Compare And Contrast The Motown And The Civil Rights Movement

Motown took the world over by surprise. The vivid and new sounds from Motown artists made screaming dedicated fans all over the world. With the addicted fans, Motown artists raised the bad and opened the eyes of those who thought African Americans would never amount to anything. Although there still happened to be racism, and prejudice, African Americans managed to become recognized and well known for their abilities. Not only were the Motown artists extraordinary talented, but they also were unbelievably strong and persistent for going against all those people out there who discriminated on them. They took the criticisms continued and went on with what they loved to do. One of the most famous groups during the

Berry Gordy Jr. started Motown Records in January of 1959 with only an $800 loan from his family and a passion for music. Within a few years of opening Motown Records, what started as a small Detroit record studio, they were selling more singles and releasing more hits than any other recording company. Motown became a cultural icon changing the way music was. Berry Gordy Jr. was known as the most successful African-American owned and operated record company which gave African-American artists a chance to record and sell their music. The embrace of Motown’s artists and recordings by the entire listening audience helped control racial barriers that had plagued the country since its establishment. In its classic era, the eventful music scene of the 1960s, Motown’s artists were among the most popular, establishing a standard of excellence and sophistication that has never been exceeded.

Motown was established by Berry Gordy Jr. in the later winter of 1959. Then about 3 to 4 years later Motown Records,”was selling more singles and releasing more hits than any other record company.” (Classic Motown) Motown then soon became known as a central icon for many artists and just ordinary people. Motown had such a different and new sound that the people loved it and they wanted more. The love for this music has not gone away. People still listen and talk about the Motown sound and how it changed the way we looked at music. Motown created such fascinating sounds that would make you want to get up and dance. They would put soul, pop, and rock into everything they did. The best thing about Motown was that the artists and the bands and the recording people loved what they did they loved to sing dance play the instruments. This is what made them so successful that they did not have to try hard to love what they did.

Motow was a very influential record company, it was probably the best one of it the many years it was around. Many of the well known artist started off a great and effective career with Motown. Many of the artist produced major singles that are still widely known today. But Motown artists had major struggles trying to put their name out and get it well known. Racism had to be the biggest part in their struggles, but they pulled through it and became #1 hit record company!

Berry Gordy the founder of Motown, played a huge part in changing the world to what it is today. This young entrepreneur had vision and he made that dream a reality. He made African Americans singers and artists popular amongst everybody and it paved the road for many more in the future. Gordy knew to sell his records would be difficult if they were African American artists, but he knew just how to change that. His company has left its mark on the world and it will forever be changed because of it.

The Civil Rights movement occurred from 1954 to 1965, in a time of great change. The Civil Rights movement had a lot of dissention, with different groups and people using different approaches to achieve the common goal of gaining rights for African Americans that were being denied to them. Outside of the Civil Rights movement there were those who actively opposed the movement and tried their best to see its goals not come to fruition. Some of those who opposed the movement’s goals were George C. Wallace, those part of the Southern Declaration of Integration, and everyday people and police officers. Some of the black leaders who were part of the Civil Rights movement were Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmichael.

Berry Gordy was able to turn his struggles into success, change the music world, and change the way society looked at each other. Music is used in today’s world as a way to escape reality. Although music has been used as many different things throughout history, Motown was able to change the way that society viewed the world.

    The Civil Rights Movement was a zealous and essential period in American History. The civil rights movement began in 1954 and was led by African Americans to outlaw racial discrimination against Blacks. One century after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, African Americans still observing segregation and various forms of oppression and “Jim Crow” laws. The nonviolent and civil disobedience protests were used by the civil rights activists to bring about change. Some significant leaders within the Black community were Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,  Malcolm X, and W.E.B. Du Bois.

The people of this generation may not be aware of the things that assisted in shaping today’s society that we live in. There were movements, organizations and personal leaders whom paved the way of African Americans to live a life of equality in today’s world. Many people are confused or mislead on how, when and where the curing of segregation and unlawful treatment toward blacks started and ended. One of the largest epidemics in history that impacted the lives of blacks was the 1950 and 60’s Civil Rights Movement. Historically, many would say and have others to believe that Rosa Parks an African American woman from Montgomery, Alabama started the Civil Rights Movement When she was prosecuted for not getting up and moving to the back of the bus one afternoon. Although she did drive the Movement into exceptional highs, the real foundation of the movement started with the Brown vs. board of education of Topeka case. This case was the backbone for Africans American History in one piece. Even before that there was the Plessey V. Ferguson case in 1896 that basically stated that if you were to separate students and put them into different education programs rather black or white, you would be denying them of equal educational opportunities. Although there were minor issues socially and politically that the Civil Rights movement didn’t overcome, overall it was a success in the major improvement in the lives of blacks.

