The Cause Of Urban Unrest In The 1960's

During the 1960’s, the cause of urban unrest was due to tensions resulting from riots and racial discrimination. In response to these radical gatherings, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the Kernel Commission to investigate the roots of this civil disorder. After a thorough investigation, the Kernel Commission came to the conclusion that America “was moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.” African Americans were suffering from poverty, unemployment, lack of education, and poor housing that the federal legislation has not answered. Despite the establishment of the SNCC that followed King’s civil disobedience and nonviolent principles, other factions have formed that decided to take action on the environment they’re forced to live on. As a result, cities ranging from Los Angeles to Atlanta sparked riots that resulted in the deaths of many. In one of Carmichael’s speeches, he asks his audience not to clap because, “We’ve been letting off steam (clapping) when we should have slapped …show more content…
Johnson gave the gist of the situation of what African Americans faced and how they were instigated to rise up by Carmichael to take action. Within Atlanta’s Dixie Hills, some cheap, compacted apartments were built within the last decade. Around six hundred of these apartments sprung upon Dixie Hills, resulting in the tensions and discrimination African Americans experienced. Four nights of unrest ensued, giving influence and power to Stokely Carmichael’s enthusiasm towards riots combating racial discrimination. Because the apartments contained an infestation of rats and roaches, fickle plumbing, and broken environments, the bloodshed that resulted from the riot that week was inevitable. Johnson attempted to alleviate the society’s grievances by talking to the authority to make certain demands, but it seems riots appealed to the people