Women In The Civil Rights Movement

At the height of the Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968), women played a big part in not only keeping the crusade alive, but also played a big part in energizing the masses to continue the long and arduous struggle against the seemingly impenetrable institutions of power which disenfranchised African-Americans and regarded their humanity as nothing more than mere pieces of property owned by others. Women like Coretta Scott King, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Septima Clark and countless mothers, sisters, and daughters proved to be important

Taylor Branch’s Parting the Waters: America in the King Years 1954-1963 is a description about the civil rights movement that focuses on Martin Luther King Jr and incorporates the lives of other civil rights activists, organizations, and takes a deeper look at the era from the Supreme Court Ruling of Brown v. Board of Education (1954) to President Kennedy’s assassination. Furthermore, Branch introduces numerous people within the African American communities that gave rise to the civil rights movement as well as those individuals that came into being as the movement surged forward.

Wether it was recruitment, mobilization, or obtaining and securing resources, African American women were the backbone and the unsung heros of these movements. “Given the context of the times, the period 1954-65, women who participated in the civil rights movement experienced unprecedented power” (Robnett 1996).

The 1950’s and 1960’s remains the most controversial and momentous decades for the nation to this day. The civil rights movement was to end racial segregation and end all prejudice against African Americans. Whether it was voting rights, rights to sit wherever one liked, or to love someone outside of one's race; racist people at this time were reluctant to have equality. These civil rights movements challenged and demanded to be heard through protest and nonviolent activity. However, these protests never were noted and were completely shut down by authorities and other racist bystanders. Americans and their confidence in their way of ignorance was most certainly challenged during this time; how could one

I will examine the experiences of black women in the Civil Rights Movement from 1960-1970, and argue that although it was a movement for a racial equality, the Civil Rights Movement was also gendered. By gendered, I mean that the mobilization of resources, the structures of organizations, and the experiences of black female activists were all affected by U.S. gender constructions of that

Virtually every book written about the Civil Rights Movement is from the perspective of either Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X. Not to say these two courageous individuals didn’t raise up to the occasion and lead many blacks to equality. You can't forget the majority of the textbooks and major lectures don't talk about the work down in smaller southern towns and the many blacks who didn’t tip their hats to whites who they walked passed on the sidewalks. This remarkable books tells the story with a different perspective that many people might usually over look as 'not that important to us' but, in reality these are the type of stories that should be taught in history classrooms. By only reading the first few pages of this book, you quickly start to realize it holds many great stories of Americas forgotten heroes. But this book truly represents the struggle of equality for blacks not only in the south but also in the eyes of the Supreme Court.

Decades after the National Women’s Party pushed for the passage of their proposed Equal Rights Amendment, feminists of the 1960s and 70s rallied once again for this change in the Constitution. The amendment, simply stating that, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex,” quickly gained popularity among activists in the 1970s. This support was not surprising, as this decade was a time of great change and protest. Feminist felt that just as African Americans were gaining civil rights, women, too, should be considered as equals to their counterparts. Women Right’s leaders such as Alice Paul and Gloria Steinem pushed for the passage of such major legislation. With support from Women’s Right’s groups such as the National Organization of Women, the amendment quickly made its’ way to Congress.

When someone mentions the 1950’s or 60’s of the United States many minds may go straight to the Civil Rights era, and Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks. It was the era of fighting against injustice and prejudice against blacks and other minorities. The injustices of what was happening stemmed back through America’s history to the Atlantic Slave Trade, where Africans were taken from their homeland to be slaves in the “New World.” The many crimes committed are too long to name. African Americans fought for their right to live and be free, and would continue, and some say still continue to fight for those same reasons. W.E. B. Du Bois asked why write about reconstruction in his book, Black

World War ll lasted about 5 years between 1941-1945. (America Has Been at War 93% of the Time – 222 out of 239 Years – Since 1776). There were over 2.5 million African Americans men and women that volunteered their life in helping the US fight in the war and help forward the Civil Rights Movement. Most men fought in and battle in war while most women volunteered as nurses in the Navy Corps and Army. Besides working as nurses, some women worked in factory buildings, making ships, tanks, airplanes and etc. When working in factories women would participate in scrap drives. They would scavenge for scraps or any kind of metal that would help benefit vehicles and equipment in the military. Others would work in war bond drives that financed the military,

Feminism: The advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men (“Feminism”). As a feminist myself, it is important to know the history of feminism. The history of feminism includes its leaders, beliefs and of course organizations. The most important organization being the National Organization for Women, most commonly known as the NOW Foundation. Currently, the National Organization for Women is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States.

Women knew they could handle living by themselves if needed since they had done so during the war when their spouse was overseas. Most of the women that found themselves in these situations would get a divorce and live by themselves instead of living with a person that beats them. The war gave women experience on what it is like to live and raise a family alone without a spouse, so when it came to getting a divorce women did not worry themselves on how they were going to sustain their children. The war, overall, would greatly help women activists to rise with all the other civil rights activist groups.

The piece on African American woman in the civil rights movement was n important piece which highlighted the many positives and negatives of the civil rights movement. Such writing helps to illustrate the imperfections in this movement which isolated the most vulnerable group of humans in the 60's. Much news press was focused on the work of MLK and his great strength to organize the masses but what wasn't mentioned was how used his male authoritative role in the church to put woman in a place of submission to their male counter parts.

Racial and gender issues have long sense been an issue throughout the world. Women and men were forced into the separate spheres ideology where women were often confined to the home and men had to provide for the family. Race has been an issue, especially in slavery or fearing someone for a stereotype they received, such as a terrorist. Although there have been numerous occasions throughout history that a few people tried to tear down the preconceived notions, the Civil Rights Movement, is where everyone of common beliefs, came together to break down social walls. The Civil Right Movement was only a qualified success because people of different races and genders are still discriminated against today.

The Women's Liberation Movement also known as feminism, has impacted the past and present United States in numerous ways. The Movement and has continued since 1848 and is still going strong today. It has grown in each decade, gaining many followers and still helps women even now . The Women's Liberation Movement has helped women gain more respect, rights to her body, and equality in the workplace. Every human, male or female should support the movement.

America in the 1960s was not the finest time for African Americans, especially in the South. There was racism, injustice and inequality. However, the ‘devotees’ of the civil rights movement were dedicated and passionate about making a difference. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of those pioneers that remained true in what he believed in no matter what the circumstance.