John F. Kennedy's Involvement In The Civil Rights Movement

“We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the scriptures and is as clear as the American Constitution. The heart of the question is whether all Americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities; whether we are going to treat our fellow Americans as we want to be treated” (Kennedy). What comes to your mind when you hear the name “John F. Kennedy?” You probably think of the guy who was president in the 1960’s. He helped with many big things in America such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, and issues with the Cold War. Not to mention he was also the youngest and first Roman Catholic president. What people don’t usually consider is his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. John
Kennedy became president in 1961, while many Civil Rights issues were going on in the South. More than seventy percent of African Americans voted for him. When he took office, they had high expectations for a new legislation. However, he did not fulfill his promise right away and did nothing to help and push forward the civil rights issue. He was reluctant to lose southern support for legislation on many fronts by pushing too hard on civil rights legislation. Instead, he spoke out in favor of school desegregation, and put Vice President Lyndon Johnson of the President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. Kennedy was more focused on international tensions with Russia, and also concentrated more on improving health care. As Kennedy was working with other things, big things were going on in the South. In May 1961, a group of civil rights
was arrested for anti-segregation protests in Birmingham. This led to Dr. King writing “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” on April 16th, where he argued that individuals proper duty to disobey unfair laws. In the spring of 1963, James Bevel, one of Martin Luther King Junior’s young companions, led black youths to march in the streets of Birmingham. Birmingham City Commissioner Eugene "Bull" Connor used police dogs and high-pressure fire hoses to try and stop these kids and teenagers. Nearly a thousand people were arrested in just a few days. The violence that happened in that city was broadcasted live on television for the whole nation and world to see. This event was the main awakening for President John F. Kennedy. On June 11, President Kennedy delivered a speech from the Oval Office. He addressed the nation on television to confront the issue of racial discrimination and emphasized the commitment of all three branches of the federal government in supporting civil rights. He also allowed two African- American students into the University of Alabama. “No one has been barred on account of his race from fighting or dying for America, there are no white or colored signs on the foxholes or graveyards of battle” (Kennedy). A few months after, a number of civil rights and religious groups organized an event known as the March on Washington. This was another event to try to tell people about the hard political and social challenges for the