The Cold War and Its Effects on the Civil Rights Movement

The Cold War and the Civil rights movement

With its leading role in the creation of the UN, the Truman Doctrine, as well as the Berlin Airlift; post – war United States sought to establish itself as the citadel of democracy and protector of the free people in the face of the expanding Communist sphere of influence throughout the world. There was however, a domestic issue that seemed to go against the professed ideals of democracy abroad; American institutionalized racism. The Cold war had numerous effects on the American Civil rights movement; starting with its exposure of American racist policies and actions onto the world stage and the following blow to American moral legitimacy abroad. Secondly, Cold War interactions played a major role in shaping the ideologies and values of the Black Power movement and its leaders. The new international stage for US racial relations would provide the movement with increased leverage and provide major victories at the national level. However it is the lack of change, or rather, change for the worst, at a local level after these “victories” that drew some people away from non-violent direct action and towards other more radical ideologies.

After WWII, The United states sought to spread its sphere of influence by promoting democracy and containing communism. However, as MLK mentions, people in Asia and Africa will not respect the US if “she deprives men and women of the basic rights of life because of the color of their skin” (Radio Free Dixie, 103). Instances of American racial injustices were heavily reported throughout the world, and used by the Communist bloc for anti – American propaganda. An instance of this is seen through the “Kissing Case”, where two small black children were incarcerated for the crime of play – kissing white girls in a game. A report on the case by Joyce Eggintom, reporter for the London New – Chronicle, catapulted Monroe onto the international stage. The news spread across the world, and “In the...