I interviewed my grandparents, Janet and Earl Patterson, for this exploration. The questions that I asked where, ‘Why do you think the Civil Rights Act had to happen, and Can you tell a bit about any experiences you have had with this?’ Mrs. Patterson had a lot to say about her beliefs of why the Civil Rights Act had to happen, which made me really think about how lucky I am to live in the time that I live in. They both had a heartbreaking story about something that was done wrong to someone they knew before the Civil Rights Act, or something that happened to them even after it was put in effect. Their statements are proof enough of reasons why in our schools, we should teach more about the Civil Rights Act to make sure something like that does not repeat itself.
The first question I asked was ‘Why do you think the Civil Rights Act had to Happen?’ Mrs. Patterson stated, “ What would make them think they are better than I am?” The question that she started off with is what many people think and still think of why did white people believe they were
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The proof for why is in the event when those four men drowned another man just because he gave someone a letter. Even in school they do not teach about before the Civil Rights Act, they teach about during instead of giving a reason for why we need the Civil Rights Act. Another proof that they should teach about after the Civil Rights Act is when people stood in front of school with guns like it was okay to shoot a child. The history books that we have in middle school just skipped the after event of the Civil Right Act and tries to make people believe that after all the hard work and protest everyone was best friends. When interviewing my grandparents, it gave me a real insight of how Norwood was during the Civil Rights act before and
This movement affected so many people’s lives. Lloyd Gaines is one example, as he was denied admissions to study law at the University of Missouri because he was black. This doesn’t make any sense to me, as he was a high school valedictorian so he was certainly smart enough to attend the school. The fact that they wouldn’t even give him a chance just because he was black sickens me. Another important figure in the Civil Rights Movement was Jackie Robinson who became the first black American to play major league baseball in 1947. We watched the movie 42 in class which showed all the hardships he went through during his career. Fans constantly booed and threw things at him when he went up to bat. I find this extremely disrespectful and rude. Coaches from other teams made fun of him and tried to make him mad. I admire Jackie Robinson for not fighting back, even though the coaches deserved it. Even his own teammates signed a petition to get him kicked off the team. This really made me mad because teammates are supposed to support and encourage one another, not tear each other down. We also talked in class about a little black girl named Linda Brown who had to walk through a railroad yard to get to a bus stop that took her 21 blocks to an all-black school. There was a school two blocks from her house, but she could not go there because it was a white school. This is
In 1865, the 13th amendment was ratified which officially abolished slavery that therefore marked the beginning of racial discrimination which further led into the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s. During the late 20th century, racial prejudice and segregation was highly common all across the United States, but the majority of racial prejudice and segregation was in the South due to the South previously relying on slaves for labor work. The Civil Rights Movement was led by many African American’s seeking equal treatment, but the most famous of all Civil Rights leaders was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who was an American pastor, activist, and a supporter for desegregation and civil
The reconstruction amendments established in the 19th century made many believe that African Americans would finally reach equality. However, the abolishment never changed society’s view on African Americans and instead, barriers such as oppression and segregation came out of it. Despite the ceaseless barriers faced by African Americans in the South, they were able to utilize methods in which gave the movement strength in the 1950s and ultimately, led to their gained civil rights.
The civil rights movement lays down the foundation of what most of us take for granted. In situations where racism, discrimination and sexual orientation was the justification of why one would be denied employment, a seat on the bus, or the right to vote, this movement was created to benefit all American people and has truly proven itself to be effective.
2. According to the chart, what inference can be made about barriers to voting for African Americans in the southern states?
Chapter 21 Question 2: What key issues and events led the federal government to intervene in the civil rights movement? What were the major pieces of legislation enacted, and how did they dismantle legalized segregation?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was known as an end to racial segregation. It was brought about by a number of things including the effects of major events mostly involving riots. State and federal legislation needed it to be passed along with many social movements that influenced its decision. It is no question that it heavily changed America for the better by turning us into a melting pot and making us see that everyone should be treated as equals. It is important to remember that this act was not only beneficial to the time in which it was enacted, but it has affected our future by sustaining society. Today we continue to fight to outlaw discrimination within our nation, and thanks to the passing of this act we are able to be strong and help support the removal of unequal protection for all citizens. The general public has always deserved to be treated with the same rights that every White American is given. This act needed to be passed in order to see the harm we were causing by segregating people. America has grown so much since the act was established, and with it by our sides everyone can be able to have the rights they all truly deserve. Without this act in effect, the impacts on our country would be dire. We needed this act in order to flourish as one nation and continue to build movements against any discrimination.
