The Men Behind the Scences of the Civil Rights Era

3092 Words7 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The role played by Martin Luther King Jr. in the American civil rights movement

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for millions of Americans is an iconic portrayal when discussing civil rights and American democracy. His determination to change segregation through creative and savvy ways to reach the public led to his stardom. However, there were many others who helped during the civil rights era who do not get nearly as much praise as MLK Jr. Medgar Evers, James Meredith, A Philip Randolph, Jesse Jackson are a few gentlemen that rarely received the magnitude of media focus, popularity or scrutiny that the most charismatic civil rights leaders attracted. Instead they played different positions either, making telephone calls, visiting numerous homes, organizing community meetings and rallies. They tried building a large amount of support for their cause at the lower level.
In most standard textbooks of African American history, Medgar Evers is either barely mentioned or completely ignored (Evers-Williams, Marable, A hero’s life and legacy revealed through his writings, letters, and speeches. Basic Civitas, 2005). Those who ignore or are denied full opportunity to learn history are subject to repeat it. Medgar Evers was taught early on as a child to never disregard the history of being African American and to embrace his heritage. He admired the works of his other civil rights companions and made it his duty to educate blacks on voter registration and discrimination. Medgar Evers objective was to raise awareness and impact the lives of blacks that were kept out of white schools, kept from voting ballots, and kept from their independence. The injustice of African Americans had become a routine of cruelty in Mississippi and Medgar Evers sought a way to educate blacks to overcome their discrimination. Medgar Evers int...

... middle of paper ...

...gister to vote. The ability to vote is having the ability to make a difference in the country and having a voice.
Medgar never wanted the attention that MLK or Malcolm X had throughout the nation. This is partly the reason why we as a nation may have not heard of Medgar Evers throughout history. Even though we may not have heard about Medgar Evers his commitment of racial equality spread throughout the nation and influenced other activists to partake in the civil rights movement. The injustice of African Americans had become a routine of cruelty in Mississippi and Medgar Evers sought a way to educate blacks to overcome the discrimination. Now today minorities are able to vote without any restrictions because of the courageous efforts of Medgar Evers and many others who made commitments and sacrificed their lives to ensure a better America for future generations.

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Rhetorical Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle'

    1620 Words  | 4 Pages

    also exemplifies a compassionate leader, but another leadership quality of King’s was his unmatched trustworthiness amongst the black people of the 1950’s and 60’s. Martin Luther King Jr. lived during a time of severe segregation and hate toward the African-American people of the United States. Many African-American civil rights activists- such as Reverend George Lee, Lamar Smith, and NAACP State Director Medgar Evers- were victims of gruesome murders due to their efforts in the Civil Rights Movement (Austin, 2002). Martin Luther King Jr. too was killed as a result of his efforts as one of the leaders of the movement, and every time that King organized a demonstration, his followers also risked their lives by participating. Their trust in Martin Luther King Jr.’s non-violent demonstrations was eventually rewarded, as now the African-American people comprise an important part of

    Read More

  • Essay On Medgar Evers

    788 Words  | 2 Pages

    Medgar Evers was an African American civil rights activist from Decatur, Mississippi. After marrying a college classmate, Evers and his wife moved to Mound Bayou, Mississippi. There, T.R.M. Howard hired Evers to sell insurance for his company, Magnolia Mutual Life Insurance. Howard was also the president of a civil rights and pro self-help organization, the Regional Council of Negro Leadership (RCNL). Evers soon became involved in the RNCL, giving him excellent training in activism. In February of 1954, Evers applied to the segregated University of Mississippi Law School and had his application rejected due to discrimination against African Americans. Evers then became the focus of an NAACP campaign to desegregate the University of Mississippi. This case was aided b...

    Read More

  • Mississippi: The Most Racist State in America

    1691 Words  | 4 Pages

    "The two races have lived here together. The Negro has been here in America since 1619, a total of 344 years. He is not going anywhere else; this country is his home. He wants to do his part to help make his city, state, and nation a better place for everyone, regardless of color and race. Let me appeal to the consciences of many silent, responsible citizens of the white community who know that a victory for democracy in Jackson will be a victory for democracy everywhere” (Medgar Evers in Jackson Mississippi, 2013). This excerpt is taken from a 17 minute speech by Medgar Evers on May 20, 1963, in response to the vocal criticisms of Mayor Allen Thompson’s view of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as being ‘outside agitators’.

    Read More

  • The Civil Rights Movement : Robert F. Williams

    1483 Words  | 3 Pages

    Robert F. Williams was one of the most influential active radical minds of a generation that toppled Jim Crow and forever affected American and African American history. During his time as the president of the Monroe branch of the NAACP in the 1950’s, Williams and his most dedicated followers (women and men) used machine guns, Molotov cocktails, and explosives to defend against Klan terrorists. These are the true terrorists to American society. Williams promoted and enforced this idea of "armed self-reliance" by blacks, and he challenged not just white supremacists and leftists, but also Martin Luther King Jr., the NAACP, and the civil rights establishment itself. During the 1960s, Williams was exiled to Cuba, and there he had a radical radio station titled "Radio Free Dixie." This broadcast of his informed of black politics and music The Civil Rights movement is usually described as an nonviolent / peaceful call on America 's guilty conscience, and the retaliation of Black Power as a violent response of these injustices against African Americans. Radio Free Dixie shows how both of these racial and equality movements spawned from the same seed and were essentially the same in the fight for African American equality and an end to racism. Robert F. Williams 's story demonstrates how independent political action, strong cultural pride and identity, and armed self-reliance performed in the South in a semi-partnership with legal efforts and nonviolent protest nationwide.

