Civil Rights Movement In The 1960's

Opposeors to Martin Luther King's non-violent forms of protest felt that the Civil Rights Movement was dominated by white people too much and that black people should be more in control over the protests that affect them the most. Whites were heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement on all levels, from senior positions involving planning the strategy and policies of the movement, to white liberals joining the protests and demonstrations. Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam felt that white people were not to be trusted and therefore white people would only harm the struggle for improvement of life for black people. Malcolm X openly criticised the 1963 Civil Rights march on Washington, where Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I have a dream…" speech to over two hundred thousand people. Malcolm X said that the march had been taken over by white liberals: "as they [white liberals] took it over it lost its militancy. It ceased to be angry, it ceased to be hot, it ceased to be uncompromising…it became a picnic, a circus". (11) Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam felt that a more uncompromising solidly black force could achieve far more than the more liberal people of the Civil Rights Movement. This offered an

The marchers gathered at the Washington Monument before dawn as planned on August 28, 1963. At 11:30, 100,000 to 200,000 of them began marching towards the Lincoln Memorial singing “We Shall Overcome” (“The March on Washington” 12). At the memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered multiple speeches along with other African Americans about segregation and discrimination issues. During one of his speeches, King Jr. declared that “we will not hate you, but we cannot obey your unjust laws. Do to us what you will and we will still love you…But we will soon wear you down by our capacity to suffer. And in winning our freedom, we will so appeal to your heart and conscience, that we will win you in the process” (“Negro Protest Movement” 507). This statement by King Jr. describes his plans of further nonviolent protesting against “unjust laws” to convince others of the civil rights movement’s cause. He furthers this statement and elaborates his ideas in his infamous speech, “I Have a Dream.”

The Native Occupation of Alcatraz Island and its Effects on the Greater American Indian Movement.

The 1950s and 1960s was a period of growth and prosperity in America. Features of the common life included innovations such as television, dishwasher, and home air-conditioning. However, not all Americans equally benefited from the economic growth of this period of time. In addition to Jim Crow laws and unequal economic opportunities, America’s society became further segregated as many whites moved to the suburbs while blacks remained in run-down city neighborhoods. These many inequalities sparked the civil rights movement, where African Americans stood up and fought for their rights using nonviolent methods. The movement influenced the emergence of many prominent figures including Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s was successful in achieving equal rights for African Americans through nonviolent protests such as the Montgomery bus boycott, sit-ins, and marches.

In this research paper, we will be discussing the African American racial and prejudicial issues during the civil rights movements in the 1950’s and 60’s. Racial injustice goes way back since the Emancipation Proclamation which took place on January 1, 1863 issued by president Abraham Lincoln, was first created for states in the South who seceded from the union to abolish slavery during the Civil War. The Fourteenth Amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection of the laws due to issues related to slaves during the Civil War. Although slavery was not around almost a century later African Americans were still being treated unfairly in the 1950’s and 60’s. Major Icons such as Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Black Panthers, Malcolm

On August 28, 1963 more than 250,000 civil-rights supporters attended the March on Washington. Addressing the protesters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Profoundly, he proclaimed for a free nation of equality where all race would join together in the effort to achieve common ground. King stated his yearning for all colors to unite and be judged by character, not by race. African Americans would not be satisfied until their desire for freedom from persecution, bitterness, and hatred prevailed. Not only were the points in his speech powerful, but also the delivery he gave was so persuading and real

Civil rights activists used nonviolent protests and civil disobedience to bring about change by the federal government. On August 28, 1963, over 250,000 people, including thousands of whites, gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The emerging leader of the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his famous "I have a dream" speech. Continued protests, boycotts and marches gradually convinced the American populace to seriously consider major changes to the way blacks were treated in America. The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 3, 1968, and the ongoing race riots and protests shocked America and

The American South in the 1960 's and Ancient Thebes both had a rigid social and legal system that did not effectively and legitimately represent the majority of its citizens. In both eras, an antihero rose up to defy the establish system. Dr. King, in the 1960 's, protested unjust laws and was jailed and viewed as an antagonist. Similarly, in Ancient Thebes, Antigone is sentenced to death for doing what she believes is right, regardless of the law. If Dr. King failed, he stood to lose, in addition to his life, his reputation as someone who wanted true change for all African Americans. Furthermore, future generations of colored people would have to endure the same injustice that he was protesting against. Also, if his nonviolent ways failed there were people ready to take the civil rights movement in a violent direction. If Antigone 's defiance had failed, her brother will never find peace in the afterlife, and Thebes will never find unity and solace after its civil war. Additionally, she too could lose her life for her outward defiance. Therefore, both Dr. King 's nonviolent resistance, along with writing his letter from Birmingham Jail, and Antigone 's violation of Kreon 's edict are justified by what they stood to lose if they did not take their respective actions.

