Essay On African Americans In The Civil Rights Movement

The African-American Civil Rights Movement encompasses social movements in the United States whose goals were to end racial segregation and discrimination against black Americans and to secure legal recognition and federal protection of the citizenship rights enumerated in the constitutional amendments adopted after the Civil War. The strategy of public education, legislative lobbying, and litigation that had typified the Civil Rights Movement during the first half of the 20th century broadened after Brown to a strategy that emphasized "direct action:" primarily boycotts, sit-ins, Freedom Rides, marches and similar tactics that relied on mass mobilization, nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience. This mass action approach typified the movement from 1960 to 1968. Churches, local grassroots organizations, fraternal societies, and black-owned businesses mobilized volunteers to participate in broad-based actions.

“The civil rights movement was based on faith. Many of us who were participants in this movement saw our involvement as an extension of our faith. We saw ourselves doing the work of the Almighty. Segregation and racial discrimination were not in keeping with our faith, so we had to do something.” -- John Lewis

Crimes committed against those who do no wrong, prejudices such as the terrors of burnings, lynchings, and decapitation are crimes of hate; the crimes that are motivated only by way of race, sexual orientation, disability, and many other stereotypes are those that are unforgivable. They serve no purpose but to humiliate, injure, and threaten. These crimes are the bane of society, but the role of authorities on matters of hate crimes has become blurred in a world of increasing violence of prejudice. Free speech and unprotected hate speech have come under review, and still violence increases. All of these statements beg the question: should the government more actively oppose hate speech?

During the 1950's through the 1960's the civil rights movement was taken place in America. This movement was lead by Martin Luther King Jr. Although, what King did was amazing, I am astonished in how he achieved it. King was able to bring equality to the African American Community through non-violent protests.

Civil Rights can be most aptly defined as specific privileges possessed by an individual through citizenship that the government is obligated to protect, including the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses under the 14th Amendment. Furthermore, Civil Rights constitute an individual’s entitlement to equal treatment under the law and freedom from unjust discrimination. The Supreme Court, as the nation’s highest judicial power, should play a substantial role in protecting and expanding (when necessary) the Civil Rights of citizens in various societal institutions including education, housing, employment, voting, marriage, and public amenities. Although many would argue that the Supreme Court lacks the power and influence to enforce its landmark Civil Rights rulings (e.g., Brown v. Board of Education I & II), it none-the-less performs

The women’s movement throughout the 1800s relied mostly on other social campaigns to begin its pivotal role in their own revolutionary protests. After the Great Awakening, many women revived their religious views and advocated for the prohibition of alcohol and for the freedom of slaves. These actions advanced their speech skills and taught the masses how to organize to progress, thus strengthening their operations in the future. So, in the midst of their fight for gender equality many other issues were mixed in, and those problems were resisted through the help of women. In fact, women acted as a critical component for better working conditions in factories and the elimination of child labor.

During the Civil Rights Movement, many white-Americans found themselves falling back into the routine they had been taught from their ancestors. The white backlash during this time showed the African-American community they still had a long fight ahead of them. Dr. King knew during the Civil Rights Movement they were going to be faced with trials but did not realize the cost that came with chasing after his dream. Lives were lost, both white and black, and the white blacklash that was going to be confronting the African-Americans right in the face. The social justice of African-Americans being able to vote turned white Americans in the South into savage animals.

"How has the NAACP and Civil Rights Movement affected America" No one will ever forget the Baltimore riots. Freddie Gray, the young man killed by Baltimore police, became the symbol for the brutality facing young Black men. As a young Black man, it was hard for me to stay off of social media during these incidents. The riots raged on and many non-Blacks sought to remind our population of what we’re not allowed to do. Many social media posts focused on the March on Washington, Selma, and peaceful sit-ins, and captioned their posts with the statement: “Why can’t Blacks be peaceful like the Civil Rights Movement.”

Work Cited Men of Honor. Dir. Tillman, George Jr.. Perf. Robert DeNiro, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Charlize Theron. Twentieth Century Fox, 2000.

If you take a look at American life 50, 60, and even 70 years ago, its much different from the life that we know today. People of today do not have to constantly watch their backs, or remind their children that they are not allowed to play outside because of one simple factor; skin. Our progress is undoubtedly a positive slope, but as the saying says, there 's surely always room for improvement. The question we should ask ourselves is if we are doing enough to ensure that our past advocates, and philosophers, and supporters did not die in vain because then we would be unworthy of claiming the rights that they fought so hard for. The civil rights movement has always been a major political and civil unrest, but civil rights activists created unrest for their kids, and their grandchildren, to secure equal treatment for everybody.