Moderated Militants in the Age of Black Power: The Memphis NAACP, 1968-1975

This study examines the Memphis NAACP and Black community protest during the critical but often overlooked period after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from 1968-1975. During these years, the organization led three major campaigns: the Ghetto Development Project, Black Monday protest, and the school busing initiative. These events tackled issues prominent in the Black community such as poverty, employment, and education. During this time, the Memphis NAACP repositioned itself at the forefront of the Black freedom struggle by blending a more radical approach with its traditional emphasis on gradual legal rights. It blurred the lines between civil rights and Black Power. Through protest, marches, and boycotts, Black Memphians were able to achieve quick gains in a short time frame