Personal Narrative: Changing The Lives Of African-Americans

"The time is always right to do what's right" Martin Luther King Jr followed this advice as he was fighting for equal rights for African Americans around the world. Martin Luther King Jr positively benefitted modern society by writing a speech and changing the viewpoint on how people think about African American and using nonviolent disobedience to change his rights.

Civil rights helped a lot of people during the rough 1930s-1960s. Many people struggled during this time period. Some people even lost their lives fighting for their rights. Jimmie Lee Jackson stood against segregation and dedicated his life to his rights.

Civil disobedience has been discerned in numerous time periods of American history. The definition of disobedience can be interpreted when one or a group prioritizes their conscience of their beliefs over the dictation of laws through rebellion. Notable historical events of slavery and independence has been marked with the disobedience of government laws. Even though the disobedience of societal laws can undermine the corruption of the government, disobedience has undeniably steer societal progress.

Winter of 2008, Black History Month, and my third grade music teacher, announces, “Stand up if you would have been a victim of segregation,” following with, “Now, everyone look around.” February. The month of Rosa Parks, “I Had A Dream,” marches, and sit-ins. The month I had begun to despise greater each year. The month where I would be chosen to lead many readings and join classroom discussions, as if my being ‘black’ would provide some clarity that would enhance the learning experience for my fellow peers.

“We shall overcome,” sang the black children of Birmingham, Alabama. On May 2 1963 the Children's March of Birmingham, Alabama started. Over 3000 kids were involved and most ended up in jail. To this day the march has changed how the world looks at black children's rights. The children's march has lead up to what now is called the civil rights act which has also changed our world today.

Civil rights are defined as the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality, and civil rights are an important part of everyone 's everyday life. From The Little Rock Nine to The Bus Boycott, those who are interested in equality have been fighting for civil rights for everyone. John Lewis was a civil rights activist in 1960 and he is still fighting for equality today. As a result of John Lewis, people had a voice they could listen to and preach for.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are two profound African American figures in history. They both fought for equality and to better humanity. But, the tactics they used were very different. Their different views may have been rooted from the where they were raised. Martin Luther King Jr. grew up in a middle class family and received a very solid education. Malcolm X grew up in a much lesser community. His neighborhood was violent and there wasn’t much schooling. Martin Luther King Jr. was always against violence, throughout his entire lifetime and believed using nonviolent forms of protest. King would even condone being nonviolent when he was hurt physically. Malcolm X used whatever form of protest he needed to get the job done and his

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr is known for his strategy of nonviolent civil disobedience, which he used to advance the civil rights of black Americans who had been treated as second-class citizens for more than a century. King was an American Baptist minister, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He was a man that persuaded people worldwide to follow him during the Civil Rights Movement. King was a very passionate, caring man. A great leader that pushed and motivated blacks to achieve equal rights for all. King was able to gain sympathy from people worldwide by using civil disobedience as a strategy. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an effective leader because he was able to use civil disobedience as

Growing up my parents instilled in me that I was beautiful and my skin was beautiful. It was clear to me that everyone else didn’t feel the same way. I went to a couple different schools throughout my life starting with a predominantly black school then a predominantly white school then a very diverse school and at each one I still experienced colorism. At the black school I was not liked because I was darkskin and my hair was kinky and I was just not as pretty as the light skinned girls. At the white school I already felt different so I changed my hair I began to straighten it and talk different. I wanted to blend in but no matter what I did I was different. I stuck out like a sore thumb. Forget having a crush because no ones likes mean angry black girls. I find myself to be a very fragile girl and I want to protect myself so I don’t walk around crying all the time. So I began to put on my hard shell. They couldn’t hurt me if I didn’t give them the chance to be near me. By the time I got to high school I was then at a very diverse school. I had my protective shell of anger with me and I was ridiculed with in the first month of school. I realized there is no where I can go that won’t make me feel this way. Not only was I darkskin but I was an oreo because of the way I talked now. I was an angry black girl because no one thought I was beautiful or that I deserved respect or that I should be treated just the same as the light skin girl with long curly hair.

I grew up in a small town in Mississippi in a neighborhood about a five-minute walk from the Mississippi River. I spent the majority of my younger years growing up within this southern bubble. This place that I still call home and my experiences here helped to create the person that I am today. In my neighborhood in Greenville, MS we didn’t have much to do but staying out of trouble was the motive. Even when thinking of the activities to do they were pretty limited but that’s what caused for us to become creative. Kids in my neighborhood took joy in just running, playing sports, working out, or skipping rocks. Besides being born in such a unique place I must give create to the people who have made me who I am.

In 1963, the admirable March on Washington was an important catalyst aiding in the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Interestingly enough, African-Americans were not the only people who cared about civil rights, but whites as well, hence the 75,000 whites that took a stance at the March on Washington. The March on Washington tested the dedication of many people around the world as they traveled to the Lincoln Memorial in hope of finalizing the discrimination and segregation of African-Americans. The March on Washington, a non-violent protest against segregation, aided in the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which made African American lives more fair and respected.

The 1963 March on Washington is arguably the most notable event of the cutting edge civil rights movement. More than 250,000 people from across America came together in Washington D.C. in a peaceful demonstration with the hope of bringing an end to racial segregation within the educational system, as well as help to create job equality as well as the freedom of African-Americans as a whole. The march played a pivotal role in the growing fight for civil rights, no more so than that of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. It was a discourse of hope and determination, and it typified the message the marchers declared of racial equality and a conviction that Black and White Americans could live respectively in peace.

James Howard Meredith was the first African America to go to Ole Miss. He had protested against racism and inequality then he became a symbol of civil rights.

Historically, the Civil Rights Movement was a time during the 1950’s and 1960’s to eliminate segregation and gain equal rights. Looking back on all the events, and vital figures it produced, this explanation is very unclear. In order to fully understand the Civil Rights Movement, you have to go back to its beginning. Most people believe that Rosa Parks began the whole civil rights movement. She did in fact move the Civil Rights Movement to groundbreaking heights but its origin began in 1954 with Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka. Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka was the foundation for change in American History as a whole. Some may argue that Plessy vs. Ferguson is in fact backdrop for the Civil Rights Movement, but I disagree. Plessy

grandfather and father were ministers, so Martin decided to carry that on by becoming a