JFK - Civil Rights - June 11, 1963 - Part 2/2

[OttoLund]

Thanks

abeldanger net

[MrEsVerdad]

When John was murdered to be followed by Malcolm X, Martin, and Bobby, the soul of America and the essence of idealism almost died.

[mikefan09]

great words of the greatest president since lincoln, and the last free one who was not a cia puppet.

[Jantv81]

Last great Democratic President.

[SuperCrazychick101]

I have to memorize this whole speech and say it to my class -_-

[siucgal]

What does Barack Obama, Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson have to do with this speech? This is a historical speech about conditions in the 1960s. Kennedy was giving a speech about the lack of equality in 1963. Yes, it was political, but it was also risky because of southern democrats who were going to bolt the party if it became about civil rights.

[jmecutie85]

@siucgal I'd argue this speak is not only about the conditions of the 1960s. The rights and equality that he speaks of has made progress but it is still an issue of our country. Our country continues to become weaker and weaker due to the lack of cohesiveness. We still have so much work to become whole and the break down the social and economical oppression in our country is still needed. Maybe the issue isn't solely about race now it includes gender, class and sexual orientation as well.

[edyoung44]

God Bless JFK

[Sisyphus27]

Where is the part in which he says "Those who act boldly are recognizing right as well as reality?"

[paraconti]

You need a young man to tackle tough issues decisively and with speed. Old presidents think too much and waver in their convictions.

[kingvladeus]

I think if JFK could support a black agenda and attempt to legislate civil right, then its a shame we have a black president who runs away when issues of race present themself. Im going to quote Dr. Michael Eric Dyson Phd in saying Obama must use his "bully pullpit" to bring about legislative change. Instead he dodges subjects of race when racial matters still exist. Sharpton is forever in the mans earlobe, so what is he really telling him?? Big ups to JFK!

[Sistarovat]

@toddsmitts I don't believe color makes anyone inferior toanyone else. It's about personal property rights. According to the civil rights bill, a person can no longer hire who he wants and serve who he wants. As far as integration goes, that was a state issue just like gay marriage.

[Sistarovat]

@toddsmitts I'm a twenty-year old Alabamian who is opposed to every pro-civil rights court ruling and every civil rights piece

[golfdude2007]

The Smartest and MOST Compassionate President ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mummificationify]

Obama is a socialist. He took over the automobile, mortgage, banking, and health care industries via legislation and regulation. Govt is expected to own 70% up from 19% in 2008.

. He stated that the tragedies of the civil rights movement was that the Supreme Court didn’t bring about redistributive change. watch?v=Sj4yIE9Dd90 He told Joe the Plumber in 2008, that he wanted to spread the wealth around. watch?v=PUvwKVvp3-o

.

Allen West 2012

[glong86]

@Mummificationify I don't view it as socialist because the govt is fully planning on getting out of those industries when the stock that they hold in those companies is cashed out. Also what would have advised, the govt do nothing and let those industries fail turning the recession into a depression?

[Mummificationify]

Al Sharpton believes that a vote for Obama was a vote for socialism. watch?v=KCpINI5aVy0  Al Sharpton wants to share the wealth. “Al Sharpton: We Won't Have True Social Justice Until Everything is Equal in Everybody's House” watch?v=95bcEb1rV18

.

Sharpton should start by giving up his $5 million (from celebrity net worth com) It’s also worth noting Hilter was a socialist that seemed to follow the Communist Manifesto.

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Allen West 2012

[Mummificationify]

Jesse Jackson Calls for 'Radical Reordering' of American Economy is a socialist, like Hilter. watch?v=E_vCLQnebX0

.

Jesse Jackson should start by giving up his $10 million (from celebrity net worth com) before asking others to give up there money. President Obama who also wants to spread the wealth has $5 million. watch?v=Sj4yIE9Dd90 & watch?v=PUvwKVvp3-o

.

Allen West 2012

[bubblinbrownsugar616]

This speech makes me understand why Obama wanted DADT to go through legislation instead of him automatically using his executive powers. Through federal legislation, it could help squash as much as possible the many repeals and overturnings, vetoing, and all that other stuff that was sure to happen especially in the Southern states. Same rules apply with DADT.

[FRSFreeState]

Jack Kennedy was late to the party on Civil Rights not because he was a racist but because he lacked Political Courage

[bertrice999]

@FRSFreeState he was kinda busy with you know, national issues/ international crisis etc

DOUCHE

[FRSFreeState]

@bertrice999

It had more to do with politics and getting reelected and pissing off the Far Right in the South that was still part of the Democratic Party douche bag.

[bertrice999]

@FRSFreeState like you know douche. jfk was all about pissing off the right

dumbfuck retard go back to fox noise

[FRSFreeState]

@bertrice999

LOL "like you know douche, JFK was all about pissing off the right " is that the best your lack of intelligence will let you come up with? "Dumbfuck retard go back to fox noise" you just described yourself.

[toddsmitts]

I've been reading just about any book I can find on the civil rights struggle in the 60's.  The interesting thing is, I find myself more interested in the government's effort to pass civil rights laws. More interestingly, I find myself wanting to know more about the southern politicians and law enforcement officers who resisted civil rights. Not because I agree with them, but just wanting to understand that the mindset of someone believing that people of different colors inferior.

[jojopuppyfish]

LBJ deserves all the credit for getting the 1964 Civil Rights bill passed.

Kennedy was swimming in circles on the issue.

[pallen1065]

I can't see the screen right now..Give me a moment for my eyes to dry.

[killerpass101]

i am irish but the only man in american history that addressed this problem was irish makes me happy 2 b irish because blacks african american have been treated like shit for two hundred years like the irish that have been treated like shit for 800 hundred years by the british and to this day .the only white slaves the irish

[tears4forfears]

Rest in Peace President John F. K. He spoke truth and firmly walked in it. Thank you.

