The History of African-Americans to Attain Equality and Civil Rights
Introduction
The history of the struggle for the advancement and progression of African Americans is a larger-than-life story. It reveals their endeavors for the initiation of change in political, financial, educational, and societal conditions. They did everything to shape their future and that of their country i.e. the United States of America. This struggle for the attainment of equal rights has helped them to determine the path and the pace of their improvement and development (Taylor & Mungazi, 2001, p. 1). It is widely acknowledged that the African-American freedom struggle and their relentless works to end segregation, discrimination, and isolation have accomplished further than the eradication of racial and national barriers. The mass militancy not only knocked over the system introduced by Jim Crow but completely transformed the nature of traditional social relationships and civilizing medians. Moreover, the freedom struggle not only changed the legal status of black Americans but also helped in achieving the significant changes in ethnic awareness (Carson, 1993, p. 3). In simple words, the civil rights movement was not simply an attempt for the achievement of national civil rights reform. It carried within it much more than that. It facilitated the generation of embryonic norms and ethics just like any other civil movement. These reforms helped in the removal of barriers to the liberty of
The American Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950s and 1960s generated massive international following and controversy, which made the movement one of the most important in U.S. history. The movement’s legacy can still be felt today, with the positive aspects, such as voting rights to African Americans and wide spread desegregation of public facilities, still being felt in the United States, and in many similar models across the globe. Although there were many “battlegrounds” where civil issues were debated, many people who know of the movement today would argue that the movement’s heart was rooted in the Deep South, ironically where it could be argued that the mentality of people living in the area at the time were the most violently opposed to such civil rights. In contrast, those who championed the Civil Rights Movement chose the tactic of nonviolence, at least at first, as a tool to dismantle racial segregation, discrimination, and inequality. They followed models that Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists had commissioned, using principles of nonviolence and passive resistance. Civil rights leaders had understood that segregationists would do anything to maintain their power over blacks. So, in consequence, they believed some changes might be made if enough people outside the
Civil Rights-the freedoms and rights that a person with-holds as a member of a community, state, or nation. Ever since the beginning of involvement between white and black people there has been social disagreement; mainly with the superiority of the white man over the black man. African Americans make up the largest minority group in the United States and because of this they have been denied their civil rights more than any other minority group(source 12). During the Civil Rights Movement, it was said to be a time full of violence and brutality; however, many African-Americans pulled through in their time of struggle. By records, known history, and personal accounts, this paper will show how many people fought for equality and how the
Though the Emancipation Proclamation freed African Americans over one hundred years before, blacks still remained victims of bondage in many ways in the 1960s. Over the course of that century, African Americans faced an endless struggle against the racism and prejudice so rampant throughout the United States. The roots of the Civil Rights Movement stretch across a great portion of this country’s history. Its origins date back to the very beginnings of slavery in America when men would rise up in mutiny on the ships that carried them across the Atlantic. The foundation of African American organizations, the impact of World War II, and the enduring presence of inequality all worked together to give rise to the modern Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement gained momentum in the postwar era and
During the 1960s, African-Americans were one of the ethnic groups that were involved in the Civil Rights Movement. African-Americans were oppressed and not given their natural which are guaranteed by the United States constitution. Being involved in the Civil Rights Movement and fighting for their rights, African-Americans hoped to gain freedom and be able to live a fair life. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were also involved in the fight for African-Americans freedom; they were two of the most recognized leaders. Although the two leaders were different, one advocated nonviolence while the other violence, they both strived to get equal rights for their people. Both leaders influenced the creation of a group which was led by an African-American named Huey Newton. Huey Newton was born in Louisiana, but moved to Oakland, CA when he was a toddler. “In Oakland the police functioned as an occupying force in the black community” (Haskins 5), it was a rough place for African-Americans to live in
A debate in civil rights history appeared in the decades following the well-publicized struggles of the early 1960s and continues today. This debate is of whether the movement was finished with its goals when it attained equal treatment under the law, or whether it had changed to a new goal of fighting all forms of discrimination, not just the formal version found in Jim Crow.
