This introduction to the Civil Rights Movement synthesises its history,
explaining its origins, development and results as well as
historiographical debates. A survey based on a wealth of recent
scholarship, it provides a critical perspective on the movement,
eschewing the celebratory tone that pervades much of the current
literature, and taking into account the African-American community's
diversity.Mark Newman outlines the range of white responses to the
movement and analyses both northern and southern opinion. He examines
the role of the federal government, the church and organised labour, as
well as assessing the impact of the Cold War. The book discusses local,
regional, and national civil rights campaigns; the utility of
non-violent direct action; and the resurgence of black nationalism. And
it explains the development, achievements and disintegration of the
national civil rights coalition, the role of Martin Luther King Jr and
the contribution of many otherwise ordinary men and women to the
movement.The insufficiently appreciated National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People receives particular attention, with
contrasts drawn between the national office and state conferences and
local branches. In detailing and assessing the African-American struggle
between the 1930s and 1980s, Newman widens the movement's traditional
chronology, offering readers a broad-ranging history.Key
Features*Covers both the north and south of America*Broad
chronological coverage - begins in 1941 and ends in 1989, covering the
origins and long-term effects of the movement*Discusses the
historiography of the CRM, at an appropriate level for undergraduates