He signed primarily African American artists and applied his principles, he learned in the factory production to produce records and the creation of different groups. Gordy tried to move Motown records to Los Angeles in 1968 after riots in Michigan while trying to diversify the brand, which didn't go well and Berry had to file for bankruptcy, then later had artists leave for another record label company. Berry Gordy sold Motown records in 1988 to MCA, Inc. for $61 million with a limited partnership. Motown was a success from a number of factors, such as, economic, demographic, educational, and musical in the 1900th century. Detroit was the fourth largest city in the US, until the population went up to almost 2 million. Part of the population was 28.9% by the 1960s, which caused a lot of racism. Black families who migrated to Detroit, were able to create a life for themselves that were a lot better than being back in the south. Most did this "to develop a sense of pride and dignity in the culture and traditions that they brought with them."(McCarthy, Marie).

Berry Gordy wanted his record label to succeed so much and he wanted to prove that a black company can be well liked, large, and successful. Although Berry succeeded at this the problem was that Berry Gordy focused on making the artist popular and so successful that he didn’t allow the artist’s full talent and personality to show. Some say Berry Gordy gave the exception to Diana Ross from this for “obvious reasons.” Another problem was that many of the artist where to similar. Groups like the Temptations and the Four Tops all looked the same, talked the same, sang the same, and all around where to similar. When many artist sounded the same then people would most likely get bored with all the artist. Producing the motown artist took away from their own talent. Some say that Florence Ballard had a great voice and that she had a better voice than Diana Ross, but because of “obvious reasons” Diana Ross was the lead singer in the group. Many motown artist eventually got upset with the way motown was doing things and ended up leaving motown records. Marvin Gaye was one of the artist that did get upset with Berry Gordy and let him know it. Marvin Gaye was one of the artist that was able to promote his own talent. Along with Marvin Gaye, David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks of the temptations left the record label as well. Other reasons for some of the artist leaving the record label where financial reasons and some control issues. The control over many of the artist eventually failed when the artist entered adulthood and matured. The record label basically changed who the artist really were when they were in their career. The artist just couldn’t bring out their true personality and talent and this was one of the biggest problems with motown even though it was one of Berry Gordy’s main technique to make motown records as big as of a success that it

Under his guidance, the sound of Motown became one of the most remarkable and memorable musical accomplishments of the 20th century. Berry Gordy showed leadership and legacy in American history because he built an independent entertainment that Motown itself became a cultural icon, Motown music communicated with a racially divided country and segregated society, and created the “sound of young America” with the help of many successful artists. Motown

Segregation was still legal and didn't become illegal until around the 60’s. This was one barrier, but they didn't let that stop them from having the success and the fun they had. Many bars, performing places, and clubs were segregated so it was only black people who were allowed in the places, but what they were doing got out and they were being supported by some not a lot of white people. The music, art and literature was like an escape from all of the negativity going on and just to have fun. The rebirth of African American culture allowed the rest of the country to see the positive influence and amazing talents the African Americans had to offer

President Abraham Lincoln, issued an act after the civil war and called it the Emancipation Proclamation. The only reason why the Civil War was fought and this act was passed is because of the termination of slavery, and African Americans wanted equal rights. Slavery was eventually abolished, but even after one hundred years later, Blacks still did not obtain equal rights. All African Americans didn’t have an option to eat, drink, or use the restroom with whites. In 1955 they had enough with segregation, which had happened because the Civil Rights Movement was started. Blacks were abused, and even died for their cause, but yet they still refused to give up. The African Americans started civil disobedience and nonviolent protests to attempt for changing the minds of the whites that lived in the South. Leaders, that are now famous, took a stand and shared their input of racism to bring change and acceptance. The Famous leaders that we know as heroes are Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks. They risked their lives in the name of equality, but there was still one man that was making a huge difference without being noticed right away, and his name is Berry Gordy Jr.

Many African-Americans faced huge struggles years after the civil war. Their journey for racial equality began during the Reconstruction Era. The Civil War gave slaves freedom, a new set of huge challenges were put into play in the South. Under President Andrew Johnson, there were many new southern state legislatures that passed “black codes” to control most of the labor and behavior of the former slaves. Outrage in the North over these restrictive codes destroyed support for presidential reconstruction. There are many events, influential leaders, and court cases that created change in the sixties for African-Americans