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1960's Respect

Decent Essays

Respect is a word that is commonly associated with words like dignity, recognition, and consideration. The 1960’s was a generation seeking these qualities throughout both exceptional and dreadful events, that occurred in this time period that was becoming a culture of respect. Whether society was trying to earn respect for their rights that they honestly deserve it was a time of standing up and fighting for what you regard as important. Similarly to the youth of the 1920’s, adolescents of the 60’s fought against the conservative cultures of the older generation. They provoked change by starting movements such as the Kent State protests, to reach out to Americans so that their opinions would be more understood. While it was an era of peace, …show more content…

The rights of African Americans have been violated and abused ever since slavery was abolished in 1863. This operation for equal rights was a battle, fought by two black activist groups. One group was nonviolent and wanted peace, the other was the opposite, very willing to become violent to succeed in the battle for equality. The group that demanded change by threatening violent activity was lead by Malcolm X. He believed that if they weren't given the equality that they demanded, that they should just take it. “Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you're a man, you take it”, he believed that violence and force was the most effective way of getting what they wanted. As history has shown us though the nonviolent protests, lead by Martin Luther King was more effective and made an impact on the outcome of the civil rights movement. He was inspired by some of the greatest nonviolent advocates of history, for instance Mahatma Gandhi. King wanted to help African Americans reach equality, by helping the less fortunate and the victims of injustice. He did this by peaceful protests, like the march on Washington, one of the largest political rallies ever seen. King marched for jobs and freedoms of African Americans, on August 28, 1963. At Washington King delivered his famous “ I have a dream speech”, where he talks about racial justice and an integrated

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