Why did the Civil Rights movement in the United States become fragmented after 1966?
It is safe to say that the main reason as to why the civil rights movement became fragmented after 1966 was the major ideological splits that had developed within the movement to civil rights for African Americans. Examples include; the rise of black power, the adoption of more radical tactics by certain civil rights groups such as the SNCC and CORE, and the ideological splits among those involved within the civil rights movement.
The rise of the concept of the Nation of Islam gave birth to the concept of a separate, ‘blacks only’ state, which clearly undermines the work of Martin Luther King to bring about inclusion and equality of rights and freedoms for African Americans. In addition, there was an ideological split towards the use of violence in the flight for civil rights. Around the year in question, organisations such as the SNCC and CORE began to adapt more violent, radical methods. To give an example in 1966, after the resignation of James Farmer as the leader of CORE, the organisation adopted more and more radical principles and methods, an example of this is the expulsion of white members from the organisation. This was a clear influence from the Black Power movement and Malcolm X’s input into the civil rights movement. This movement and this man, who at one point was a member of the Nation of Islam, felt that more violent methods were needed in order to raise awareness of the economic and social struggles of African Americans.
However, groups such as the NAACP and the SCLC, the latter of which Martin Luther King was a member held the belief that through peaceful protest and using the law and constitution in their favor, they could; not only bring about the gain of civil rights for African Americans, resulting in racial equality, but they could also bring about the inclusion of African Americans into American society, which was criticized by members of other groups as they felt that as African Americans had not been accepted in mainstream, white
The rise of the concept of the Nation of Islam gave birth to the concept of a separate, ‘blacks only’ state, which clearly undermines the work of Martin Luther King to bring about inclusion and equality of rights and freedoms for African Americans. In addition, there was an ideological split towards the use of violence in the flight for civil rights. Around the year in question, organisations such as the SNCC and CORE began to adapt more violent, radical methods. To give an example in 1966, after the resignation of James Farmer as the leader of CORE, the organisation adopted more and more radical principles and methods, an example of this is the expulsion of white members from the organisation. This was a clear influence from the Black Power movement and Malcolm X’s input into the civil rights movement. This movement and this man, who at one point was a member of the Nation of Islam, felt that more violent methods were needed in order to raise awareness of the economic and social struggles of African Americans.
However, groups such as the NAACP and the SCLC, the latter of which Martin Luther King was a member held the belief that through peaceful protest and using the law and constitution in their favor, they could; not only bring about the gain of civil rights for African Americans, resulting in racial equality, but they could also bring about the inclusion of African Americans into American society, which was criticized by members of other groups as they felt that as African Americans had not been accepted in mainstream, white