The Papers of Clarence Mitchell Jr., Volume V: The Struggle to Pass the 1957 Civil Rights Act, 1955-1958

Volume V of The Papers of Clarence Mitchell Jr. documents the successful effort to pass the 1957 Civil Rights Act, the first federal civil rights legislation since 1875. The NAACP had faced opposition from southerners in Congress based on the 1896 "separate but equal" decision in Plessy v. Ferguson. The Brown decision demolished this argument, and Mitchell launched the decisive stage of the struggle to pass modern civil rights laws. The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 was a turning point in the struggle to accord Black citizens full equality under the Constitution, but it was nearly derailed by southern opposition and Senator Strom Thurmonds filibuster.

Format: Hardback
Length: 610 pages
Publication date: 06 May 2022
Publisher: Ohio University Press

Volume V of The Papers of Clarence Mitchell Jr. chronicles the historic achievement of passing the 1957 Civil Rights Act, marking the first federal civil rights legislation since 1875. Prior to the landmark 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education by the US Supreme Court, the NAACP faced formidable opposition from Southern Congress members who defended their Jim Crow system as constitutional based on the 1896 "separate but equal" ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson. They argued that further civil rights laws were unnecessary. However, the Brown decision shattered the Southern argument by declaring legally mandated segregation of public schools unconstitutional.

With this pivotal moment as a backdrop, Clarence Mitchell Jr. initiated the final phase of the struggle to enact modern civil rights laws. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 stands as the first comprehensive lobbying campaign by an organization solely dedicated to this cause since Reconstruction. Following the Brown decision, this legislation marked a significant turning point in the fight for Black citizens to achieve full equality under the Constitution.

Nevertheless, the act's passage was nearly thwarted by Southern opposition and Senator Strom Thurmond's record-setting filibuster, which lasted over twenty-four hours. Congress later weakened several provisions of the act, but its significance lies in breaking a psychological barrier to the legislative enactment of such measures.

The Papers of Clarence Mitchell Jr. serve as a comprehensive repository of the NAACP's efforts to forge alliances between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches to safeguard civil rights throughout the twentieth century. This volume provides a detailed account of the strategies and tactics employed by the organization to achieve its goals, highlighting the pivotal role played by Clarence Mitchell Jr. and other NAACP leaders in shaping American history.

Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780821424599