Civil Rights Movement In The United States

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

The above are movements that were launched in America for the period between 1955 and 1968 so to advocate for equal rights between the whites and African Americans. Basically, the movements were forums and group campaigns that aimed at ending racial discrimination in America. Most of the people who were involved in these movements were the African Americans. It is evident that even long before 1955, there were laws with regard to equal treatment of white and black Americans. This movement was characterized by key campaigns of civil resistance. There are notable outcomes of the civil rights movements which include the declaration of the Civil Rights Act of the year 1964. This was to abolish discrimination against color, race, national origin or religion.

After 1968, the scope of civil rights movements was expounded to deal with issues of racial dignity, freedom from oppression and political sufficiency. Back in the history of the US constitution, there used to be a clause concerning the rights of Black Americans. In the current society, the scope of civil rights has widened to cover the rights of minority groups in the society. These include women, the gay and lesbian persons among others. The issue of the rights of gay people has been a topic of discussion until the year 2004 when the law granted gay persons the right to marry.

The Equity Issues

Integration

This refers to a move that was geared at bringing both the whites and blacks in a united society. Such a society was meant to be one that offers equal opportunity to both the whites and African Americans. Integration was a move to do away with racial segregation, disfranchisement and mass racial violence. A combination of acts of discrimination, violence towards the black and marginal economic opportunity in the southern states was referred to as the Jim Crow. During this error, discrimination against religion, race and ethnicity was pretty acceptable in America. In fact women had no right to vote and in addition they had restricted job and educational opportunities. Before 1955, the approach to integration was by small challenges to the laws.

It came a point when civil rights leaders felt that they would not gain substantial gains if they continued to move at the same pace. They combined their efforts to form the civil rights movements ‘which would work’ through disobedience with no violence. Later on, these movements were criticized for not including women and women related issues.

The Black Power

By 1965, the Black power had grown to an extent that it was threatening the existence of the integrated power. Black power advocated for the black people to gain self determination and that Integration was not a good thing. This is because they argued that the factor of assimilation inherent in the integration was denying Africans their common dignity and heritage.

Gender Issues

The move to fight for women rights came in two waves. The first one being the move to give women a right to vote took place in early times of the twentieth century. The second wave was to ensure that the social attitude towards women is changed. This is to mean that women would be granted equal economic, education and reproductive rights similar to those of men. As a result, women would be able to have professional carriers beside motherhood or in other cases they would be free to choose whether to have children or not.

A feminist movement that ended in 1982 was targeting equal economic opportunities, equality in political power, sexuality and reproductive freedoms and professional equality at all levels. This was crowned by the proposed equal rights amendment in the constitution of the US. Though the proposed amendment was rejected before it matured to a law, it helped shed significant light on the issue of women’s rights.

Lesbians and Gay Issues

In Germany, civil rights have been used to argue out the oppression and discrimination against people the lesbians and gay persons. Civil rights have defined lesbians and gay persons in the bracket of minority groups. This approach was adopted by the homophile movement of the US in the 1940s to 1960s. With the increased wave of secularism, there was a need to formulate laws that would make the concerned persons feel that they belong to the same society with the heterosexuals. The homophile movement build on a foundation for this minority group ‘which was’ later known as the Gay Liberation. The Black and the Chicano power inspired the Gay power movement so intensively.

Events That Mark Civil Rights Movement in The US

The Second World War

Both white and black soldiers collaborate well to range war in the Second World War. Having assisted the Americans in the battle field, the blacks hoped for promotions and better salaries after the end of the war. While the war was in progress, the leaders of the Negro Congress wanted to launch a campaign for equality at places of work. However, they did not want to disrupt the corporation that prevailed during the war time. As a result, they were compromised to sign a pact on fair employment practices. This move enabled more than two hundred African Americans to secure jobs in the defense force and related industries. When the war ended, President Truman launched a Civil Rights committee thus dismantling the military.

In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for a civil rights related crime. While boarding a bus in Montgomery, Rosa refused to offer her seat to a white person. As it was by the tradition, the Blacks were obliged to offer their seats to the whites while boarding buses. After the arrest, Martin Luther led the rest of black American in a demonstration across the entire town. In addition, there was a campaign to boycott boarding the city buses by the African Americans.

In 1960, a group known as the student’s movement was launched. This movement was aimed at spreading the gospel against segregation in the southern parts of America. They held demonstrations with the hope that they may provoke violence or win the mercy of some white people. The students believed that even by catching the attention of the media, they will have passed some word. This was followed by the Birmingham protest which was organized by Martin Luther. This rally was attended by thousands from the working class to mere students. This move led to arrest of Luther after which he was imprisoned. During the time of imprisonment, Luther wrote a famous script referred to as "the letter from Birmingham Jail" which lays down the critics faced by the civil rights movements.

Another move by the civil rights movement was to ensure that the African Americans get equal voting rights. Malcolm X remains in the book of history as a famous American civil rights activist. As a preacher of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm preached black supremacy. He encouraged his followers to use force and aggressiveness in defense. He faced criticism from the whites but he did not despair.

