in the WWII. John F Kennedy when elected as president one of his first steps was creating the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps and with this program volunteers would help the weak nations with things such as farming, education, and

President Kennedy was initially concerned about the march. Multiple incidents in America prior to this protest, have contributed to his concern that the protest would become violent and that the support for his civil rights bill would be weakened. Some incidents include the events that had occurred in Birmingham, Alabama and the 1896 court case involving Homer Plessy and Judge John H. Ferguson. These occurrences utilize violence and industrialize racism and discrimination. ____In 1963, thousands of African-Americans had participated in nonviolent protests, boycotts, and voter-registration drives in Birmingham, Alabama. Although the protesters had exhibited nonviolent resistance, authorities had reacted to their actions with violence. On page

By the 1950’s and 1960’s, a breaking point was reached and blacks were tired of being mistreated. Many Civil Rights groups began to form, like the SNCC, and leaders, like Martin Luther King Jr., began to rise. As document 5 shows, these groups goals were to use peaceful protest and civil disobedience to demonstrate the societal unrest that is occurring and the need for political action. Upset at the racial injustice instigated by “Jim Crow Laws” and racism, these groups, through demonstrations such as the Greensboro Sit-ins, the Montgomery Bus Boycotts and the March on Washington, brought to public attention to the African Americans’ dreams of to finally getting the rights they were promised with emancipation. This could be further demonstrated by the “I Have a Dream” Speech. In this speech, given in March of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. discusses a future for America that lives by the standard that all men are created equal. This outside resource, along with various other movements, lead to further public outcry. As document 6 shows this grew to a point to where political action needed to be done. To Kennedy and his successor (Lyndon B. Johnson), this was a huge moral issue that couldn’t be ignored or else the nation would tear itself apart. This ultimately lead to the passing of the acts like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act. These acts were a major victory and largely paved the way to future equality for African

In Robert F Kennedy’s speech, “The Remarks on the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.” He wanted to let fellow Americans know the sad news of Martin Luther King Jr passing away that night. Martin Luther King Jr was a social activist who played a huge role in the American Civil Rights movement. Martin Luther King was known for his Famous “I have a Dream” Speech that touched many Americans Lives. The speech was to put an end to racism that was occurring in the United States and called for civil rights. Throughout the speech, Robert F Kennedy explains ways we can continue Martin Luther King Jr’s Dream.

When John F. Kennedy took the presidential office in January of 1961, the United States was at the forefront of the civil rights movement. Kennedy inherited a country that was mostly segregated in the southern states. African American civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. were busy trying to unify the south to allow for all equal rights. Protests, sit-in’s, and demonstrations became a common occurrence as African American people were being discriminated against. President Kennedy used his presidency to help transition a country of segregation to a country of integration.

John F. Kennedy defined the civil rights crisis as a moral, as well as constitutional and legal. He announced that major civil rights legislation would be submitted to the congress to guarantee equal

John F. Kennedy supported the civil rights, he was doing everything he could to help the African-Americans. According to the article of The John F. Kennedy Museum, “Kennedy defined the civil rights crisis as moral, as well as constitutional and legal. He announced that major civil rights legislation would be submitted to the congress to guarantee equal access to public facilities, to end segregation in education, and to provide federal protection of the right to vote”(Museum of John F. Kennedy 1). John F. Kennedy supported the civil rights by saying that a civil rights legislation would be submitted, those

Kennedy went on, however, to risk his political career for these same rights. In response to an outburst at the University of Mississippi after the admittance of a black student, the president said from the oval office on June 11, 1963, “It ought to be possible, in short, for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his color. In short, every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated.” Despite Kennedy’s assassination shortly after this proclamation, the Civil Rights Act passed through Congress just weeks later under President Johnson. As JFK intended, the Civil Rights Act afforded equal rights to whites and blacks alike (Kozak).

