The Vietnam War And The Diversion Of The Civil Rights Movement(1964-1970)

The Civil Rights Movement is a large-scale and long-term mass movement launched by black Americans to fight for equality and liberty.It promoted the discussion of civil rights in public opinion and finally pushed the federal government to reform racial equality.It is a milestone with important progressive significance in the history of the United States.However,the participants did not always unite and move towards the same goal in a common path.Even since 1964,when the United States fully intervened in Vietnam,disputes and contradictions gradually overpowered the common determination to resist privilege,and finally contributed to the division and dissolution of the civil rights movement in the late 1960 s.Part of the participants turns to be more revolutionary black power initiators.In general,the administration’s commitment to the Vietnam War,the dichotomy of the black community toward the war and the Johnson administration and the movement participant’s inconsistent stance of on the war were the most important factors that discouraged the civil rights movement.These unfavorable factors greatly challenge the African American community’s image as a loyal opponent during the years of racial struggle.Until President LBJ comprehensively escalated the Vietnam War,the civil rights movement showed a balance in the relationship between protest and loyalty.Which means,the participants of the civil rights movement regarded themselves as part of the American citizens,took non-violent principle with a positive attitude of racial integration,and hoped that black people could integrate into the white mainstream society with an equal and liberal face.However,when Johnson was busy dealing with external problems and neglected domestic reform,when black soldiers suffered discrimination and injustice in the war,and when the war exposed the side of hegemonistic politics,the balance was broken.Some civil rights activists began to reflect on the meaning of the war and the situation of civil rights struggle.Finally,they broke through the stance of supporting the motherland and openly expressed anti-war remarks against the authorities.However,there are voices within the civil rights movement who insist on moving in step with the authorities,stressing that the movement should focus on domestic struggles rather than meddling in external affairs.The dispute between moderates and radicals over the Vietnam War ultimately split the civil rights movement.Some civil rights activists were further radicalized and eventually turned to black power.independence and self-determination ideas guided them to make their voices heard on issues of race and war.In addition,the idea of world revolution also strengthened their belief in the Vietnam War.The black power predicants connected the struggle of the African race against the white regime with the struggle of the Vietnamese people against the American imperialism.Based on this,various anti-war activities were launched.At this point,the black race movement formally entered the road of anti-establishment.The black race movement went further and further down the anti-establishment path.