Black Radicalization and the Funding of Civil Rights: 1957-1970

A neglected topic in social movement theory is the effect of factionalism within movements, particularly the role of “radical” activists in shaping responses to “moderates.” This paper investigates the effect of black radicalization during the 1960s on the ability of moderate civil rights organizations to attract financial contributions from outside supporters. Trends in donations to seven major black organizations are analyzed. It is concluded that the activities of relatively radical black organizations, along with the urban riots, stimulated increased financial support by white groups of more moderate black organizations, especially during the late 1960s. This finding partially contradicts the widely-held belief that black militants only brought on a white “backlash.” On the contrary, the task of fundraising by moderate civil rights organizations was apparently made easier, not more difficult, by the racial turmoil of the 1960s.