President Kennedy and Civil Rights - Research Paper Example

President Kennedy and Civil Rights President John F. Kennedy, usually known by his initials JFK, was the thirty fifth President of America who only served in office for three years, i.e. from 1961 to 1963. He was the only Catholic President of United States who is known for his gallantry, bravery, and his obligation towards civil rights and also his efforts during the cold war to restrict the use of nuclear weapons in America and all around the world. He believed that matters between nations could be solved through negotiations and that wars lead to deaths and destruction. Author Shelly Sommer presents John F. Kennedy in his book, “John F Kennedy: His life and legacy” in many roles such as a boy, a young adolescent, a hero of wars, a husband, a great politician, and finally the youngest President of America. But the question should be raised that whether John F. Kennedy really cared about civil rights or it was just to defeat Nixon in office and be the President of America? The votes of African American people were as much important for him as the whites and so President Kennedy has to make his way to the office anyhow. When two African American students, Vivian Malone and James Hood decided to take admission in University of Alabama in summers of 1963, President John F. Kennedy- a spirited and energetic leader of that time led the movement of Civil rights to let these students enter the university. He challenged the southern courts to take notice of the situation and take into consideration this issue to grant equal rights to African Americans as well. On the evening of September 30, 1963, President delivered a speech in which he issued a declaration that Mississippi should abolish segregation and let African American students attend the college. Governor George Wallace again restricted Vivian Malone and James Hood from attending the college but President Kennedy rapidly responded using his federal power. On June 11, 1963, the President spoke to the nation againaout the segregation and brutal attitudes with the African students. He emphasized on the notion that a reform is needed for African Americans in American society so that they can freely enjoy their rights and live life like white Americans do. He asked for a federal legislature for the rights of African Americans and thus his words were transformed into actions after his death when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted. ( Blaustein, Albert P, and Robert L. Zangrando. Civil Rights and the American Negro: A Documentary History). Critics against Kennedy Supporting Civil Rights’ Some people, however, believed that John F. Kennedy was not much interested in civil rights; rather he was famous for Cold War issues and Cuban Missile Crisis. This belief was not pointless. Kennedy’s attitudes towards Civil Rights before the election campaign proved it to be true. He voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 by Eisenhower. Kennedy wanted to serve the Democrats in the elections of 1960s; and to do so he has to oppose the bill as Democrats were in the opposition of the bill at that time. Finally Kennedy won the elections as leader of the Democratic Party in 1960 and defeated Nixon. This act of Kennedy proves that all he did was his personal gains and he has no interests in the rights or equality of African Americans. Kennedy suddenly converted or changed his point of view when he was nominated as a candidate from Democratic Party for the Presidential Elections of 1960. He delivered speeches promising equal rights to African Americans and preserving their dignity and sovereignty. Historians are confused over this abrupt change in the attitude. Supporters of Kennedy see the antagonism toward the Civil Act of 1957 as a political necessity. People who view this transformation of attitude as strange and selfish believe that Kennedy needed votes from African American community to win the election against Nixon. Kennedy’s Reforms for Civil Rights President Kennedy was well versed in human rights and a world where everyone enjoys equal rights whether blacks or whites. He was not happy with the condition of America where people were so much engaged in technology and progress and not even considering the rights of African Americans. He once said: “We must seek, above all, a world of peace; a world in which people dwell together in mutual respect and work together in mutual regard.” “In giving rights to others which belong to them, we give rights to ourselves and to our country” John Fitzgerald Kennedy quotes. He was of the firm belief that when we give rights to others, we are giving rights to ourselves because if we respect others so they will respect us. During the Presidential election campaign and after he took the seat as the President of United States, Kennedy showed from his acts that he was a follower of civil rights. As I have written before that Kennedy used his federal office to grant equal rights to African American students so that they can educate themselves as all other students do. He said in one of his speeches, “discrimination stained America as it leads the west’s stance against the Soviet Union during the Cold War”. He was of the belief that due to segregation and discrimination against races or color in America, their enemies were augmenting by every passing day and this was the reason that Russia was planning a cold war against United States. Democrats are very proud of Kennedy because he called Martin Luther King’s wife, Coretta when Martin Luther King was in prison during the Civil Rights movement. As a President, Kennedy can ignore what was happening in the South as the Southerners; despite of Brown V. Board of Education legislation that segregation is considered to be unconstitutional in schools were practicing racial prejudice at high school and in colleges, or he could act on it. Kennedy promised in his speeches that he would take action as soon as he became the President of United States against the segregation in the society. Kennedy’s Regime Did Kennedy actually fulfill all his promises while in office? Well, not really! There were certain reasons as to why Kennedy was not able to put his attention on domestic issues such as racial injustice in the American society. The international statistics and facts showed that in the year 1960 President could never put his attention on the issues at home. Additionally, there was no public support for the legislation of African American rights at that time. A opinion poll was conducted during 1960 and 1961 about what should be done for the advancement of American society. Civil rights was the least debatable subject or the least area of concern for most of the Americans. Moreover, Kennedy focused his attention on improving the wage rate of farmers and improving the health care departments of the country; concentrating on Civil Rights at that time would mean that he was diverting his attention from these primary issues and disturbing progress. These might be mere reasons for not focusing on the grave issue of civil rights he once mentioned in his election campaign speeches. But Kennedy has an answer to this raised question. He said that improving the wages of indignant people of society and health care would in fact be beneficial for the Civil Rights movement as African Americans are mostly subjected to low health facilities and low wages. What did he do for the Civil Rights then? His once promised legislations of granting equal rights to all, did it take a practical form or not? He pressurized the governmental organizations to hire more African American people. But, the people who were hired were paid very low wages