KUKU

KU ScholarWorks

  • myKU
  • Email
  • Enroll & Pay
  • KU Directory
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    "The forgotten years" of America’s Civil Rights Movement : the University of Kansas, 1939-1961

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    mccusker_1994_1554735.pdf (7.032Mb)
    Issue Date
    1994-05-31
    Author
    McCusker, Kristine M.
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Type
    Thesis
    Degree Level
    M.A.
    Discipline
    History
    Rights
    This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    On April 15, 1948, an interracial group of University of Kansas students "sat-in" at Brick's Cafe, a student cafe near campus. The sit-in was the end of a civil rights reform movement in Lawrence. At times a liberal movement, at others, a radical one, students and faculty used World War II's democratic rhetoric coupled with Lawrence's long tradition of protest on behalf of blacks to integrate parts of campus and to attack segregation in town.

    The movement had two parts. The first movement was during the war itself. As University Daily Kansan journalists and other KU students saw their peers march off to war, they began to question the existence of segregation on campus. American citizens of all colors, they said in editorials and various petitions, deserved all of the rights accorded to them by the United States Constitution.

    After the war, a second movement appeared. Radical students, many of whom were veterans, and faculty counterparts pushed their peers to examine racial attitudes on campus and in town while they directly attacked racial barriers, using direct, non-violent and peaceful actions like Mahatma Ghandi's. The movement quickly died after 1948, not only because a conservative turn in national politics, but also because the vital student leadership needed graduated. As well, students had limited views of radical protests and never followed their protests through.

    This thesis is based on extensive archival research not only at various campus and regional archives, but also in the University Daily Kansan which either participated in or reported extensively the activities of civil rights reformers. Also crucial to my research were the approximately thirty interviews that I conducted with faculty, students and administrators.
    Description
    M.A. University of Kansas, History 1994
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/32557
    Collections
    • Theses [3827]

    Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


    We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.


    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    Browse

    All of KU ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsThis Collection

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    The University of Kansas
      Contact KU ScholarWorks
    Lawrence, KS | Maps
     
    • Academics
    • Admission
    • Alumni
    • Athletics
    • Campuses
    • Giving
    • Jobs

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

     Contact KU
    Lawrence, KS | Maps