Although they may not be the most famous civil rights figures, three men made a huge difference during the Civil Rights Movement. Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, and James Chaney risked, and lost, their lives for a cause worth dying for. They changed many Americans for the better by bringing national attention to the dire situations many African Americans lived through. These three men introduced a whole new audience to the Civil Rights Movement, and received great recognition for their courage and bravery.
Young, Progressive Minds
Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman were both white men born into comfortable New York families. In contrast, James Chaney was an African American growing up poor in the epitome of civil rights issues; Mississippi. While how the men grew up couldn't be more different, one common belief held true. They were all raised with the stressed importance of education, social justice, and equality. Unlike many children, Goodman was allowed to play with all races as a youth, and had a father who hired one of the first black lawyers to a New York City law firm. Schwerner, as a lover of baseball, went to watch the Yankees and the Negro baseball league teams play as a kid. They both grew up in progressive and accepting households. Chaney, unlike Schwerner and Goodman, had to experience men and women who didn't believe in social equality, but kept the final goal of equal rights clear in his mind. While Goodman, Chaney, and Schwerner lived close-to-opposite lifestyles, they were all eventually attracted to the same idea: equal rights for everyone.
Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman were both white men born into comfortable New York families. In contrast, James Chaney was an African American growing up poor in the epitome of civil rights issues; Mississippi. While how the men grew up couldn't be more different, one common belief held true. They were all raised with the stressed importance of education, social justice, and equality. Unlike many children, Goodman was allowed to play with all races as a youth, and had a father who hired one of the first black lawyers to a New York City law firm. Schwerner, as a lover of baseball, went to watch the Yankees and the Negro baseball league teams play as a kid. They both grew up in progressive and accepting households. Chaney, unlike Schwerner and Goodman, had to experience men and women who didn't believe in social equality, but kept the final goal of equal rights clear in his mind. While Goodman, Chaney, and Schwerner lived close-to-opposite lifestyles, they were all eventually attracted to the same idea: equal rights for everyone.
Eyes on the Prize
Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner were all well-known civil rights activists. They attended important civil rights events, including Goodman participating in the famed March on Washington. Like many young men at their time, they wanted to make a change, so they signed up to work for C.O.R.E, or the Congress of Racial Equality. All of them had different involvements before working together during Freedom Summer (the summer of 1964). Chaney initially became involved by helping Schwerner and his wife settle when they first came down to Mississippi. Schwerner got involved in C.O.R.E. in 1963, and Goodman signed up to work after organizations recruited white, northern college students to help. They worked tirelessly in preparation for the Mississippi Summer Project, attending training camps in Oxford, Ohio. Their plan was to register black citizens as voters, a risky and challenging job. Goodman, Schwerner and Chaney all lived and died fighting for the cause that was most important to them: civil rights.
Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner were all well-known civil rights activists. They attended important civil rights events, including Goodman participating in the famed March on Washington. Like many young men at their time, they wanted to make a change, so they signed up to work for C.O.R.E, or the Congress of Racial Equality. All of them had different involvements before working together during Freedom Summer (the summer of 1964). Chaney initially became involved by helping Schwerner and his wife settle when they first came down to Mississippi. Schwerner got involved in C.O.R.E. in 1963, and Goodman signed up to work after organizations recruited white, northern college students to help. They worked tirelessly in preparation for the Mississippi Summer Project, attending training camps in Oxford, Ohio. Their plan was to register black citizens as voters, a risky and challenging job. Goodman, Schwerner and Chaney all lived and died fighting for the cause that was most important to them: civil rights.
Meant to Protect
On only the second day in Mississippi together, June 21, 1964, the three men ran into trouble. They were lured away from their base in Meridian to Neshoba County due to the bombing of Mount Zion Church, which was done by the Ku Klux Klan. After investigating and speaking to church members, they embarked on the 40 mile trip back home. James Chaney, while obeying the speed limit, was pulled over on traffic charges by Neshoba County law enforcer, Deputy Price. All three men were jailed until 10:00 pm, and they were eventually released later without being allowed a phone call. Deputy Price tailed their station wagon onto the highway where he was joined by cars of Klansmen. To the men’s horrors, Price pulled them over again and forced two into his car and another to follow in the station wagon. The end came near as they were led to an unbeaten track and forced out of the vehicles. Schwerner had been watched for months by the KKK, and they had planned to “eliminate” him at any chance they got. Their lives ended with Schwerner and Goodman shot in the chest once, and African American James Chaney shot three times.
