The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s

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.

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.

Violence also proved to be unproductive because it only caused more resistance and chaos in time of confrontation. Violent protests such as riots ended up damaging the Black Community. African Americans resulted being the victims of these riots, and as a result the most affected by the violent confrontations. Moreover, the use of violence created stiff race relations between the African Americans and White. Demonstrating that the violence method was ineffective for the civil rights movement is the fact that the “Black power movement faded almost as quickly as it appeared” (Ware 161).

IN 1964, with increasing national attention focused on the civil rights drive in the South, COFO launched "Freedom Summer," a major drive to educate and register voters, including the use of northern volunteers. On June 20, 1964, 200 recruits left from Oxford, Ohio for Mississippi. On June 21 three workers -- James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner -- were reported missing. The long search for their bodies (they were not found until Aug. 4) focused national attention on the civil rights movement and helped build public opinion in support of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, signed by President Johnson on July 2, 1964.

In the same way culture has influenced how I behave, it could also be a contributor to the unfortunate scenarios we so frequently see in our news casts of late. Some groups are already angry with authorities and see no problem confronting them, arguing, and refusing to comply with an officer’s requests. For instance, accounts of marches and protests during the civil rights movement could contribute to some in newer African American generations believing these are the only methods in which to gain justice. Whereas other cultures, might respond differently, complying, but consulting with a lawyer or filing a grievance, because historically for them, those methods have been effective.

The American Civil Rights Movement of 1960 broke through barriers and walls for equality. It was a major win for the efforts of many against racial oppression. Allowing individuals of different races to participate in the same schools, equal voting rights, and much more, this movement paved way for several others in succession.

In what ways, and for what reasons, did the African American struggle for civil rights in the United States change between the early and late 1960s?

Even with the passage of laws that guaranteed equality there were still many racial tensions during, before and after the war years. The large scale movement of African Americans from the South to the industrial centers in the North led to local confrontations over jobs and housing shortages. The Federal government feared a major race war could result. Luckily large scale disturbances did not happen, however there were instances of race riots in 1943 Detroit, and a series of anti-Mexican riots in Los Angeles during the same year. Despite all of these problems, the city of Vanport was officially integrated. The schools were mixed with all of the different ethnic and racial groups, and so were the churches and recreational facilities. Because of this, African Americans were able to form several organizations that helped them protect and expand their rights (citation).

And by virtue of the power and for the purpose of the aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States and parts of States are and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.” (CITE TEXT) It took just over 100 years for African-Americans to achieve the dream that Abraham Lincoln envisioned nearly a century before. During that time endemic racism led to wide scale organized social protests by black citizens and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (to be known as NAACP) across the United States, ultimately resulting in The Civil Rights Act of 1964. The signing of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was the first step in many historic protests and actions over the next 100 years that would eventually lead to both the Civil Rights and subsequently the Voting Act. This paper will examine some of the more notable incidents and protests that helped define the Civil Rights Movement.

Sometimes a single issue can cause a rift between a political party and its members. Due in large part to this Civil Rights movement during the 1960s, there was a switch in the Democratic and Republican parties in terms of region and race of the parties' supporting coalitions.

The civil rights movement was a defining point in U.S. history, this movement redefined race relations in the US, and forcibly united a country that seemed intent on staying "seperate but equal". Government leaders were unprepared to handle the protests, and the African American community was split on whether the protests should be peaceful or aggressive in nature. The civil rights movement officially began in 1954, and this paper will analyze the impact of it's most influential leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X with particular focus on the movement in the 1960s.

In the history of the United States, there have been many social changes that have occurred. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s was one of the most significant and important for the equality of all people. Since the abolition of slavery in 1863, there had been a continuous conflict between the races of people who live in the United States. Rights were violated on a consistent basis, purely because of the color of a person’s skin. Unfortunately, many of the changes that the movement fought for brought on a violent opposition from many white southerners and that led to the violent deaths of some of the famous leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. The movement led to the creation of several civil

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.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s was a series of sit-ins, boycotts, freedom rides, and marches. They were all used as ways to peacefully protest the fight for freedom and equality for all. These events took place to try and stop the discrimination and racism of all people but especially people of color. A major leader and influencer of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement was Martin Luther King Jr., whom along with many others, participated in many of the peaceful protests and marches put together by the people of the Freedom Movement. Martin Luther King Jr. brought new perspective to the whole fight for freedom through his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most recognized and well known advocates, but there were also many others that led protests and were involved in the movement. Some were into peaceful protests like Rosa Parks, but others wanted to take a more aggressive and loud approach like W.E.B. Du Bois. There were many historical events that shaped the Civil Rights Movement, and these events were the foundations for the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. The Montgomery bus boycotts, the freedom rides, and the Selma marches were some of the most memorable major contributing events to the series of protests in the fight for Civil Rights.

The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s was a pivotal event in the fight for African American rights. Throughout the duration of this movement, many important events occurred that brought African Americans closer to the equality they were fighting for. One such event was the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas lawsuit of 1954, which was filed due to the huge differences between black and white schools, since schools for blacks lacked important facilities like indoor toilets. This lawsuit led to segregation in schools becoming illegal, which was a big step towards equality for African Americans. However, there was still a long way to go, as segregation was still a big problem in other areas. Not long after this, the Montgomery Bus Boycott happened in 1955 due to the arrest of Rosa Parks, a black seamstress who refused to give up her seat to a white person after a long day of work. “On so many occasions, Negroes have been intimidated and humiliated -oppressed- because of the sheer fact they were Negroes...”, declared Martin Luther King Jr., as he rallied African Americans to take action in a peaceful way in order to address the injustice happening on buses after what had happened to Rosa Parks (Foner, VoF, 264). The boycott, in which African Americans refused to ride buses, was a victory resulting in the outlawing of segregation in public transportation, another step towards the abolition of segregation in general. Rosa Parks also served as inspiration to