Cambridge movement (civil rights) facts for kids

The Cambridge movement was an important part of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. It took place in Dorchester County, Maryland. This movement was led by Gloria Richardson and a group called the Cambridge Nonviolent Action Committee (CNAC). Protests happened from late 1961 until the summer of 1964. The movement helped end segregation (separation of people by race) in all schools, public places, and hospitals in Maryland. It also led to the longest period of martial law (when the military takes control) in the U.S. since 1877. Many people believe it was the start of the Black Power movement.

Why the Movement Started

Even though Black residents in Cambridge could vote, they still faced a lot of unfair treatment. They had fewer job opportunities. Their homes often lacked basic things like plumbing. Some Black residents had to drive two hours to Baltimore for medical care. This was because local hospitals were only for white people.

Black people in Cambridge also faced the highest rates of unemployment. The number of Black people without jobs was four times higher than white people. Two local factories, which made defense products, agreed not to hire any Black workers. This was in exchange for white workers not forming a union.

All places for fun, churches, cafes, and schools were separated by race. Black schools received only half the money that white schools did. Even though one-third of Cambridge's residents were Black, there were only three Black police officers. These officers could not patrol white areas or arrest white people.

How the Movement Happened

Early Protests and Actions

In December 1961, Reggie Robinson and Bill Hansen from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) came to Cambridge. They started organizing student protests. The Cambridge Movement also focused on teaching people about voting. This was similar to the Freedom Summer project. However, white people in Cambridge were not as violent about Black voter registration as they were in Mississippi. Some white people even supported voter registration. They thought it was better than direct protests in the streets.

In 1962, the Cambridge Nonviolent Action Committee (CNAC) was formed to lead these protests. Gloria Richardson and Inez Grubb became the co-leaders of CNAC. It was the only group linked to SNCC that was not led by students.

The CNAC started protesting businesses that would not hire Black people. They also held sit-ins (where people sit and refuse to leave) at lunch counters that would not serve Black people. White groups often tried to stop these protests. Protests on Race Street, which divided Black and white neighborhoods, often became violent.

Cleveland Sellers, a SNCC leader, later said that Black people in Cambridge had stopped believing in only peaceful resistance. He noted that guns were carried and people expected them to be used. Gloria Richardson defended these actions. She said that self-defense might stop more violence. She believed the government only acted when things got very serious.

In the spring of 1963, Gloria Richardson and 80 other protesters were arrested over seven weeks. Tensions grew, and by June, Black people were protesting strongly in the streets. Maryland Governor J. Millard Tawes met with the protesters. He offered to speed up school desegregation, build public housing, and create a group to improve race relations. He asked them to stop the protests. The CNAC said no to his offer. In response, the Governor declared martial law and sent the National Guard (military reserve force) to Cambridge.

The Treaty of Cambridge

The possibility of violence near the U.S. capital caught the attention of the Kennedy Administration. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy began talking with the CNAC. They, along with the local city government, reached an agreement. This agreement aimed to prevent violence. It would also end segregation in public places. It included plans for public housing and a human rights committee. This agreement was called the "Treaty of Cambridge."

However, the agreement soon failed. The local government demanded that the agreement be approved by a local referendum (a public vote).

George Wallace's Visit

In May 1964, George Wallace, the Governor of Alabama, came to Cambridge. He was known for supporting segregation. He was invited by the DBCA, the city's main business group. Black protesters gathered to protest his visit. A riot then happened.

What Happened Next

Once the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by Congress, the movement in Cambridge lost its energy. The federal government had made laws that covered everything the CNAC had been fighting for. As the protests ended, the National Guard left. Gloria Richardson resigned from the CNAC and moved to New York City.