“Because of the Civil Rights movement, new doors of opportunity and education swung open for everybody … " (Barack Obama). The civil rights movement was a very important part of American history. This movement made Black people equal to white
"Because of the Civil Rights movement,new doors of opportunity and education swung open for everybody … Not just for blacks and whites, but also women and Latinos; and Asians and Native Americans; and gay Americans and Americans with a disability. They swung open for you, and they swung open for me. That’s why I’m standing here today—because of those efforts, because of that legacy."So many people died for everyone to be equal, Most people are treated equal. Only in some areas are people harassed or discriminated against. We are lucky enough that we've gained experience and that we've learned from our ignorance.The Three-supreme court case decisions influenced the civil rights movement by extending voting rights, making
The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution form what is known as the Bill of Rights. In essence it is a summary of the basic rights held by all U.S. citizens. However, Negro citizens during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950-70’s felt this document and its mandate that guaranteed the civil rights and civil liberties of all people; were interpreted differently for people of color. The freedoms outlined in the Constitution were not enforced the same by the government of the United States for the black race as it did for the white race.
This nation was built on the foundation that “All Men are Created Equal.” Under the eyes of God, no man is better than another. This has held our nation together and forced us to exist interdependently. We are fortunate to live in a nation that possesses such a wealth of diversity. It makes our nation unique and gives people the opportunity to learn about the beauty of culture. However, history has shown us that not all have embraced diversity. For this reason, civil rights movements have long been a part of our history. Citizens of this country recognize key figures in Civil Rights movements such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez who have promoted
The Civil Rights movement was a social, economic, political and legal battle to end discrimination and gain equality for African-Americans. Although this struggle had been going on for centuries it didn’t peak until the 1950-60’s. The Jim Crow laws are what ignited the movement. Jim Crow laws were, “the laws that arose in the South after the Civil War that allowed discrimination against African Americans to continue.” In turn those laws lead to the renowned case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas in 1954. The case states that public school segregation was unconstitutional and it contributed to desegregating schools. Within the next year, the tragic and brutal murder of Emmett Till took place. This murder took a significant toll
The wicked vice of racial discrimination towards African Americans has, over the course of almost six centuries, indelibly tainted social, economic and cultural relations between those of all racial profiles in the “Land of the Free”. Historically speaking, the African American experience is imbued in pain and suffering for centuries of malfeasance on the part of white American-dominated governments. Institutional racism combined with social and cultural discrimination towards African Americans has been tremendously destructive to the advancement and psychological morale of American blacks. The barbarism of slavery, racial segregation, culturally ingrained racism and violent lynchings have all at certain periods flourished in the modern day United States. The public pressure of the African American Civil Rights Movement of the mid 1960s culminated in the 1964 Civil Rights Act and brought about significant changes to American life, especially in the Southern states. The intended purpose of this Act was to once and for all provide all race groups with equal access to opportunities in employment and education. However President Lyndon B. Johnson would, at the start of his presidency upon the passing of the Act in 1965, build on the dream of African American rights crusaders such as Martin Luther King initiating the
The Civil Rights movement is one of the most important acts to change the way not only African Americans were able to live their lives but all races and colors. It would slowly break down the social, economic, political, and racial barriers that were created by the The Age of Discovery and Transatlantic Slave trade. I believe without the Civil Rights acts our country would result to be no better than what it was when the Emancipation Proclamation just took effect. In the 1950s and long before, Southern folk, who were white had created a system that would interpret them as a superior race over blacks. The system would defend whites rights and privileges from being taken away from them while establishing terrible inhumane suffering for African Americans. In the South blacks were controlled in all aspects economic, political, and personal, this was called a “tripartite system of domination” - (Aldon D. Morris) (6) Though it isn’t as prevalent racism and discrimination towards other races that aren’t white is still found in America and can be in schools, the workplace, even when you are in the general public but you no longer see discriminating signs saying “Whites” or “Blacks” or Colored” along the front of bathroom, restaurants, and shopping malls doors. Nor do you see people being declined the right to buy a home based on their color or access to school and an equal education being declined because one didn’t meet racial requirements. The acts of violence towards
It is impossible to understand the Civil Rights movement without properly separating fact from popular belief. Many of the images that are part of our collective memory as Americans are of Dr. Martin Luther King have delivered his 'I have a dream' speech, or of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus. The civil rights movement was an intense war and a fierce revolution filled with violence and many deaths in which Blacks rose up and fight for their freedom. Consequently, many history students tend to fall into the trap of seeing the civil rights movement from the top down, mainly focused on the leadership of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, instead of the bottom up, while disregarding the millions of people who labored in the