The American Civil Rights Movement Essays

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - - Martin Luther King, Jr.

The idea of peacekeeping and the maintaining of order began centuries ago. However, long ago women were not involved in this. As women did enter within 20th century their role was limited. As time passes, change takes place.

The 50s, 60s and 70s were a tumultuous time in American society. Roles were constantly being redefined. Events like the war created upheaval in the lives of many individuals and everyone was scrambling to find his or her place in society. The same was profoundly true for blacks in America. No societal movement had a more profound effect on the lives of Black Americans than did the Civil Rights Movement. The status of Black Americans would be redefined to a revolutionary degree. Civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X would bring the cause to the national stage. Although the movement was plagued with violence and death, it was eventually successful. The South was radically changed from a society of

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.

The latter part of the Civil Rights Movement was characterized by action and change as it was no longer centralized in the South or only fought for by black individuals. Rather, northerners were active in achieving black equality and the white community was campaigning for integration. Although many lost their lives in this struggle, their valiancy did not go unrewarded and soon enough African Americans were able to vote, work, study, and simply eat lunch beside white individuals.

The Civil Rights Movement took place in America during the 1950’s-60’s. This movement was one of the most important events in history because it changed how American society works. It began on May 17, 1954 with the case of Brown v. The Board of Education. With this decision, the court disallowed segregation of races in all schools and this lit a fire in the African American’s hearts. After this case, people knew it was time to take a stand. To their surprise they did not stand alone; there were groups of all races involved. This moment in history lasted for 14 years, from 1954-1968. Led by Martin Luther King, Jr. the civil rights movement was not a rebellion, but was an uproar of people who wanted equality. King kept the people motivated,

After the 1960s Civil Rights Movement led by African Americans, many Native Americans also were motivated to gain civil rights for themselves. After they were forced to live on reservations, and things were getting worse for them, such as poverty, low employment, and poor education. They were not even permitted to vote even though they were born in the country. It wasn’t until 1958 that they were allowed to vote in every state. Native Americans were ready for change during this movement. A big step in helping Native Americans during the Civil Rights Movement was the Indian Civil Act Right of 1968. This law guaranteed a lot of the rights that are also in the Bill of Rights. Also before this time in 1961 an organization called the National Indian

With all that has been examined, it is somewhat troubling to see that 21st century America today is very similar to America from the 1960’s. While it is true that Black Americans have gained civil rights and liberties, it is the current state of American society itself—as well as white fright—that dismisses these rights. The most infamous example of this is, of course, police shootings. Since the Trayvon Martin case, the United States seems to have exploded with more police shootings in which white police officers shoot unarmed black men. According to Mapping Police Violence, “Police killed at least 102 unarmed black people in 2015, nearly twice each week” (Police Violence). Indeed, America is now like the 1950’s because while Black Americans are now free to vote, walk in public, and partake in public programs of U.S. society, certain institutions still attempt to suppress their rights. This attempting at suppression of Black civil rights, moreover, can be attributed to white fright.

The Civil Rights Movement symbolized the challenge and opposition to the racial injustices and segregation that had been engrained in American society for hundreds of years. Events that took place in the 1950s and 1960s, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington, sit-ins, speeches and numerous protests define this momentous time in United States history. Speeches during this period served as a means to inspire and assemble a specific group of people, for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X it was the black community that needed to rise up in hopes of achieving equal rights and voting rights for the blacks.

In politics, civil rights leaders sought to effectively mobilize black voters and also oppose the gerrymandering of political districts that decreased the power of the black vote. (Tuck, 2004) The Congress of Racial Equality used a nonviolent and direct-action approach to politics, endorsing Freedom Rides to challenge segregated transportation and sit-ins in the south to protest discrimination. (Baldwin, 2011) In revolt to the discrimination within the public transportation systems, the black church and social groups organized a one-day boycott in where all black would avoid using busses and public transportation to show the disapproval of actions and hatred being taken towards them all because of their color.

Throughout America’s very eventful history, African Americans have been ridiculed and treated with injustice as well as, the hardships endured with slavery. African Americans were and still to this day are victims of discrimination, police brutality and other hate crimes from white African Americans. Even during these times, many African Americans remanded strong while dreaming of equality in the United States. The Civil Rights movement was a time in America were African Americans took a stand to the racism they underwent on a daily basis. When people hear “Civil Rights movement” they most likely think about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, or Malcolm X.

During the 1950s, the Civil Rights Movement was introduced into the United States collection of historical events. The Civil Rights Movement was described as a period of struggle to obtain equal rights and privileges of U.S. citizens for African Americans. Long before the brutal murder of Emmett Till, racial segregation and

However, Soundtrack For A Revolution only shows half of what the Civil Rights Movement is about. This documentary fails to show the Armed resistance aspect of the African American Freedom struggle. As the documentary shows the nonviolent part of the Civil Rights Movement it leaves out how important the role of armed resistance was in the African American freedom struggle. It unsuccessfully shows how armed resistance made the Civil Rights Movement possible and protected many civil rights leaders such a Martin Luther King. Soundtrack For A Revolution does not demonstrate how gun owners protected institutions of the movement like churches and freedom house nor does it explain how nonviolent protesters would’ve been driven out of town without armed resistance. Armed resistance was a vital part of the Civil Rights Movement and the failure to include it in the documentary does not accurately represent the African American freedom struggle.

The Civil Rights Movement was a more than a large protest against racial discrimination and discrimination in the southern United States. It was more a series of protests and action taken by African-Americans. Through nonviolent protest, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s broke the pattern of public

The American declaration of independence stated, that: “All men are created equal”. But in the 19th century only whites were born with equal opportunities. Africans were imported as slaves and had to work on the fields of the whites. Until 1865 the Negroes were treated and looked at as something lower than human. They were compared to apes, and therefore just owned the same rights as animals. They were raised believing that whites were superior. It took them years to realize that they have to stand up for their rights. The uprising turned into a brutal civil war.