The Honesty Movement Of The Civil Rights Movement

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

At the turning point of the century came the rise of the industrial age in America, and with that, came the rise of multiculturalism. The promise of the money and jobs brought people from all over the world. Free-market enterprise had people enamored with “The American Dream,” the idea that freedom enabled every hard-working individual with the opportunity for prosperity in success. Because of this, no other nation has such a rich blend of cultures. However, with this culture of diversity one could claim makes America great, comes a series of convoluted identity politics. In the novel Covering: The Hidden Assault On Our Civil Rights, Kenji Yoshino talks about the dichotomy between the True Self and False Self, and the concept of covering,

Social movements are one of the primary means through which the public is able to collectively express their concerns about the rights and wellbeing of themselves and others. Under the proper conditions, social movements not only shed light on issues and open large scale public discourse, but they can also serve as a means of eliciting expedited societal change and progress. Due to their potential impact, studying the characteristics of both failed and successful social movements is important in order to ensure that issues between the public and the government are resolved to limit injustices and maintain societal progress.

There will always be a few things that a person does not feel comfortable with about their own body that leads them to hide it. These things could be aspects of their identity or their physical features that they feel must be hidden away in order to fit better into the mainstream. In his essay, “Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights” Kenji Yoshino discusses the effects “covering” has on marginalized groups in the United States. He defines “covering” as the ability “to tone down a disfavored identity to better fit into the mainstream” (Yoshino 294). In her essay, “Alone Together” Sherry Turkle discusses how the pervasive use of technology like “online communities” is detrimental to people. She worries that with frequent use of technology that people will begin to become indifferent to authenticity in their everyday lives. Both authors worry about whether individuals will unite regardless of their covering or their excessive use of online communities or not. Individuals are pulled further apart from each other due to their excessive use of virtual worlds and covering of their identities.

The struggle to achieve freedom during the Civil Rights Movement was slowed and stifled due to governmental agenda and white political discomfort. America cared more about the civil liberties in other regions of the World, while maintaining a hypocrisy against African Americans here in the states.

On January 21, 2017, an estimated 500,000 Americans marched on the National Mall, continuing a longstanding tradition of protest on this public space. On this particular day, protesters sought to send a message to President Donald Trump regarding women’s rights. Known as the Women’s March, this event is only one of the more recent examples of large-scale protest and dissent on the National Mall. Throughout American history, protest movements have often made their way to Washington, D.C., the capital city and political center of the United States. Although the National Mall was not necessarily designed in a way that fosters protest, it quickly became the foremost venue for American demonstration. As AIDS activist Cleve Jones once stated, “the

In the article, McCalla lists 10 famous songs about civil rights movement and analyzed their contents. "Oh Freedom" is about the call for freedom in the Civil Rights movement. "We Shall Not Be Moved" presents the determination in Civil right movement of face with govenment. "Go Tell It On the Mountain" is as an analogy for Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement. "Time They Are A Changin by Bob Dylan captured the spirit and essence of the change and turmoil that surrounded the Civil Rights movement". "Lift Every Voice And Sing" and " Strange Fruit" talk about ugly essence of lynchings racism and the opposition to the Civil Rights movement. Moreover, "People Get Ready" is about the optimism and excitement of the Civil Rights movement

Yoshino describes covering as the new threat to civil rights in the country; in regards that it negates the possibility of authenticity. Though he sees the positive aspects of assimilation in regards that it enhances fluidity in social interactions, he begrudges covering which is borne out of the assimilation process. His article “Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights” discusses his struggles with maintaining authentic Japanese and American culture, and shifting between the two cultures depending on his social physical environment. Yoshino attempts to play two identities by remain at the center of his social interaction but expresses the key challenges that are associated with preservation of authenticity in the midst of prevailing cultural stereotypes. This raises key questions about authenticity and its value in the society. In her article “Alone Together,” Turkel observes that authenticity is increasingly losing its significance in the contemporary world driven by the progress made through technology. She describes the introduction of machines that can be able to fake authenticity is blurring the lines between performance and identity, with most children finding it hard to differentiate between the real animal and the machine. In fact, she points out that the machines have become convenient in mimicking the authentic that they are preferred over the real. Yoshino brings out a key concern about the potential impact of an attempt to maintain authenticity in a

The many cases of Blacks being shot by White policemen show that many people are still not speaking up to help the Blacks and changing the situation in USA. Hence, history keeps repeating itself. During the protest for Tamir Rice, someone held up a sign that read “White Silence is Violence” (Salo, “Tamir Rice New York City Protest: Protesters Rally At Washington Square Park For Cleveland Boy”). This shows that the Spiral of Silence happens because many Whites are keeping quiet, hence other Whites, who might want to speak up for the Blacks, would not want to voice their opinion, as they are afraid of being socially isolated by the community. They decide to conform, which makes it difficult for the situation to

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.

Dr. King lived in a United States of America that had changed very little in its the treatment of African American citizens since the period of reconstruction after the Civil War. The Civil Rights Movement in 1963 was organized with help from King and other influential leaders. The movement struck at some of the most notable areas afflicted by racial inequality. Why We Can’t Wait centers on the pursuit of civil discourse that unfolds in Birmingham, Alabama, one of the most racially segregated cities in America at the time. Each of the components of the Civil Rights Movement alone would not have so successfully innovative. It was only the sum of its parts, together, that made it so ground breaking at obtaining equal rights for all races. The

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 is one of the most important acts to change the way not only African Americans were able to live their lives but all races and colors. It would slowly break down the social, economic, political, and racial barriers that were created by the The Age of Discovery and Transatlantic Slave trade. I believe without the Civil Rights acts our country would result to be no better than what it was when the Emancipation Proclamation just took effect. In the 1950s and long before, Southern folk, who were white had created a system that would interpret them as a superior race over blacks. The system would defend whites rights and privileges from being taken away from them while establishing terrible inhumane suffering for African Americans. In the South blacks were controlled in all aspects economic, political, and personal, this was called a “tripartite system of domination” - (Aldon D. Morris) (6) Though it isn’t as prevalent racism and discrimination towards other races that aren’t white is still found in America and can be in schools, the workplace, even when you are in the general public but you no longer see discriminating signs saying “Whites” or “Blacks” or Colored” along the front of bathroom, restaurants, and shopping malls doors. Nor do you see people being declined the right to buy a home based on their color or access to school and an equal education being declined because one didn’t meet racial requirements. The acts of violence towards

The Civil Rights Movement of the 50's and 60's was arguably one of the most formative and influential periods in American history. Hundreds of thousands of civil rights activists utilized non violent resistance and civil disobedience to revolt against racial segregation and discrimination. The Civil Rights Movement began in the southern states but quickly rose to national prominence. It is of popular belief that the civil rights movement was organized by small groups of people, with notable leaders like—Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, and even John F. Kennedy—driving the ship. That is partly correct. The Civil Rights Movement, in its truest form, was hundreds of thousands of people organizing events and protests,