Prominent African Americans Who Opposed the Jim Crow Laws
To be concise, there were no known African American that supported the Jim Crow Laws. The Jim Crow Laws were just another way of rubbing it in that blacks would not receive the same rights as whites. However, with the help of many important African-Americans, the Jim Crow Laws would be vanquished. Medgar Evers (1925-1963) was a notable member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). He made numerous efforts to investigate and prevent the lynchings of several blacks (such as Emmett Till, who's death made papers from the horrible way he died). One event that made many white Americans hate him was the enrollment of James Meredith into the University of Mississippi. After rigorous trials, Evers helped Meredith attend the college. However, a riot occurred that killed two people (Olemiss.edu, 2013). While Evers had caused many achievements in the civil rights movement, on June 12, 1963, he would be finished doing his part. Byron de la Beckwith, a former Ku Klux Klan member would assassinate Evers with a single bullet as he was returning home. Medgar Ever's funeral was attended by many famous leaders, both African American and white (Olemiss.edu, 2013). His legacy remains in Mississippi today, as black voters jumped from 28,000 in 1963 to 500,000+ in 1982 (Olemiss.edu, 2013). Another famous African American who opposed the Jim Crow Laws' policies was none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Although born in a loving family of dedicated pastors, King learned about the Jim Crow Laws the hard way at a young age. His good friend, who was white, told him he couldn't be friends with him any longer. His friend was going to a white school, while King was attending a black school, so the parents did not want their child to be seen with King any longer. After completing his education, King was dedicated to stopping segregation. On August 28, 1963, 250,000 people would join him and other notable African Americans in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (The Effect of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" Speech, 2013). The March was planned for months by King and other NAACP members. The purpose of the March was to inform the government of their desire of equal rights for civilization in jobs. After his inspiring, famous speech, the "I Have a Dream Speech," President John F. Kennedy would respond to their cries and present a bill for equal rights to Congress. Because of his assassination however, the bill was not passed until 1964 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it. However, after numerous sit ins and protests over segregation (caused by the Jim Crow Laws) Martin Luther King was assassinated by James Earl Ray on April 4, 1968. Like Medgar Evers, King's actions toward the civil rights movement will be forever remembered. At the same time, their actions were a scream of protest to the injustice of the Jim Crow Laws that created segregation.