    Read More

  • Complexities of Dr. Martin Luther King

    1256 Words  | 3 Pages

    Martin Luther King, Jr.’s impact on the civil rights movement was nothing short of monumental. To say anything less may be considered sacrilege in the history of the United States. King’s liberal and Christian upbringing, comfortable and educated childhood, and his theological education all played a large part in his contributions to civil rights in America.

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King Jr.

    578 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Civil Rights Movement is one of the most important events of the history of the United States. Although many people contributed to this movement, Martin Luther King, Jr., is widely regarded as the leader of the movement for racial equality. Growing up in the Deep South, King saw the injustices of segregation first hand. King’s studies of Mahatma Ghandi teachings influenced his views on effective ways of protesting and achieving equality. Martin Luther King’s view on nonviolence and equality and his enormous effect on the citizens of America makes him the most influential person of the twentieth century.

    Read More

  • The Individuals and Movements that Made the Civil Rights Change Possible

    1201 Words  | 3 Pages

    The many leaders of the Civil Rights Movement were: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, little rock nine, John Brown, Linda Brown, Ruby Bridges, Frederick Douglass, Plessey Scott, JFK, and Malcolm X. All of these men and women had a great influence on the movement’s success in the United States and helped end racial segregation. It all started in 1954 in the Brown vs. Board of Education in Topeka, Kansas. The people who were involved were John Brown and Linda Brown. This happened because of the separate but equal law created 60 years earlier in the Plessey vs. Ferguson case when Plessey lost and created separate but equal laws.

    Read More

  • The Civil Rights Movement: The Struggle Continues

    1177 Words  | 3 Pages

    Civil rights are the rights to personal liberty and are provided by the law. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights promises everybody civil rights. But many people, including lots of black people, have been denied their civil rights. Black people, and also some white people who help them, have struggled for these rights for a long time. Many people have helped and many kinds of groups have been formed to help win equal rights for everyone. Things are a lot better used to be, but the struggle is not over.

    Read More

  • Remember The Titans: The Civil Rights Movement

    453 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Civil Rights Movement was an act in the 1950’s and 1960’s in which African Americans tried to achieve civil rights equal to whites. During this time, there was definite tension; African Americans were nonviolently protesting for their rights. In the movie Remember the Titans, The Civil Rights Movement ties in because of bussing black and white neighbourhoods together, also causing the football team, The Titans to come together. The linebacker on the team, Gerry Bertier represents a good and fair captain in these feuding times, for he accepted the African Americans deeply after some bonding exercises. The essay will persuade the reader that Gerry Bertier was a good and fair captain because (1) he didn’t tolerate others not treating African Americans on the team well, (2) he shows leadership and responsibility throughout the team, (3) and he stayed motivated.

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King's Acceptance Speech Analysis

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King Jr. is considered the formative figure in the modern fight for the civil rights movement and fought for racial equality with something much stronger than tolerance. He fought for the equal rights for all people of every background. Being a leader of racial equality and spoke up for the wrong doing of society, but also the peoples' actions towards making America a better place and equal opportunity. The reason he is so unique is because he was non-violent in his goals. King had great moral and philosophical purposes by speaking out in the public of the conflicts that was going on during that time and finding ways to overcome those conflicts in a peaceful

    Read More

  • The Civil Rights Movement

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1960’s were a time of freedom, deliverance, developing and molding for African-American people all over the United States. The Civil Rights Movement consisted of black people in the south fighting for equal rights. Although, years earlier by law Africans were considered free from slavery but that wasn’t enough they wanted to be treated equal as well. Many black people were fed up with the segregation laws such as giving up their seats on a public bus to a white woman, man, or child. They didn’t want separate bathrooms and water fountains and they wanted to be able to eat in a restaurant and sit wherever they wanted to and be served just like any other person.

    Read More

  • The Long Struggle for Civil Rights

    2179 Words  | 5 Pages

    African Americans have a history of struggles because of racism and prejudices. Ever since the end of the Civil War, they struggled to benefit from their full rights that the Constitution promised. The fourteenth Amendment, which defined national citizenship, was passed in 1866. Even though African Americans were promised citizenship, they were still treated as if they were unequal. The South had an extremely difficult time accepting African Americans as equals, and did anything they could to prevent the desegregation of all races. During the Reconstruction Era, there were plans to end segregation; however, past prejudices and personal beliefs elongated the process.

    Read More

  • The Black Power Movement vs the Civil Rights Movement

    482 Words  | 1 Pages

    Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were two of the most important people. in black history. With their struggle to make America view black. people as equals, their speeches were inspirational and always made. their message clear and clear.

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King's Usage of Ethos Pathos Mythos and Logos

    750 Words  | 2 Pages

    Martin Luther King is widely known as one of the greatest speakers to ever approach our nation. The impact he made on America was so much more than effective; it was incredible. The speech Martin Luther King gave took place 48 years ago, and even today people remember and quote the words he spoke. Being a man of Christ, he allowed the Lord to use him in furthering the kingdom of God. He is a man that has gone into history, and every child who goes through school is made known of works. Martin Luther King's passion for the civil-rights movement was so strongly effective and evident that it changed our nation.

    Read More

  • One Person Can Make a Difference

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    Growing up in the South I experienced the affects of desegregation in the schools and saw how one person standing up for what they believe in could make a difference. On the national stage Martin Luther King Jr. was a powerful agent of change. He stood up for what he believed in and was subjected to abuse and violence as a result. Martin Luther King became the leader of a movement that forced huge changes in this country - from desegregation to voting rights to equal opportunity laws.

    Read More

More about The Men Behind the Scences of the Civil Rights Era

Open Document