Chicago Freedom Movement facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chicago Freedom Movement |
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| Part of the Civil Rights Movement | |||
| Date | 1965–1966 (2 years) | ||
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The Chicago Freedom Movement, also known as the Chicago open housing movement, was a big effort to fight for equal rights. It was led by important leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., James Bevel, and Al Raby. Two main groups, the Coordinating Council of Community Organizations (CCCO) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), helped make it happen.
This movement involved many rallies and marches in Chicago. The people involved had specific goals for the city. They wanted better education for everyone. They also asked for fair access to transportation and jobs. Other demands included fair pay, good health care, and ways for families to build wealth. They also wanted safer communities, fair treatment by the justice system, and better living conditions for tenants.
The Chicago Freedom Movement was the biggest civil rights campaign in the northern part of the United States. It lasted from mid-1965 to August 1966. Many people believe this movement helped lead to the important Fair Housing Act of 1968.
Contents
Fighting for Fair Housing in Chicago
The Chicago Freedom Movement aimed to end unfair housing practices in the city. Many neighborhoods had "slums," which were poor areas with bad living conditions. The movement wanted to get rid of these.
Protests and Marches
By late July 1966, the movement held regular protests. They marched outside real estate offices. They also marched into neighborhoods where only white people lived. These marches were on the city's southwest and northwest sides.
Facing Hostility
The people living in these white neighborhoods often reacted with anger and even violence. This made city leaders worried. It also caught the attention of news reporters across the country. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that even in places like Alabama and Mississippi, he had not seen crowds as angry as those in Chicago. These crowds were very against Black people having equal civil rights.
Reaching an Agreement
In mid-August, important talks began. Leaders from the city, activists from the movement, and people from the Chicago Real Estate Board met. On August 26, an agreement was reached. This happened after the Chicago Freedom Movement announced they would march into Cicero, a nearby town. The agreement included steps to create more fair housing choices in the Chicago area.
Movement Changes Focus
After this agreement, the Chicago Freedom Movement lost some of its strong focus. By early 1967, Martin Luther King, James Bevel, and the SCLC started working on other projects. For King and Bevel, a main new focus was the movement against the Vietnam War.
The Fair Housing Act of 1968
The 1968 Fair Housing Act was a very important law. Congress passed it because of two main reasons. First, it was a direct result of the 1966 Chicago open housing movement. Second, it was passed as a response to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.. This law made it illegal to refuse to sell or rent a home to someone because of their race, religion, or national origin.
