Divide Between SNCC And Other Civil Rights Groups In The 1963 March On Washington

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The film demonstrated the growing divide between SNCC and other civil rights groups both in the south and during the 1963 March on Washington. First of all, when SNCC invited SCLC figurehead Martin Luther King Jr. they were under the impression that Dr. King would give a speech and then leave on the same day. Ultimately, SNCC wanted to reap the publicity benefits of MLK’s national prominence without being controlled by the SCLC. However, Dr. Anderson (President of the Albany Movement) publically invited Dr. King to stay and aid with the protests. SNCC leaders like Charles Sherrod began resent Dr. King’s involvement in the movement because his presence was very inconsistent, which made mass organization difficult. When Dr. King was present, thousands of people would participate in demonstrations. …show more content…

Eventually, when Dr. King decided to leave Albany for good, many believed that the SNCC would not be able to sustain the movement. However, Charles Sherrod claimed that the movement would continue to exist in the absence of SCLC influence, just like it had existed prior to King’s involvement. In many ways, the rift that developed between the SNCC and other civil rights organizations like the NAACP and the SCLC during the Albany campaign can be attributed to a difference of opinion on how the civil rights movement should be conducted. While the SCLC (and King in particular) was famous for traveling from place to place for short periods of time in an attempt to drum up publicity, SNCC was convinced that change would only come at the grass roots level by maintaining a consistent presence in a community for a long period of time. Thus, SNCC leaders were rather pleased when Dr. King eventually decided to leave Albany because they could not take back control of their