Violence and Civil Rights

From what I have read recently, white people left something out of our history of how black people won civil rights in the 1960s. 

MLK and John Lewis and the people with them were braver than I can understand; they were peaceful and effective to a point. But in the South protest marches were sometimes made by people of color carrying concealed weapons, ready to defend their community. No one beat them or stopped them. The KKK stood aside.

How do a suppressed people get the attention of rich community bosses? Bosses like the status quo. That works fine for them, until unknown citizens set fire to their warehouses at night and boycott their stores (cancel culture) in daylight. Then it's finally time for a change. 

If people are treated badly enough, they will respond with destruction and boycott, something to remember the next time it happens.