Sharron Wilkins Conrad, PhD.

Dr. Sharron Wilkins Conrad is an expert on the presidential legacy of JFK.

She is a historian who uses a mixed methodology of textual evidence, material culture, and oral history to evaluate African American perspectives on the presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. She asserts that the pervasive and poignant feelings of grief within the African American community after Kennedy’s assassination originated from the belief by many that Kennedy was killed because of his burgeoning stance on Civil Rights.

“Although JFK initially did not pursue Civil Rights legislation as aggressively as the black community desired, there is evidence that Kennedy grew in his understanding of the black plight during his presidency, and this progression led to increasingly bold steps for progress.”

In October 1960, towards the end of his campaign for the presidency, Senator John F. Kennedy famously intervened on behalf of Dr. Martin Luther King by convincing the governor of Georgia, Ernest Vandiver, to release King from a sentence of 6 months of hard labor that came after King was arrested for trespassing during a protest, which ostensibly placed him in violation of an earlier probation. Kennedy’s involvement — which included calling Mrs. Coretta King to offer his support —swayed the black vote for Kennedy’s presidential campaign and caused African Americans to begin seeing their hopes in parallel with Kennedy’s political ascent.

Dr. Conrad explains, “The phone call to Mrs. King and the steps taken to get Dr. King released were extraordinarily significant because they showed not only an awareness but also a sensitivity towards the injustice of the moment. Black people appreciated the gestures, but they also wanted the momentum of that moment to lead to systemic change.”

Although Kennedy did not publicly advocate for Civil Rights legislation until 1963, he did take previous steps that illustrated his growing conviction and confidence in the necessity of change. Conrad points to Kennedy’s use of federal troops and the National Guard in 1962 to protect James Meredith, a black veteran, as he integrated the University of Mississippi. Additionally, she mentions the Kennedy administration’s willingness —via Attorney General Robert Kennedy—to send U.S. Marshals to protect Freedom Riders in 1961.

Dr. Conrad states, “Yes. It took a while for President Kennedy to push for legislation, but African Americans held him accountable, and the President responded. So often people think African American support of JFK was about simple emotion. It was more complicated and sophisticated than that. They saw someone who was growing and teachable and who showed tremendous promise. That promise was so much of what blacks grieved when the president was assassinated.”

“That promise was a part of Camelot.”