Kennedy should not have been assassinated because he provided support towards the civil rights movements. After Kennedy heard what was happening to African Americans in Birmingham, Alabama he decided to act. June 6, 1963 Kennedy completely changed the world by giving a speech called “Report to the American People on Civil Rights.” In Kennedy’s speech he talks about how blacks and whites are not equal, and how they should be. “As I've said before, not every child has an equal talent or an equal ability or equal motivation, but they should have the equal right to develop their talent and their ability and their motivation, to make something of themselves.”

At the time of JFK, racial tensions were at a high. Although Brown vs. Board of Education had outlawed “separate but equal” in 1952 and called for desegregation (Landmark, Web), the issue was still present- especially in the southern states. Most African Americans were still not being allowed to vote, go in certain public places, or feel safe from violence. This severe racism made it extremely hard for African American individuals to get jobs to get them ahead (Civil Rights Movement, Web). While running for his campaign of 1960, John F. Kennedy made it well known he would make civil rights improvement a goal of America in his term. By participating in rallies and showing activism, JFK proved to be a great ally in the cause of African American’s rights (Joseph, Web). With support for this cause, Kennedy in office was able to push for and sign Executive Order 10925 in 1961, stating that workplaces had to “take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color or national origin”. Kennedy signing this protected rights of those who have had problems due to their race. This order

As further matter, Kennedy was reluctant to upset Southern Democrats by aligning himself with King. Distilling many sources, Levingston wavers in his analysis of Kennedy’s commitment to civil rights: some sources hail him as a man “sympathetic to the suffering of others” with “a reflexive dislike of unfairness.” Others saw him as a political opportunist, “deaf” to “cries for freedom,” feigning interest in order to win the black vote but ignoring civil rights unless it directly benefited his own agenda. Although Levingston insists that Kennedy was “a man of intellect and compassion,” some evidence he presents supports the idea that the Kennedy brothers saw civil rights as the “moral issue” that would burnish the president’s image. A stronger

Having to drink from dirty water fountains, not being able to have a nice bus ride because you have to give up a seat for a white man standing, or even not being able to enjoy a meal without someone saying something. If certain rules were not being followed it could lead you into jail or beaten really badly. Martin Luther King Jr. is known as a leader, being trustworthy and brave. Martin knew what he wanted to do and it was to equalize every citizens rights.

Kennedy was one of the youngest men and first roman catholic to be elected in office. John became president in January of 1961. During his presidency Mr. Kennedy was involved in a few civil rights movement issues including The Martin Luther King Jr, Bull Connor and the Demonstrations in Birmingham according to JFKLIBRARY.ORG “ President Kennedy sent several thousand troops to an Alabama air base, and his administration responded by speeding up the drafting of a comprehensive civil rights bill. As well as integrating the University of Alabama in line with JFKLIBRARY.ORG “ Kennedy defined the civil rights crisis as moral, as well as constitutional and legal. He announced that major civil rights legislation would be submitted to the congress to guarantee equal access to public facilities to end segregation in education, and to provide federal protection of the right to

Kennedy, and Martin Luther King were three American leaders who spoke against inequality and were able to leave a lasting impact on the country. In their speeches, all three leaders made sure to remind the audience that proper appreciation is not being shown to the oppressed and struggling. These three speeches proved to be effective, as they inspired events that would lead to recognition being granted to those that deserve it the most, improved relations, and less discrimination. While all three leaders discussed general injustices, King highlighted the struggles that African Americans and other minority groups are forced to face. Because he narrowed the topic down, King’s speech remains the most relevant today, as the groups he mentioned are still trying to be regarded as equals. Although all three speeches were quite powerful and have impacted the way society is set up today, the issue of inequality still lingers today, which may call for more speeches of a similar

Despite the 13th amendment that stated the abolishment of slavery in 1865, years went by and the U.S was still going through segregation. On June 11, 1963, John F Kennedy spoke out to the nation about an incident that had to be addressed. In his speech he responded to the U.S. National Guard which were sent to protect the African American students enrolling at the University of Alabama because they were being threatened and harassed because of their race. President Kennedy convinced the audience to analyze the issue of segregation by implying Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc, repetition, and ethos.