African-Americans During The Civil Rights Movement

Imagine a world in which all men weren 't created equal. A world where skin color, ethnic origin, gender, and sexuality was what defined a person rather than character. “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood”(King). Through the decades of the 1940s-1960s, America built the foundation for civil rights, a movement in which minorities fought for equality. Groups that previously had been discriminated against began to defend themselves with greater strength and success. The civil rights movement inspired African Americans, Native Americans, women, queers, and Latinos to fight for equality. Although each social group faced their own unique challenges during the civil rights movement, each group shared a common connection through their struggles for equality.

being one of the first African-Americans to play on the United States Davis Cup team (“Life Story - Arthur Ashe, para. 3, 15). Arthur Ashe became an official professional tennis player in 1970, and his criticisms of South Africa’s racial policy lead to him being banned from the South Africa open tournament, leading to South Africa’s exclusion in the 1970 Davis Cup. (The

When black people in sports are mentioned, the first person that comes to many minds is Jackie Robinson. As discussed before, he lived in poverty and filled with discrimination. (Eig p. 8) Being the first black player in Major League Baseball was extremely difficult, but he persevered and became more than a black baseball player- he was just a baseball player, and one of the best of his time. After Robinson, many more black superstars followed suit. About four decades later, Bo Jackson first took the field. He was the greatest two-sport athlete of all time, being an All-Star in baseball and a Pro Bowler in football. If not for an unfortunate injury, he likely would have made the Hall of Fame for both. Even today, black players are among the best in the world, such as basketball star LeBron James. In short, sports have provided an opportunity for blacks to have great

The first African American pro sports player, the former Brooklyn Dodger, Jackie Robinson, is the definition of the American Dream. He is the perfect example on what our country can bring to anyone that works hard enough for it. Jackie Robinson achieved amazing accomplishments during his time. Raised from a plantation in Georgia, Jackie Robinson was athletically gifted and was a stand out in high school and at UCLA where he did track, basketball, football, and baseball. On top of that Jackie Robinson went on to be the first African American in American pro sports and led to eventually all sports being filled with other races.

Before I begin to talk about Arthur Ashe, I feel that it would be appropriate to talk about what was going on around the world at the time. One of the reasons why Arthur Ashe was famous was because he was African American and in that time period, americans found themselves question the ideals of the country. Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence "that all men are created equal", yet africans were segregated from everything; from schools to water fountains. Africans were treated like second class citizens even though many of them have brought fame and honor to the country. Many black athletes would go on to shock the world, including Jesse Owens who would win four gold medals in the 1936 in Nazi Germany Olympics, and Jackie Robinson who became the first major league african american baseball player. Among these famous players was Arthur Robert Ashe Jr.

The African American civil rights movement was a long journey for African American nationwide. The success involved many people, hardships and time in order to advance the African American community in America. The purpose of the movement was to achieve their rights, cease discrimination, and racial segregation.

This public rumor of what was happening in Ali's personal life, however. He was doing some religious searching and decided to join the black Muslim group the called the Nation of Islam in 1964. At first he called himself "Cassius X" before settling on the name Muhammad Ali. (The boxer eventually converted to orthodox Islam during the 1970s.)

I agree with you, Rosa Park's did not loose a battle, indeed, she started and won the biggest battle at the time for African Americans. This is what leaders do, they lead and guide you in the right direction even though, you may encounter small set backs or there's reprocussions as in Rosa Park's is going to jail and paying a fee, she still won the in Civil Rights.

African Americans have faced discrimination from the first step they took in the Americas. Throughout the years, they have struggled for their rights and freedoms. African Americans have reached many milestones from the resistance to slavery to an African American as the president of the United States.

Socially, politically, economically, African Americans were kept out of society. And they had to scratch and bite to get whatever advantages they could. African Americans were the main labor force; back then black children are forced to work rather than go to school. African Americans have for the most part lost whatever political situation they had had as a result of Reconstruction. And it was done very brutally and it was done very systematically. Another issue was in order to make sure that African Americans did not attempt to assert themselves in any way, whether it was voting, whether it was trying to buy land, the white South resorted to terrorism. And that terrorism which was a legacy that never stopped from the time of the Civil

In the 1960’s, approximately 27 percent of the population in the City of Jacksonville were black Americans. Jacksonville was known to be the largest concentration of blacks in the south. Despite the high population, Mayor Haydon Burns endorsed segregation in addition to denying requests for bi-racial council that would have handled racial issues in the city.

The 1960s and 1970s were a period in American history where there was a rise in the amount of civil rights movements for both African Americans and women. Because of how both groups had their rights and equality withheld from them for a long period of time, it was inevitable that a radical movement would emerge from these oppressed groups. With the Cold War occuring in the background, the pressure to support and suppress these movements was quite stifling, especially given the fact that many Americans were under the fear of Communists in their country. In contrast with the nonviolent protests of Martin Luther King Jr., the Black Power movement fought for self-determination and against discrimination for African Americans through both violent

Throughout history there have been many influential people who have lived in this country. Some were politicians, some were actors, and some were even athletes. One such man was a gifted boxer named Muhammad Ali. He made his mark as an amateur, then as a professional. "The Greatest" was the self-proclaimed nickname of Ali, but so many people agreed that it stuck. He went through trials and tribulations in his life, which make him a historic icon. Muhammad Ali is known for being "The Greatest" boxer of all time, but unlike other athletes he is remembered for his out of the ring actions as well as his athletic accomplishments.

Looking back on the history of black people in America, we have come a long way. We still have a long way to go, even though some progress has been made. Black people started as slaves, who were the victims of rape, murder, and many other brutal things. Then came the civil rights period where most black people were free persay, but still lacked basic human rights. Today, black people in America are living in a place that appears to be equal and racially unbiased. This however, is not true. Black people are still exposed to racism, and unfair treatment. However, many people believe that racism and racial injustice do not exist in America. I believe that the progress, that has been made thus far should be attributed to protesting instead of politics. Though politics has aided in the rise and development of black people, protesting has played a bigger role. Protests are what lead to political gain in black history during the civil war period, the civil rights movement, and in the present. Protesting is the best way to achieve racial justice in America, because protesting sets the foundation for political change to occur.

Ashe used tennis as a podium to express his views and his conviction. Ashe was not only influenced by the society that he grew up in the also the role that his father and others had set for Ashe. Ashe used his experiences in his life to create his own philosophy and approach to fighting inequality and injustice. Ashe was not just a tennis player, as much as he wanted to believe. Arthur Ashes words and actions help influence the protest in South Africa and around the world.