Political History of Civil Rights Movement

The African Americans in the US have for a long period fought a violent and non violent war against the white. From the times when Africans would be kidnapped to work as slaves in the farms of the white people. While tilling the farms, the Africans would engage in peaceful strikes, slow down work, escape and launch direct wages against their bosses. Despite being met with a great counter force, African Americans have continually hoped for the day that they will feel equal to the Americans. As time went by, African Americans fought for absorption of their rights in the entire state. Voting rights and right to own immovable property was still limited to the whites.

A significant percentage of blacks were ‘however’ living as free people. These were called the free blacks. Though they were referred to as free they still went through some discrimination. In some circumstances, the blacks were forced to pay for their freedom by offering labor services to the whites.

Strategies Used

A Federal Government Will Strengthen Civil Rights

When John Kennedy took over power as the president of the US in 1960, Black Americans had substantial hope that he will defend their rights. They also believed that a federal is one that offers space for civil rights movement. In his first political term, Kennedy took a moderate stand towards racial issues ‘however’ these issues generated more pressure around 1963. This is when there were frequent conflicts between activists and the police. In fact, it was at this time that the current Governor’s story hit the media when he attempted blocking black students from joining the University of Alabama. The outcome was an address to the public by the president which touched on issues of civil rights and racial violence. He also appreciated the effort of the civil workers who had previously suffered for the sake of the black people.

The Federal Law on Civil Rights Was Not Enough

In 1942, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was formed to offer challenge to discrimination and segregation. It was meant to offer nonviolent resistance at waiting rooms, hotels and other public institutions. It had been noted that the Government cannot solely fight against discrimination. The entire community ought to be involved, and hence this lead to formation of community and political organizations that sensitized black people on the benefits of equality. These two groups had the power to change any political aspect that proved unfavorable.

Non Violent Resistance

This was clearly demonstrated when Luther led a bus boycott after Rosa Parks had been arrested. He instructed his fellow blacks to range a boycott on using the city buses, a move that led to economic decline in the bus industry. Luther believed that well organized non violent demonstrations would bring a point home. This is because non violent demonstrations would be bound by love for everyone irrespective of racial characteristics.

Non Violence Was Not Enough

Unlike Luther, Malcolm X who was another civil rights activist had a contradicting view. In the year 1964, Malcolm delivered a speech that was advocating for use of any means possible to gain political and economic independence.

Black Power for The Black People

In the 1960s black power became a common vocabulary in the military groups. Black power was a campaign strategy led by a young student, and it aimed at freeing the black people from cultural, economic and political oppression. Most white saw black power as an antiwhite movement. This was a movement that enabled the African Americans to do away with the traditional believe that blackness is powerlessness. This is the belief that white Americans had used to oppress their counterparts who have black skin.

Black Power Is Fruitless

Unlike the previous argument to launch the Black Power movement, Kenneth Clark disapproved the effectiveness of the Black power. He argued that, for the state to move forward, there ought to be no racial separation. He was totally against Black Power which was a move to empower the blacks at the expense of the whites. Kenneth said that the problems of the black person affect the entire America, and hence choosing to empower the Negro alone is creating more trouble. This is because progress is based on common empowerment, and not segregated empowerment.

Protest Demonstrations Had Limited Power

Referring to the bus boycott led by Luther, Watson claimed that it would not have succeeded had it not have been for an additional legal role. He advocated for the use of legal force in every attempt to execute some strategy.

The Protest Campaigns Strengthened Civil Rights

Adam Mack draws particular attention to the mass protest in opposition to Jim Crow. This is because it yielded positive outcomes when the federal government took a decisive action.

After The Civil Rights Movement

Civil rights movement gradually lost power of influence due to the government oppression and assassinations of the key leaders. These leaders include Malcolm X and King Luther among others. However, the struggle that had prevailed for those numerous years left considerable marks in the history of America. Though segregation still thrived in various places like schools, most public facilities ‘however’ begun offering equal facilities. Black candidates began holding political position in areas where they had previously been denied. Universities and colleges in the southern parts which had been famous for discrimination began recruiting students from all races.

Despite all these gains, there still exists significant racial discrimination in America today. Though the poor did not gain so much from the immediate results of civil rights campaigns, they remained optimistic about the future and long term benefits.

Conclusion

In the entire history of the United States, racism has taken a significant part. Racism has played a key role in deterring the state from achieving its democratic vision. Africans were brought to America initially as slaves to till the farms of the white people. As years went by they realized that there existed no difference between them and their bosses except the skin color aspect. The civil rights movements have fought for equal position since time immemorial. Though most of the civil rights leaders have long died, they all have left significant legacies in the American history. The level of equality present in America today can be attributed to the history of civil rights movement. Today, political equality is evident in America by the fact the US president is a black American. In fact, he is serving a second term as the US president.