June 11, 1963: Civil Rights Address

Luke Bernier Mr. Mael 4/30/17 U.S. History II How the Civil Rights Address Movement Affected Civil Rights The Civil Rights Address was a speech given by John F. Kennedy, following the famous stand at the schoolhouse door. During the stand at the schoolhouse door, Governor George Wallace of Alabama stood in the doorway of the University of Alabama in an attempt to block two African American students from entering the school. To get the students in the school, the national guard was required. In response to this event, JFK created a speech that would go down in history as one of the best presidential speeches of all time. Traditionally, JFK had not expressed concern or acknowledged the civil rights movement, as, while he believed in their cause, he could do nothing for the movement. According to the New York Times, “The president had been routinely criticized by black leaders for being timid on civil rights, and no one knew just what to expect when the cameras started filming.” Despite the speculation that he would downplay the event, JFK instead brought the issue of civil rights into the nation’s eye. He calls on the American people and pleads to them to find it within their hearts to accept the African American as just another human. JFK says that he, “hopes that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” JFK truly believes that he can convince the people of America to help their fellow American out, regardless of skin color. The reason this was such an important speech for America was because it had never been done before. No other president had ever brought up civil rights like this before, and especially not on the national stage. What many presidents do when they need to talk about a polarizing issue, like JFK had to do about civil rights, is they try and compromise with both sides, because for many presidents, they want to appease everyone. This is not what JFK decides to do. He calls out racists and bigots across America, and tells them that what they are doing is killing the country, and they are wrong in their beliefs. This is what made the Civil Rights Address so influential; it not only helped out the civil rights movement, it also reached the hearts and minds of the American people. Bibliography “Civil Rights Address.” American Rhetoric. Accessed May 2, 2017. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkcivilrights.htm. Joseph, Peniel. “Kennedy’s Finest Moment.” New York Times. Accessed May 2, 2017. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/11/opinion/kennedys-civil-rights-triumph.html. Textbook