Economic Strength during The Civil Rights Movement

During the Civil Rights Movement, between the 1950’s and 1960’s, Blacks used economic tactics to fight for equality. Protests like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the boycott of downtown Birmingham used peaceful protests to hit business owners’ pockets as well as to alter long standing government practices. During the 1950’s, 75% of the people using buses were black. Consequently, the majority of the income to the bus system and to the city came from black citizens. The realization of the vast economic impact blacks had, led to protests that hit the economy hard and left the desire for equality greater than ever before. In downtown Birmingham, blacks spent 4,000,000 dollars each week. The boycott of downtown Birmingham led by students from Miles College, Daniel Payne College, and Booker T. Washington Business College had a major impact on the economy of Birmingham. This protest was not meant to effect the government and lawmakers, but to effect business owners and those who elected officials who made change. By targeting these local owners, they were able to hit the people where it hurt and force them to compel their officials to make change. Economic tactics like these were vital to the Civil Rights Movement as a way of impacting those who could make the change and forcing them to assist in the fight for equality. As a result of non-violent actions like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the boycott of downtown Birmingham, new civil rights legislation was enacted, and black Americans were given the equality they deserved.