Do you the the use of non violence was a successful tactic in the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 60's

Question

Do you the the use of non violence was a successful tactic in the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 60's

Answer 1

Morally admirable, laudable and ideologically sound- yes. But on whether nonviolence was "successful," I believe that it was only marginally so.

As much as one can argue that the Civil Rights Movement's moral-highground tactics rallied whites to their cause, what really achieved progress for minorities was two things- 1. the tragedy of JFK's death, which Pres Johnson subsequently used to remind America that the late president wanted racial equality, and 2. the judicial efforts like Brown vs Board and others that compelled change. In other words, the sadness of a lost president and the compulsion of a federal authority engendered the necessary politcal reform much more than did a sudden compassion among whites for the plight of blacks.

By now though, I do think that Whites are very compassioned when the witness racial injustices.

Answer 2

Yes. They were perceived to be victims when they did not fight back from dogs, water hoses, and police battons. They gained much sympathy and many people rallied behind them.

The opposite is the Black Panther Party which was militant and no one can support these tactics.