The Civil Rights Movement : Martin Luther King Jr.

The Civil Rights Movement’s mission was to end segregation and advance equality for African Americans (Hanks, Herzog, and Goetzman). Almost one hundred years after the civil war, African Americans were still struggling to gain the same rights as white Americans. The movement was led by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks. Gaining momentum in the 1950’s with the Supreme court’s ruling of Brown vs. Board of Education where public schools were desegregated, the Civil Rights movement flourished in the 1960’s. One of the group’s main goals was to take on the Jim Crow South. Segregation prevented African Americans from drinking out of the same water fountain, using the same restroom, and even sitting at the same lunch table as white people. By promoting peaceful protest, they were able to educate others on their issues.

Civil rights was an important American issue through the late 40s through the 60s. During this time period Baseball was “America’s Pastime, “and a major social get together for white Americans. However in 1947 both of these event were combined when the Brooklyn Dodgers gave Jackie Robinson a chance to play professional baseball. Jackie Robinson is the target of my biography. Robinson not only was the first African American baseball player, but he also had a hall of fame career, and eventually had his number retired by all of Major League Baseball. It is important to know about him because he helped accelerate the civil rights movement in America. Although his entrance was brutal with the abuse he received and the obscenities that were yelled at him. He helped the transition to not only make African Americans accepted in professional sports, but also to help the acceptance of African Americans in the civil rights movement.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement was a time in which African Americans were setting out to end segregation, specifically in the south. During this time period, African Americans were treated unequally from the white people. African Americans were unable to eat in the same restaurants, shop in the same stores, or even drink out of the same drinking fountain. Dr.

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.

The Civil Rights Movement began in order to bring equal rights and equal voting rights to black citizens of the US. This was accomplished through persistent demonstrations, one of these being the Selma-Montgomery March. This march, lead by Martin Luther King Jr., targeted at the disenfranchisement of negroes in Alabama due to the literacy tests. Tension from the governor and state troopers of Alabama led the state, and the whole nation, to be caught in the violent chaos caused by protests and riots by marchers. However, this did not prevent the March from Selma to Montgomery to accomplish its goals abolishing the literacy tests and allowing black citizens the right to vote.

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.

The civil rights movement was a political movement created by civil resistance with the goal of change using nonviolent forms of resistance.

Civil Rights’ Activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his speech, “I Have a Dream” argues that African-Americans are fighting for equal rights and Martin Luther King uses many resources of language to promote his message of equality. He supports his claim by first using rhetorical appeals to promote his message of equality and the using imagery to create depth in his message of equality. Martin Luther King’s purpose is to inform and describe the segregation that was going on in the U.S. in order to help African-Americans gain their equal rights. He creates a hopeful tone for African-Americans and people who wanted everyone to have equal rights.

The American Civil Rights Movement is personified through several prominent personalities. These figures exhibited strong character throughout their careers in activism that revolutionized the ideals and opportunities of the 20th century, standing as precedents for courage and perseverance in the face of widespread systemic oppression. However, not all of these figures received the acknowledgment and acceptance that their legacy deserved. One such figure was Bayard Rustin, a lifelong Civil Rights activist in the African American and LGBTQ communities whose experiences exemplified the hardships faced by American minorities. His career was defined by perpetual conflict and confrontation as both sides of the Civil Rights Movement attempted to demonize and discredit him. Despite this obstacle, Bayard Rustin’s controversial decision-making and sheer tenacity made him an influential force in the ongoing fight for equality in the United States of America.

As discussed previously, JFK started awareness for Civil Rights, his actions in Birmingham, coupled with the media coverage; however, it was LBJ’s ability to use his connections in congress to pass laws that changed the face of voting and civil right throughout the United States. As far as the leadership at the Grass roots level Dr. Martin Luther King is the most famous, due to the nonviolent protests and boycotts; however Rosa Parks, Aurelia Browder, and Louise Keys, were the catalysis for the grass roots movement. Although not much is mentioned of these individuals. President’s Eisenhower, JFK and LBJ along with the sitting justices on the Supreme Court share credit on the national level. Firstly the Presidents by supporting Supreme Court decisions, calling congress to pass laws, and taking action when States clearly chose to disregard the law, and the Courts by applying the intent of the Constitution and declaring laws unjust while supporting unpopular laws because the met the intent of the Constitution. I don’t believe that one person alone mattered the most, the nonviolent protest by Dr. Martin Luther King coupled by his speech on the steps of the Lincoln memorial were very powerful, but without action by the courts, the leaders in congress and the Presidency. However, the media played a large part in how the American public viewed civil rights, when images of dogs attacking nonviolent protesters, people beaten and killed because of color changes the view of right and

Over the past century, there have been legendary, motivational, and inspirational civil right activist who boldly lectured what they believed was constitutional and unconstitutional, which helped transform into a more unified, equality and democratic nation. Today, there has a been several new civil rights activists to continue the march of equal rights. One of these modern-day civil rights activists is former President Barack Obama.

Carson and Shepard looks to how Martin Luther King Jr. developed his cause during the Civil Rights Movement by editing a landmark of famous speeches given by Dr. King himself. Although this book was merely just to inform audiences who desired to relive Dr. King’s inspirational words. Carson and Shepard also dig dipper into releasing firsthand testimony accounts into what triggered the idea to come up with these memorable speeches. Throughout most of the speeches that were presented within the book, Dr. King, focused on the importance of being Christian and the Jesus teachings. These teachings coerced with the idea of advocating a non-violent protest to push his cause. The authors also discuss the I have a Dream speech and how he points out

I agree that disobedience is a valuable human trait. It takes courage and strength, which in the end promotes social progress. “Quien no arriesga, no cruz el río” is a spanish proverb that translates into nothing ventured, nothing gained. In order to change something in your life it may involve not always following every law. You have to be willing to change and take risks to get what you want. You have to be disobedient. Along with that, people in general that do not follow the social norms or abide by all the laws reject conformity.

By the start of the 1960s, most Americans had in view another emerging Gilded Age. The charming John F. Kennedy turned out to be a president that the United States needed to see. He was in his abilities as a president and a man. His poise looked to establish the tone for the next decade. However, that Gilded Age never arrived. In contrast, by late 1960s the nation seemed to be on the brink of collapse. During JFKs’ presidential campaign commenced he established an ambitious domestic agenda exceeding Truman’s New Deal and called it “New Frontier,” a compendium of laws and restructurings that could remove inequality and discrimination in the United States. However, the New Frontier contended immediately with the refusal by a Congressional Democratic majority group of Southerners who despised the plan and did everything possible to block it.

Martin Luther King had a dream that one we would live in peace. He was one of many famous Civil Rights leader who played a big part in the Civil Rights movement. In the 1960’s the civil right movement was movement of many African American who felt they were not treated fairly or equal. This movement was very imperative to the freedom of African Americans.