and were employed at jobs where there was little or no chance of advancement. The FBI hired only forty eight African American people out of the unemployed lot of 13,649 and these forty eight were all chauffeurs mostly. He was recognized among the African American community because he was the one who appointed more African Americans to federal jobs than any president who came before him. He gave senior federal posts to forty African Americans which includes five federal judges. Kennedy made his brother Robert the head of the Justice department, the Attorney General. Their policy was to use the federal law courts as a medium of implementing the already enacted civil rights laws and legislations. None of the Southern state can oppose laws that were already passed but they were always able to interpret the laws in an inconsiderate manner. Also, the Department of Justice brought fifty seven law suits for the local officials who hinder or do not allow African Americans to register to vote. Kennedy threatened domestic officials of Louisiana with prison for disdain because they rejected to give money to the desegregated schools. Such warnings were also given to officials in Memphis, Atlanta, and New Orleans so that they can hand over the money without creating any impediments. Kennedy took some really small smart steps to diminish segregation in society. When the Washington Redskins said they would not sign African American players for their football game, Kennedy restricted them from using the stadium until they sign up African American players. The team then hurried to sign up African Americans. Kennedy also formed the Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity (CEEO). The aim of CEEO was to make sure that all people working for the federal government enjoy equal employment prospects. Also, all the firms which had contracts with federal government or were registered under the federal government were obligated to do the same if they wish to work with the federal government in the future. A drawback of CEEO was that it only cared about people who were already working for the federal government and did not promote federal government firms to hire more African American people and did nothing in regard to providing equal employment prospects for African American people. It only worked for people already part of federal government and not for the jobless. The question can be raised that whether Kennedy wanted to work for the civil rights movement himself or was he obliged by his position and promises? I really can not comment on this issue as both international and national events structured Kennedy’s actions. For many Americans, the Cuba Crisis and the apprehension of Berlin Wall and the Bay of Pigs Fiasco was of more importance than what was happening at home. The Interstate Commerce Commission passed legislation in 1961 that interstate busing and transport system should be made desegregated, as the law of 1948 has already made it clear. But the question that surrounded everyone’s mind was that this legislation was just a waste of time. If the issue has been ignored for years, it will still continue to persist in the society until and unless certain action is taken upon it. Nothing was done in 1950s for the African Americans military power and in times of Eisenhower and Truman. Little was done for black militancy in Kennedy’s regime and so The Nation of Islam came into effect at the most in Kennedy’s time when no support was seen to be coming from the federal government. This point goes against the point that Kennedy was supporter of African Americans. But Kennedy did not make the situation for African Americans more depressing because he wholeheartedly paid attention to James Meredith case. James Meredith, an African American, applied to a white only college-the University of Mississippi in September 1962 for a doctorate degree. As per law, he did not get the admission. He served in the Air Force of United States for ten years and he was segregated because of his race (color). Meredith applied for legal assistance from the NAACP and he got too and battled his case in the court. The Supreme Court ruled in his favor. Now when it was his first day at the college, he was welcomed by angry white Americans who came to throw stones at times. Here John F. Kennedy played his role. He set 500 marshals to make sure that law was followed at the entrance of the college and nothing goes wrong. However it did not happen as he thought will be. Two hundred marshals were wounded and two were shot death by obstinate people who were against Meredith. Just to maintain the order and law of that area, John F. Kennedy went beyond all odds by federalizing the Mississippi National Guard and sent the national troops to the college. This was something the federal government would never ever do. The outcome was that Meredith got admission in the college. But some questions still remain unanswered as if Meredith has not applied for legal aid would Kennedy have done anything to safeguard Meredith? If Meredith has not fought against the norms of Mississippi and gone to another college, would Kennedy have taken any action for him? If Meredith never came to college, would Kennedy have gone to all whites only institutions and see if they were breaking the law and why? Maybe not; Kennedy was all concerned about the votes of African Americans if he ever stands for the post of President again. He cared about his office and he wanted to ensure that he keeps all races and color people happy and contended. The case of Birmingham in 1963 also persuaded Kennedy to take action. The actions given by Bill Connor appalled Kennedy. The Justice Department was brought to Birmingham on the orders of Bobby Kennedy and improvements took place swiftly. Soon afterwards, the public facilities were made for all and discrimination was abolished. Furthermore, employment prospects also enhanced for the African Americans in Birmingham to some extent. Kennedy made sure that all segregated colleges and universities were desegregated. He sent troops and also nationalized the Federal Guard to impose the commandment in Alabama. But did all these events make him a supporter of civil rights? Skeptics of Kennedy suggest that these efforts might only be one of Kennedy’s personal motives, as to target African Americans for the elections of 1964. But he was killed in 1963 even before the elections could take place. Kennedy at first opposed the March on Washington in 1963 as he believed that a march like this during his regime or presidency would point to the fact that the main leaders of the civil rights movement were critical about his part on civil rights. He also thought that March will provoke Congress as it was in the middle of conversing about the civil rights bill. Kennedy finally authorized the march when federal government was given part in it. Although President Kennedy courted African American voters during the 1960 campaign, civil rights reform was not a high priority for him as he entered office. I believe the major factor behind President Kennedy’s support of the civil rights movement during the campaign was capturing the “black vote”. He recognized that without their vote, it was unlikely Nixon could be defeated.  References 1. Sommer, Shelley. John F. Kennedy: His Life and Legacy. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. Print. 2. Blaustein, Albert P, and Robert L. Zangrando. Civil Rights and the American Negro: A Documentary History. New York: Trident Press, 1968. Print. 3. John. F. Kennedy 1960 Speech on Civil Rights 4. O'Brien, Michael. John F. Kennedy: A Biography. New York: Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, 2005. Print. Read More