Founded during the Reconstruction Era (1865-1877), The Ku Klux Klan was an extremist hate group that violently challenged social and political laws which protected certain minority groups. The Klan’s deliberate use of terror and violence reflected the passion held for a racial hierarchy, with whites at the top of the social structure. The presence of KKK was seen not only during the Reconstruction Era, but also during the post–World War I era (1920s). There are distinct similarities and differences that define the motives of the 1860s Klan and the reincarnated 1920s Klan; however, I believe these characteristics hide the true representation of the intolerance of American citizens.
Liberty, equality and justice, were not always rights given to all people born in the United States of America. Throughout the history of this great nation, African Americans have been targeted and denied the ability to exert the rights to vote. Although the denial of these rights is noticeable through our history books, one of the outstanding, and conceals the others rights, this being the right to be equal as there Anglo brothers. The right to vote is one example where blacks were denied the right to exert their freedom. The Voting Right act signed to law by President Lyndon Johnson on August 6, 1965, provided for a direct federal protection that enabled African Americans to register to vote, and to vote without discrimination on the basis of race, and color. This particular act of 1965 gave African Americans not only a legal stand to test their rights but also allowed them to register for the election, and the opportunity to run for both, state and federal office positions.
An event that had caused the NAACP’s establishment was because of people practicing the act of lynching. Lynching is the act of a mob hanging a person or people because of an alleged offense with or without a trial.During
Many Americans were concerned by the change that needed to happen for the people. The people were starting to stand up for what they believed in. With population increasing, things started to get out of control. Many political people held to much power over the people. People living in poverty were suffering more than they have been. Companies started creating monopolies all over and controlling jobs, and money. African-Americans took one of the biggest tolls during the progressive era. They had to fight for what they believe in, and literally fight. These people, as they use to say, were discriminated from the school house, all the way to the water fountains. African-Americans were looked at like a disease at this time. They had unfair housing,
The SCLC acted on its initiative to gain the franchise even though this was not really successful. Their voting effort was called the “Crusade for Citizenship Program” and the main thrust of this program was to increase the black vote in South for 1958/1960 elections. For black communities, increasing the black vote was essential in promoting different goals and opportunities for black people.
As the Ku Klux Klan’s membership grew, organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which fought to end racial discrimination and segregation, grew as well. With these two growing groups pushing for opposite ideals, tensions continued to increase. The NAACP pushed for reform and rights for African Americans and the Ku Klux Klan combated their progress with lynching and
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" ("Eleanor Roosevelt"). Eleanor Roosevelt believed the beauty of her dreams, followed through with them and became an outstanding First Lady who fought to change women's and civil rights. Eleanor Roosevelt has positively changed modern society by changing the role of the First Lady and by fighting for political and social change for women's and civil right.
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.”
W.E.B DuBois’ plan was smarter than Booker T. Washington’s because DuBois’ plan was to fight for the rights of African Americans, and give people a good and equal education. Booker T Washington’s plan was to ignore segregation and discrimination so he can just focus on the wealth and education of former slaves to win over the whites acceptance.
The tactics used civil rights movement of both the 1950’s and 1960’s were different helped them succeed in different ways. During the late 1950s the tactics that were used were political, while in the early in 1960s they used social and political tactics to get their goals achieved, but in the late 1960s the tactics that were used were primarily economic and social,
Many authors convey powerful, civil messages through novels. Walter Dean Myers does that through his novel, Monster. Monster is a story about young sixteen-year-old, Steve Harmon, who is on trial for being an accessory in a murder-robbery. The novel is written in a first person “movie style” that encompasses all of his emotions in a scene by scene setting. Myers brings out a theme of racism through multiple scenes in the novel. He recreates and modernizes the institutional racism that creates crime and specifically targets black males. He brings out the idea of how young black males are labeled and treated in courts and are automatically assumed to be the perpetrator of the crime.
Black workers formed Revolutionary Union Movements within Detroit auto factories in the late 1960s as a means of organizing and protecting the black worker. At that time, black people were blue-collar workers, not skilled tradesman or white-collar workers, and often worked in factories as the “transformation of sweat and blood”. They realized that since they were overwhelmingly employed in these jobs, with upwards of 80-90% in some plants, they could cause a major disruption through work stoppages, causing plants to, “cease function”, and interrupting the, “money flow”. Working conditions were beyond subpar, since safety conditions failed to exist, “compulsory overtime”, where you were made to work overtime, and a system where the union
For over a century, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has strived to be a beacon of light to all people. Though most of the world assume (NAACP) is for the black race only, hence the name “Colored People”. Its website states their mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. To a disadvantage to the organization, the growing media world has divided its views of NAACP. Rasmussen reports that forty-six percent (46%) offer an unfavorable opinion of the NAACP.
In 2003, the motion picture, Kill Bill Volume 1, debuted in theaters. Set to a backdrop of bloodshed and violence, the film offers 112 minutes of savagery, as the main character attempts to get back at every person who has wronged her in the past four years. Kill Bill is only one of the many films in which violence is the number one attraction. “Kill or be killed,” seems to be the overarching motto, as millions of moviegoers flock into theaters each weekend to watch as characters fight to the death. In contrast, violence portrayed on the silver screen is no longer acceptable outside of the theater. Groups such as “Black Lives Matter” protest the violence enacted against minorities at the hands of authority figures. Legal courts are designed
Another crucial point that Black Lives Matter movement requires is collaboration and partnership. The movement must reach out to other organizations across the nation to support and stand for Black people. Effective protesters need to have a variety of ways for families, youth and communities to be involved. They need to create partnership with local churches, schools, agencies and organizations and draw on the strength of the community wide collaboration. Social movement is multifaceted; there are different ways to be involved and different levels of involvement. Social movement is not the task of a few persons, called to a specific purpose, but it is the responsibility of the whole community. They must learn the commitment to shared goals, consensus decision making, open and honest communication, shared leadership, climate of cooperation, and collaboration. Partnership and collaboration with others need sacrifices from both sides to be able to share vision, open up for communication, confrontation, etc. …, and most importantly, to sacrifice oneself in order to reach the vision or the plan that they have set out to achieve. For instance, the Indian Independence March, the Selma March, and the Sharpeville Massacre showed “self-sacrifice” of the protest through many deaths to gain independence (Howard).