The civil rights movement / Mark Newman.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 171-179) and index.

"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 organized labour, as well as assessing the impact of the Cold War."--Book cover.

Prerequistes for change. The nature of racial discrimination -- The great migration -- The New Deal -- Challenges to injustice in the South -- The emergence of the movement, 1941-59. The impact of the Second World War -- Jim Crow under attack -- Massive resistance -- The movement stalled -- The end of Jim Crow in the South, 1960-5. The sit-ins -- The Kennedy administration and civil rights -- The Civil Rights Act of 1964 -- The disintegration of the National Civil Rights coalition, 1964-8. The Mississippi summer project -- Northern protests -- Black power -- The poor people's campaign -- Civil rights in a conservative era. Nixon's 'Southern strategy' -- A new South? Protest and politics -- The struggle in the North -- The Federal government and civil rights: from Ford to Reagan.