This nonviolent stuff'll get you killed : how guns made the civil rights movement possible

"Visiting Martin Luther King, Jr. at the peak of the civil rights movement, the journalist William Worthy almost sat on a loaded pistol. "Just for self-defense," King assured him. One of King's advisors remembered the reverend's home as "an arsenal." Like King, many nonviolent activists embraced their constitutional right to self-protection-yet this crucial dimension of the civil rights struggle has been long ignored. In This Nonviolent Stuff'll Get You Killed, civil rights scholar Charles E. Cobb, Jr. reveals how nonviolent activists and their allies kept the civil rights movement alive by bearing-and, when necessary, using-firearms. Whether patrolling their neighborhoods, garrisoning their homes, or firing back at attackers, these men and women were crucial to the movement's success, as were the weapons they carried. Drawing on his firsthand experiences in the Southern Freedom Movement and interviews with fellow participants, Cobb offers a controversial examination of the vital role guns have played in securing American liberties. "--Publisher information."Visiting the parsonage of Martin Luther King, Jr. during the peak of the civil rights movement, the journalist William Worthy began to ease himself into an armchair, only to stop short. Sitting on the cushion was a loaded pistol. "Just for self-defense," King assured Worthy. It was not the only weapon that King kept for such a purpose; Glenn Smiley, a southern minister who advised King on the techniques of nonviolence during the Montgomery bus boycott, remembered King's home as "an arsenal." Living under constant death threats, King enlisted armed supporters to guard his home and family, and even applied for a conceal-and-carry permit. His application was denied--but it, like the rest of the evidence about King's gun ownership, points to a side of the civil rights movement that has long been ignored by history. In This Nonviolent Stuff'll Get You Killed, award-winning civil rights scholar Charles E. Cobb, Jr. reveals the fundamental but long-overlooked role that armed self-defense played in the golden era of the civil rights movement"-- Read more... Abstract: "Visiting Martin Luther King, Jr. at the peak of the civil rights movement, the journalist William Worthy almost sat on a loaded pistol. "Just for self-defense," King assured him. One of King's advisors remembered the reverend's home as "an arsenal." Like King, many nonviolent activists embraced their constitutional right to self-protection-yet this crucial dimension of the civil rights struggle has been long ignored. In This Nonviolent Stuff'll Get You Killed, civil rights scholar Charles E. Cobb, Jr. reveals how nonviolent activists and their allies kept the civil rights movement alive by bearing-and, when necessary, using-firearms. Whether patrolling their neighborhoods, garrisoning their homes, or firing back at attackers, these men and women were crucial to the movement's success, as were the weapons they carried. Drawing on his firsthand experiences in the Southern Freedom Movement and interviews with fellow participants, Cobb offers a controversial examination of the vital role guns have played in securing American liberties. "--Publisher information. "Visiting the parsonage of Martin Luther King, Jr. during the peak of the civil rights movement, the journalist William Worthy began to ease himself into an armchair, only to stop short. Sitting on the cushion was a loaded pistol. "Just for self-defense," King assured Worthy. It was not the only weapon that King kept for such a purpose; Glenn Smiley, a southern minister who advised King on the techniques of nonviolence during the Montgomery bus boycott, remembered King's home as "an arsenal." Living under constant death threats, King enlisted armed supporters to guard his home and family, and even applied for a conceal-and-carry permit. His application was denied--but it, like the rest of the evidence about King's gun ownership, points to a side of the civil rights movement that has long been ignored by history. In This Nonviolent Stuff'll Get You Killed, award-winning civil rights scholar Charles E. Cobb, Jr. reveals the fundamental but long-overlooked role that armed self-defense played in the golden era of the civil rights movement" Visiting Martin Luther King, Jr. At The Peak Of The Civil Rights Movement, The Journalist William Worthy Almost Sat On A Loaded Pistol. Just For Self-defense, King Assured Him. One Of