Did President John F. Kennedy demonstrate a strong commitment to civil rights?

Did President John F. Kennedy demonstrate a strong commitment to civil rights?

Introduction

Kennedy's character with regard to civil rights has been discussed by various writers and scholars. While some see Kennedy as a pivotal figure in the struggle for racial impartiality, who contributed considerably to the incorporation of African Americans into the American society, others criticize his efforts for lack of action and they see his contributions as mere political calculations. There are arguments sustaining both views.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th elected president of USA. He was the first American born President. He was the first elected president of Roman Catholic religion. He was born on 29th May, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University.

He joined American navy in 1941.In 1945 he served as journalist in the United Nations Conference in San Francisco. In 1946, John F. Kennedy entered U.S. national Congress. On June 18th, 1946 Kennedy won the seat for Massachusetts Eleventh Congressional district. He served three terms in the House of Representatives. He always was an advocate of equal opportunity for underprivileged.

Kennedy's career before President

It was in 1951 Kennedy contested for the office of U.S. Senator and in this campaign he advocated the issue of civil rights. He highlighted this issue to gain votes of African American voters .His campaign team comprised of Boston Mayor, Harold Vaughan and Herbet Tucker who had strong ties with the black voters.

The modern Movement of Civil Rights, which started in 1954 by the Supreme Court verdict in the case outlawing segregation in public schools. However, a lot of contribution had been made by African Americans previously to this period in order to abolish racial bias and achieve legal equality.

It was with this case of Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, that Kennedy made a clear stance to support desegregation in the institutes of the southern region. He considered it as a part of the law of the land to support the verdict of Supreme Court to desegregate the schools.

In 1954, Kennedy gave his speech for NAACP supporting the cause of civil rights, claiming that a lot of work needs to be done, to reduce racial discrimination. He wanted congress to work in this issue on priority basis. He wanted to reduce racial discrimination to clean USA's image globally and to protect New England's mills from unfair competition from the South side.

Kennedy's efforts for civil rights were more political then moral. The stance maintained by Kennedy on the Eisenhower's Civil Rights Bill of 1957 was more or less neutral as inclination towards anything brought a negative sentiment from one half of the congress. Congress was made of leaders supporting and against civil rights. The civil right act when passed after modifications on September 9, 1957 didn't impress the leaders of civil right movement. They criticized Kennedy for being efficient verbally and supporting the cause only for political benefits.

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