On only the second day in Mississippi together, June 21, 1964, the three men ran into trouble. They were lured away from their base in Meridian to Neshoba County due to the bombing of Mount Zion Church, which was done by the Ku Klux Klan. After investigating and speaking to church members, they embarked on the 40 mile trip back home. James Chaney, while obeying the speed limit, was pulled over on traffic charges by Neshoba County law enforcer, Deputy Price. All three men were jailed until 10:00 pm, and they were eventually released later without being allowed a phone call. Deputy Price tailed their station wagon onto the highway where he was joined by cars of Klansmen. To the men’s horrors, Price pulled them over again and forced two into his car and another to follow in the station wagon. The end came near as they were led to an unbeaten track and forced out of the vehicles. Schwerner had been watched for months by the KKK, and they had planned to “eliminate” him at any chance they got. Their lives ended with Schwerner and Goodman shot in the chest once, and African American James Chaney shot three times.
Hide and Go Seek
Answers came to grieving friends and family members when all three men were found dead 44 days after announced missing. Many similar disappearances had happened in Mississippi with little notice, but as civil rights workers and two men being white, it gained national attention. Enough that President Johnson launched an FBI search supported by 400 Navy sailors. A huge set back to the search was local newspaper coverage, which encouraged the belief that the disappearance was a hoax, an effort to make Mississippi look bad. Discoveries uncovered more than the newspapers or searchers bargained for, as two black men were found drowned, chained, their names unheard of before. On August 4, 1964, the bodies were found in a ditch, buried under 15 feet of dirt. James Chaney’s body suffered through much more than the others before death. The Klan’s racism and cruelty remained severe even throughout the murder, as Chaney’s skull, jaw, and shoulders were shattered, along with suffering two more gun shots than the white men. The news came with little shock, as even C.O.R.E. field director Davis Dennis knew if the Klu Klux Klan found the men, they had no chance of survival.
Innocent until proven Guilty
Although the bodies had been found, the case was far from over. Four months after the bodies were discovered, 21 men were arrested, although only seven of them were charged and sent to prison for anywhere between three and ten years. The case was the first time Klansmen were ever convicted of a crime, even though the charges were just for violating the men’s civil rights. The murder of the two white men and one black man continued to be heavily covered by the media. News of the conspiracy between the Neshoba County sheriffs and the Ku Klux Klan law enforcement group filled newspapers everywhere, but it took decades for closure of the case to finally occur. In 2005, Edger Ray Killen, an 80 year old man, was convicted by the Neshoba County jury and found guilty of manslaughter. The fact that the charge was manslaughter instead of murder disappointed many, but the jury did not have sufficient evidence after so many years to convict Killen of that charge. The jury said he helped organize and plan the conspiracy between the sheriffs and the KKK. Although the trial was resolved and reinforcements were made, the case still extracts many questions about racial equality and social justice.
Present-day implications
In 2014, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, and James Chaney posthumously received one of the highest awards a citizen can obtain. They were among the prestigious group who were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The award is presented to individuals who have made especially praiseworthy contributions toward the interest of the United States. “To dismiss the magnitude of this progress — to suggest, as some sometimes do, that little has changed — that dishonors the courage and the sacrifice of those who paid the price to march in those years,” President Barack Obama said. While we do have a long way to go, if people continue to risk their safety for others rights, we are always getting closer to the final goal; the unconscious belief that all races and people are equal.
In 2014, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, and James Chaney posthumously received one of the highest awards a citizen can obtain. They were among the prestigious group who were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The award is presented to individuals who have made especially praiseworthy contributions toward the interest of the United States. “To dismiss the magnitude of this progress — to suggest, as some sometimes do, that little has changed — that dishonors the courage and the sacrifice of those who paid the price to march in those years,” President Barack Obama said. While we do have a long way to go, if people continue to risk their safety for others rights, we are always getting closer to the final goal; the unconscious belief that all races and people are equal.