Celebrities and the Civil Rights Movement: Birmingham 1963

In the 1950s and 60s, a handful of celebrities championed the civil rights movement. This core group of artists—who I refer to as “the Leading Six”—included Sammy Davis, Jr., Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Dick Gregory, Ossie Davis, and Ruby Dee. These individuals brought money and publicity to the movement, helped plan strategy and raise morale, and then brought the cause to Hollywood by pushing for the integration of the industry and becoming more involved in writing, producing, and directing. Other peripheral players, including Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Charlton Heston, Theodore Bikel, and Bill Cosby, amongst others, lent their time and talents to the civil rights cause. Collectively, these celebrities are the “Stars for Freedom.” This conference presentation will focus on the role of celebrities in the Birmingham Campaign in Spring 1963. Celebrities, particularly Belafonte and Davis, helped raise the money to fund the campaign; led marches and went to jail in Birmingham, as did Gregory and Bikel; worked behind the scenes, as did Belafonte, to raise money for bail bonds; and threw rallies to motivate participants and supporters during and immediately after the campaign. The disruptions and outcome of the Birmingham campaign led President Kennedy to propose the 1963 civil rights bill. While some celebrities have been acknowledged for their participation in the civil rights movement, the extent and the consequences of their efforts have not been fully explored, however.