One hundred years is 36,525 days. It wasn’t until more than 36,525 days after the Emancipation Proclamation proclaimed the freedom of all slaves on January 1, 1863 that African Americans experienced any true freedom in America. Freedom is defined as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance.” Although the Fourteenth Amendment passed in 1868 guaranteed all citizens equal protection of the laws and the Fifteenth Amendment passed in 1869 prohibited the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on their “race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” African Americans still faced hindrance to their freedom. The Civil Rights Movement was necessary a century after African Americans were “free” because any legislation that was passed- whether in the few years following the Emancipation Proclamation or throughout the 1950’s and 60’s- was not enacted in reality; de jure was not de facto, making it impossible for any laws about segregation, voting rights, or discrimination in the workplace to become reality. While the 1950’s and 60’s gave blacks more equality, it is important to understand that the Civil Rights Movement is not a frozen movement, but rather fluid and still existing today. Americans, along with many other minorities still face extreme inequalities and racism in American society today.
The civil rights movement was time when racial equality was prominent in America. In this essay it will address the ways in which people challenged the ways of life to one day achieve racial equality. Jim crows laws and segregation was a dominant factor in the way that the courts ruled in favour of racial inequality.
Although their predicament didn’t improve much, gradually there was a transformation in the manner in which African Americans regarded themselves. This self-realization is what
Civil rights are the rights of individuals to receive equal treatment and to also be free from unfair treatment or discrimination in a number of settings.The civil rights were said to have been set to historically achieve true equality for African-Americans in all facets of society but now it goes for many other equality rights such as sex, age, disability and religion. A majority of laws originates at a federal level when they are guaranteeing civil rights.
Segregation was massive and widespread in the 60s and 70s. Why was this? There were plenty of individuals who supported and opposed discrimination. People who furthered the cause, and some who made drastic changes to end it. A big point of perception was specifically against African Americans since their history of slavery, they were discriminated against as a minority, especially in the south. Alabama was a central spot for this occurrence because of their southern history. However, some notable people came together to oppose the segregation amidst this all.
Since the ratification of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, from that moment on amendments and laws have passed that created equality for different races. African were now classified as African Americans and could live in harmony with Caucasians—or so in theory. During the 1950s, the former ways of living were reoccurring there were large increases in hate crimes against primarily African Americans but also against other minority groups. We have the rise in the Ku Klux Klan, we have inequity in schools (where Caucasians and color races could not coincide with one another) and in the workforce. According to the Leadership Conference, The Nation’s Premier Civil and Human Rights Coalition, the civil rights movement has “close association between the struggle for civil rights and the fight against poverty in the United States”. A question that arises is why there is an increase in hate crimes and inequality in society. However, although this time in United States history can be labeled as a
African Americans have a long history in the Americas. Their experience in United States is however laden with historical records of oppression and segregation. It has been difficult to shed off slavery tags that emanates from their historical entry into the Americas. There are many issues that emerge when considering the experience of African Americans. One of the most important issues that has been extensively studied in regard to African American experience is the issue of leadership and politics. For a long time, African-American leadership has been sidelined until the rise of civil rights movements starting from 1950s. Since then, African Americans have exerted their position in United States leadership culminating in election of
In March the United States celebrates the Selma-to-Montgomery march of 1965 to honor the civil rights movement and our nation’s continued progress towards racial equality. Yet almost five decades later a broken criminal-justice system has proven that we still have a long way to go in achieving racial equality. Today people of color continue to be excessively incarcerated, policed, and sentenced to death at significantly higher rates than whites. Further, racial differences in the criminal-justice system hurt communities of color by excluding thousands by limiting blacks the right to vote, limiting employment opportunities ,housing, public benefits, and education to millions more . While these disparities still exist it is crucial that a
The history of slavery has majorly impacted contemporary society as well as the ways in which we live. Ever since slavery was abolished in the United States, equality has been spread amongst African Americans throughout the world. This was achieved by the African Americans themselves, with their strong effort in fighting for what they felt was right. Following their strong attempts, “A terrible price had to be paid, in a tragic, calamitous civil war, before the new democracy could be rid of that most undemocratic institution” (G. Loury, 2015). A huge part of this time period was the Civil Rights
In America, minority groups are not given the same prillages as white Americans. For this paper, I will limit myself to writing about African Americans in order to be more specific. The African American community faces many cases of discrimination and oppression. Despite many Americans refusing to believe that there is racial inequality, it still exists. Only when awareness spread, can we come together to change the inequality and injustice between races.