Why Was John F Kennedy Hesitant

John F Kennedy was very hesitant in the issue of Civil Rights. Kennedy's main issue was if he helped African Americans, then he would lose white supporters. Many people remember Kennedy for his crucial part in the space program and his assassination, but few people remember his role in the advancement of equality and the desegregation of the schools. Despite the fact the Kennedy was hesitant to act he did however support The Civil Rights legislation.
Despite supporting the Civil Rights movement, Kennedy had little experience with black issues and scarcely any black friends. Kennedy's election was heavily influenced by the black vote. During Kennedy's inaugurate parade, an all-white Coast Guard unit saluted, which made Kennedy mad (Harrison).
Many blacks were worried that the actions taken for equality would not be enough and that Kennedy doesn’t understand their struggle. Blacks decided to hold non-violent protests which usually resulted in police/whites attacking them (Harrison). Kennedy distrusted spontaneous emotional action and thought that protests would do more harm than good. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. usually planned/headed most protests, as a result Kennedy was uncomfortable with Dr. King because both men are of shrewd political instinct and deep principle. (Harrison)
Racism also affected Kennedy politically.
Kennedy wanted to deal with racism because he was in a battle with Moscow to look more favorable to 3rd world countries and he was disgusted by the atrocities that were taking place over the issue of equality (Dallek). Over time Kennedy grew annoyed with the lack of action being taken to address the issue of equality, as a result Kennedy decided to give a televised speech to the nation, with only six hours of preparation, announcing his Civil Rights bill on June 11, 1963. The televised speech had a heartfelt appeal of a moral cause, given he talked some of the speech extemporaneously, "We are confronted primarily with a moral issue" (Dallek). As a result, most Americans approved of the federal government's strong but restrained
response.
June 19, 1963 Kennedy proposed the most far-reaching Civil Rights bill, many Civil Rights leaders thought this bill was long overdue.
However, the bill would ensure anyone with a six grade education their right to vote. The proposed law would end discrimination on the basis of skin color in all places of public accommodation. Kennedy also asked for an end to job discrimination and expanded funds for job training, Kennedy did this to also fulfill one of his campaign promises (Dallek). Kennedy was also hesitant with Civil Rights protests, to combat this fear Kennedy asked Walter Reuther to arrange substantial white participation by Church and Labor Union members to show that not only African Americans were interested in Civil Rights. The prospects of Kennedy's recently proposed bill were still uncertain, at the same time, Kennedy understood that unless the government acted boldly to change things, African Americans would lose all hope that the government would ever fully support their claims to equality and certain inalienable rights. If Kennedy didn’t fix the issue of racism, then outraged African Americans would have to resort to Civil Strife which as a result would injure the national well-being, embarrass the country before the world and its rivals, and jeopardize the Kennedy precedency which already had a slow start
(Dallek).
Despite Kennedy's efforts he faced opposition from the political parties, therefore Kennedy asked the Civil Rights leaders to pressure and convince the Republican party to support the Civil Rights movement. On the other hand, Kennedy did not want to be seen as to eager for equal housing and voting protection as this often resulted in loss of white supporters. Kennedy's narrow election as president and small working margin in Congress left him cautious and uneasy which often left African Americans frustrated. Kennedy often sent federal troops to enforce desegregation, which occurred at the University of Old miss and Alabama. Kennedy's situation was so strained that if he helped blacks in the south he would then in return lose the support of Democrats, but if Kennedy did nothing he faced worldwide scrutiny. Sadly, Kennedy died before the Civil Rights bill was passed, but his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, used his connections and pull with white congressional leaders to help pass the Civil Rights bill (Dallek).
South Carolina senator Strom Thurmond, epitomized the opposition to the Civil Rights bill which in 1957, Strom tried to filibuster the 1957 Civil Rights Act (Naylor). Even though Kennedy supported Civil Rights and attempted to pass bills and legislatures, some Civil Rights activists thought Kennedy's bill did not go far enough. Radical African Americans believed the march would solve nothing and therefore opted for a violent solution (Martin Luther King Jr. I Have A Dream Speech). Kennedy, when it came to Civil Rights, preferred caution over courage, but went later on to say this about courage, "the most admirable of human virtues" (Boyle).
It may seem like Kennedy did not accomplish much of anything, but under the conditions he was elected in, and also with the Cuban Missile Crisis and communism, he pushed for equality. It took multiple years and much opposition, but equality was finally achieved. As a result of Kennedy's actions we recently elected the first U.S black president, and ended discrimination and segregation for good.