Saturday, February 23, 2013

JFK and the civil rights movement

AP:  Despite questions, JFK holds important role in history of civil rights movement
Interesting article about about JFKs relationship to the civil rights movement and specifically about how his legacy is perceived within the black community.  Here is an article by Robert Dallek which describes the evolution of JFKs stance on civil rights.  One point the AP does not fully address is the mixed support for civil rights within the the Kennedy administration.  J. Edgar Hoover was openly hostile to racial integration and the civil rights protesters.  Robert Kennedy - like his brother - alternated between political pragmatism and veiled moral support for the protesters.  However  others within the administration - notably Harris Wofford, John Seigenthaler, and Burke Marshall - were firmly on the side of Dr. King and the civil rights movement.

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