[FrsBigeasy]

Jack Kennedy was late to the party when it came to Civil Rights which was a political weakness of his not because he was a Racist. He was afraid of the Souther Right Wing. But JFK did get to the party & showed political strength & without this speech the Civil Rights Act of 1964 doesn't become Law.

[spasski1000]

Actually JFK flip flopped over civil rights until '63 when he had no choice but to address the issue due to the street riots in Birmingham. It was Bobby who pushed and forced him to take the legislative action. And it was Johnson who did more after JFK's death to get the laws passed (despite Johnson being a southerner). Bobby and LBJ deserved the real credit.

[luluxinhapr]

who choose bobby and LBJ? Think a little.

They all deserve credit.

[rshorn238]

theres a big chunk of the speech cut out at 18 seconds....???

[paraconti]

A real president. After him, the whole government took on a sinister role; shady in organization, unabiding by constitution; mistrusted by citizens.

[MultiHo1]

the best president there was

[max86max]

Castro himself said that Kennedy had the potential to be the greatest president had he lived(even greater than Lincoln). Kennedy had the guts to take on issues that previous and succeeding presidents would never do.George W.'s biggest praise was that he had never changed.He could prove Darwin wrong.But John Kennedy did evolve. While he came to the civil rights cause later in life, he did come to it.He continued to learn and develop new positions in policy.I curse the SOB's that robbed us of him.

[WarThug13]

@max86max its been 50 years and we dont even know who 'really' killed him and why, and I guess we never will

[nauqim0]

our best president

[game3525]

Kennedy is the most intresting president of the post WWII era. He is walking contraction, on one hand he is womanizer. But on the other hand he is very fair and moral. Very intresting...

[bio2020]

@game3525 What's wrong with being a womanizer? Sure, he was married, and that was wrong. But loving women has nothing to do with your professional career or character. There's nothing wrong with being a red blooded male who loves women.

[marinduren69]

INDEED. RACE HAS NO PLACE IN AMERICAN CONSTITUTION!!!

JFK WAS SO EXCELLENT THAT -THEY- had to kill him

he was a brave and independent man

and he represents the epitome of how a presidency should be and how a President should act.

free and independent and American!!!!

[max86max]

It's amazing that many historians think of Kennedy as a middle of the road president. That few presidents would dare touch civil rights since Lincoln is sad. President Coolidge actually debuted the racist movie"BIRTH OF A NATION". Certainly Kennedy's presidency is the great unknown. But what is know is that he was killed not because of incompetence, but rather that he scared the shit out of the real power base. It's a shame that they killed one of the great progressive minds ever to hold office.

[nsutton42]

Jfk, was a great man and president. He was honest and to the point on how life should be and not what is is. Everyone is in a hurry and don't have time for nothing or nobody. It is go,go,go,go, and not slow down and stop and see what is going on in life, stop and smell the roses you will be surpised about what you see and learn about life.

[Amiduffer]

This was something useful to post.

[norcalto773]

how can there be 60804873759 comments on buddy picks a wedgie, yet not a single comment on such a brilliant delivery as this?

[hunnydip26]

because people just dont care

im a 16 year old black girl

i bet half the students in my school probably think jfk was a racist...because they dont know their history...i have so much respect for this man..he had a lovely heart and he was a brilliant man..R.I.P JFK...& thank you so much for giving a damn about me...my kids will know your name..and they will love you and respect you just like i do

[Nominay]

A new book just came out that is very moving. It's about the first, black Secret Service agent in the early 1960's. JFK befriended him before his assassination, and the agent later lashed out against the Secret Service for inadequate protection of him. "Echo in Dealey Plaza" by Abraham Bolden - go check it out.

[Nostalgiaantes]

@Nominay

thank you for the information!

[jandav1981]

Jfk was fake. It was his brother behind scenes Bobby and his wife to make a stand on civil rights for nonwhites or mainly AfricanAmericans. DO the research. He was overrated.

[rockchick4lifey]

i did my research. i have my opinion and you have yours. so thanks but no thanks

[TheOnlyHellGod]

True. But you must understand, John shared Bobby's stance on Civil Rights. They had different ways of doing so however, John moved slowly, carefully. He didn't want to rush something in and cause a huge spike in hate crimes. When the spike came anyway, he decided to act. Bobby was more impulsive, and much more fearless than John, yes, but shared the same stance nevertheless.

-Casey Cannon

[game3525]

exactly, Kennedy agreed with civil rights, just read his book a nation of immigrants, but he was also a realist and knew that a bill would destroy the rest of his program.

[grumpytosnowwhite]

Of course--JFK was a president, he didn't have the luxury of doing whatever he wanted. Bobby on the other hand, was a lawyer, with a slightly Rahm Emanuel-esque reputation to boot, and could push for any damn thing he wanted to and didn't need to worry about a hundred million other people. It must be a bit of a bitch to be president. :P

[game3525]

Very true, Bobby has been for Civil Rights since his days at UVA law school, Teddy too.

[game3525]

Wrong, Kennedy began to push Civil rights after the riots in the south of 63. You are right that Kennedy didn't see civil rights as a big issue when he came into office, but by 1963 he was a different president.

[strongnoob]

JFK voted against the 1957 civil rights act, and opposed the 1963 march on Washington apparently.

[TennesseeOwnsMyBones]

People can change their mind... that's what makes people people. And I for one am glad he did.

Incidentially, governor George Wallace changed HIS mind, as well...

It happens.

[snoops71]

Yeah, but he wrote the civil rights bill, and made this speech.