King's Advisors Remembered The Reverend's Home As An Arsenal. Like King, Many Nonviolent Activists Embraced Their Constitutional Right To Self-protection-yet This Crucial Dimension Of The Civil Rights Struggle Has Been Long Ignored. In This Nonviolent Stuff'll Get You Killed, Civil Rights Scholar Charles E. Cobb, Jr. Reveals How Nonviolent Activists And Their Allies Kept The Civil Rights Movement Alive By Bearing-and, When Necessary, Using-firearms. Whether Patrolling Their Neighborhoods, Garrisoning Their Homes, Or Firing Back At Attackers, These Men And Women Were Crucial To The Movement's Success, As Were The Weapons They Carried. Drawing On His Firsthand Experiences In The Southern Freedom Movement And Interviews With Fellow Participants, Cobb Offers A Controversial Examination Of The Vital Role Guns Have Played In Securing American Liberties. -- Visiting The Parsonage Of Martin Luther King, Jr. During The Peak Of The Civil Rights Movement, The Journalist William Worthy Began To Ease Himself Into An Armchair, Only To Stop Short. Sitting On The Cushion Was A Loaded Pistol. Just For Self-defense, King Assured Worthy. It Was Not The Only Weapon That King Kept For Such A Purpose; Glenn Smiley, A Southern Minister Who Advised King On The Techniques Of Nonviolence During The Montgomery Bus Boycott, Remembered King's Home As An Arsenal. Living Under Constant Death Threats, King Enlisted Armed Supporters To Guard His Home And Family, And Even Applied For A Conceal-and-carry Permit. His Application Was Denied--but It, Like The Rest Of The Evidence About King's Gun Ownership, Points To A Side Of The Civil Rights Movement That Has Long Been Ignored By History. In This Nonviolent Stuff'll Get You Killed, Award-winning Civil Rights Scholar Charles E. Cobb, Jr. Reveals The Fundamental But Long-overlooked Role That Armed Self-defense Played In The Golden Era Of The Civil Rights Movement-- I Come To Get My Gun -- Over My Head I See Freedom In The Air -- The Day Of Camouflage Is Past -- Fighting For What We Didn't Ahve -- I Wasn't Being Non-violent -- Which Cheek You Gonna Turn? -- Standing Our Ground -- The King Of Love Is Dead -- Understanding History. Charles E. Cobb. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Visiting Martin Luther King Jr. at the peak of the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott, journalist William Worthy almost sat on a loaded pistol. "Just for self defense," King assured him. It was not the only weapon King kept for such a purpose; one of his advisors remembered the reverend's Montgomery, Alabama home as "an arsenal." Like King, many ostensibly "nonviolent" civil rights activists embraced their constitutional right to selfprotection — yet this crucial dimension of the Afro-American freedom struggle has been long ignored by history. In This Nonviolent Stuff'll Get You Killed , civil rights scholar Charles E. Cobb Jr. describes the vital role that armed self-defense played in the survival and liberation of black communities in America during the Southern Freedom Movement of the 1960s. In the Deep South, blacks often safeguarded themselves and their loved ones from white supremacist violence by bearing — and, when necessary, using — firearms. In much the same way, Cobb shows, nonviolent civil rights workers received critical support from black gun owners in the regions where they worked. Whether patrolling their neighborhoods, garrisoning their homes, or firing back at attackers, these courageous men and women and the weapons they carried were crucial to the movement's success. Giving voice to the World War II veterans, rural activists, volunteer security guards, and self-defense groups who took up arms to defend their lives and liberties, This Nonviolent Stuff'll Get You Killed lays bare the paradoxical relationship between the nonviolent civil rights struggle and the Second Amendment. Drawing on his firsthand experiences in the civil rights movement and interviews with fellow participants, Cobb provides a controversial examination of the crucial place of firearms in the fight for American freedom. Table of Contents 12 Author's Note 14 Introduction 20 Prologue: "I Come to Get My Gun" 38 1. "Over My Head I See Freedom in the Air" 46 2. "The Day of Camouflage Is Past" 74 3. "Fighting for What We Didn't Have" 102 4. "I Wasn't Being Non-Violent" 133 5. Which Cheek You Gonna Turn? 176 6. Standing Our Ground 214 Epilogue: "The King of Love Is Dead" 254 Afterword: Understanding History 266 Acknowledgments 278 Notes 280 Index 310 [StormRG] 321