The civil rights movement impacted America from 1954 to 1970 in monumental ways. In 1954 they had the Brown vs. Board of education, that overruled the Plessy vs. Ferguson case making the separate but equal law illegal. All the schools had to be desegregated now.(http://www.civilrights.org/) But this didn’t eliminate all violence or make anything equal because the next year Emmit Till was kidnapped and murdered in Money, Mississippi.

1940s and 1970s are the years, which are contributed to the great transformation of American society by eliminating inequalities in basic human rights between white Americans and African Americans. These years are famous for the Civil Rights Movement. The main developments were aimed at eliminating inequalities between white Americans and African Americans and other racial minorities. People suffered a lot at that time, but most of them were sure that it was not all in vain. They combat for their rights using different approaches. Moreover, some of the African Americans became the leaders of the movements, which had one goal- to gain an equality in rights between black and white people. Everything started many years ago, when black

In the same year, black college students in Greensboro, North Carolina acted and participated in a peaceful protest by starting a “wave of sit-ins”. These black students sat in the reserved seats for whites that was segregated. This led to “economic pressure” that had a successful result of desegregating of lunch counters. In 1963, Dr. King used his moral vision to be successful of the greatest achievement for African Americans. Black equality and the end of segregation. King help with the organization of marches in Birmingham, AL, where fire hoses and police dogs were turned on marchers. This shook the nation when the events of violence were being televised. Since they were protesting without a permit, this led to Dr. King and many others to being arrested for demonstrating their right of freedom of speech. While Dr. King was in jail, he wrote a letter defending the civil rights demonstrations that were taking place. His letter was “standing up for what is in the best in the American Dream”. On June 11, 1963, President Kennedy addressed the nation, confronting the issues in southern states. Kennedy stated that “ whether all Americans are to be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities”. In August 1963 on the twenty-eighth day, the Civil Rights Movement took place in Washington, D.C.. 250,000 blacks, whites, old and young attended this march. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King gave one of the greatest speeches of the millennium. He gave his famous I Have A Dream speech. “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on the proposition that all men are created equal”. The Civil Rights Act, which was filled with peaceful protests, ended segregation in all public facilities. This great act showed that peaceful resistance can be possible when fighting for what you believe is right. Peaceful resistance was Dr. King’s way of making a difference in

During the 1960’s there were a various of sparks violence, fashion, and music. Once the sixties began the music industry and it’s fans noticed a changed which could have due to multiple social issues that rose such as the Civil Rights Movement, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vietnam War and others.

This war led to the creation of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments of the United States’ Constitution beginning in 1865 (Civil Rights Movement). These amendments “guaranteed” equal rights for African Americans. However, discrimination in the South limited the freedom of American Americans and left them disenfranchised. The United States was segregated well into the 1950s. Nearly half of African American families lived in poverty at that time (Foner, 969).

The 1960s are a famous decade in American History that represent societal change. Protesting was very popular among groups that wanted equality. Women’s Rights, Anti-Vietnam War, Gay Rights, and Civil Rights were popular movements in this decade that revolted against conformity and promoted social change(CITE BOOK). The Civil Rights Movement was one of the most important movements that took place because it changed the United States attitudes towards African Americans, and reformed United States legislation to for equality.

On August 28, 1963, more than 200,000 Americans (black and white) stood in Washington, D.C., for the March on Washington. The March on Washington was organized by many civil rights and religious groups. The crowd was part of a non-violent society, and they did not want to cause any harm to anyone. As the crowd marched, more people joined and raced to Washington to hear Martin Luther King Jr. say his speech. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech is known for its amazing way to turn a crowd. The March on Washington was a big step in American history because it started the abolition of slavery. Although Martin Luther King Jr. was only one person in a crowd, he made a big difference in the