The Civil Rights Movement of the 50's and 60's was arguably one of the most formative and influential periods in American history. Hundreds of thousands of civil rights activists utilized non violent resistance and civil disobedience to revolt against racial segregation and discrimination. The Civil Rights Movement began in the southern states but quickly rose to national prominence. It is of popular belief that the civil rights movement was organized by small groups of people, with notable leaders like—Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, and even John F. Kennedy—driving the ship. That is partly correct. The Civil Rights Movement, in its truest form, was hundreds of thousands of people organizing events and protests, working together to ensure that every American—whether black, white, brown and anything in between—had the right to a prosperous and harmonious life. The Desegregation of the University of Mississippi James Meredith was a Civil Rights Activist, writer, political adviser, and the first African American admitted to the University of Mississippi. Originally, Meredith's admission to the University of Mississippi was rescinded on the basis of his race: the University of Mississippi—at that time—was an all white institution. Because all public educational institution were ordered to desegregate, Meredith brought upon a lawsuit. The district court, predictably, ruled against him, but his case made its way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor. James Meredith arrived at the university on September 20, 1962, but he could not enter the school as all of the entrances were blocked off. Violent riots erupted upon his arrival and the military was dispatched for his protection. On October 1, 1962, Jame... ... middle of paper ... ....edu/index.php/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/enc_freedom_rides/>. "Freedom Summer." Eyes on the Prize. PBS, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. . "Selma to Montgomery March." We Shall Overcome. National Parks Service, n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2014. . "March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama." Eyes on the Prize. PBS, n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2014. . "Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.." Martin Luther King: The Global Freedom Struggle. Stanford University, n.d. Web. 8 Feb. 2013. . "The Lorraine Motel." PCS Blog. N.p., 24 Aug. 2013. Web. 8 Feb. 2014. .
Click here to unlock this and over one million essays
Show MoreRoss, S. (2007). Civil Rights March on Washington. Retrieved 4 21, 2014, from Infoplease: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/marchonwashington.html
Ross, S. (n.d.). Civil Rights March on Washington. Infoplease. Retrieved April 11, 2014, from http://www.infoplease.com/spot/marchonw
The White Citizens Council was formed and led opposition to school desegregation allover the South. The Citizens Council called for economic coercion of blacks who favored integrated schools, such as firing them from jobs, and the creation of
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.
The latter part of the Civil Rights Movement was characterized by action and change as it was no longer centralized in the South or only fought for by black individuals. Rather, northerners were active in achieving black equality and the white community was campaigning for integration. Although many lost their lives in this struggle, their valiancy did not go unrewarded and soon enough African Americans were able to vote, work, study, and simply eat lunch beside white individuals.
For many years after the Civil War many African-Americans did not truly enjoy the freedoms that were granted to them by the US constitution. This was especially true in the southern states, because segregation flourished in the south wwhere African-Americans were treated as second class citizens. This racial segregation was characterized by separation of different races in daily life, such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a rest room, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home. In addition, Blacks were not afforded justice and fair trials, such as the case of the murder of Emmet Till. This unjust treatment would not be tolerated in America any more, which spurred the civil rights movement.
Rosa Parks interview: Pioneer of civil rights. (2013 December 6). Academy of American Achievement. March 3, 2014.
The civil right movement refers to the reform movement in the United States beginning in the 1954 to 1968 led primarily by Blacks for outlawing racial discrimination against African-Americans to prove the civil rights of personal Black citizen. For ten decades after the Emancipation Proclamation, African-Americans in Southern states still live a rigid unequal world of deprive right of citizenship, segregation and various forms of oppression, including race-inspired violence. “Jim Crow” laws at the local and state levels. The nonviolent protest and civil disobedient were used by the civil right activist to bring change. The civil right movement produces many great leaders and many social changes that resulted as organized civil rights events that were staged throughout the south by organizations dedicated to finish segregation. The civil right movement help the African American people the urge to pursue their American dream. The distinguish civil right leader during the time was Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., and the most memorable events that took cause during the movement was the fight to gain equality in voting rights for the black. The cause and effect to the civil rights movement were initiated by the African American teen visiting relatives in Mississippi from Chicago, the intensity in Selma, Alabama, Rosa Park refusal; integrate Little Rock central high school and James Meredith.
Reed, Roy. “Hundreds Pour Into Selma For March to Montgomery.” New York Times. 21 Mar. 1965: 1+
King Jr., M.L. Stride Toward Freedom. The Montgomery Story. New York, NY: Harper and Brothers, Publishers. 1960
Historically, the Civil Rights Movement was a time during the 1950’s and 60’s to eliminate segregation and gain equal rights. Looking back on all the events, and dynamic figures it produced, this description is very vague. In order to fully understand the Civil Rights Movement, you have to go back to its origin. Most people believe that Rosa Parks began the whole civil rights movement. She did in fact propel the Civil Rights Movement to unprecedented heights but, its origin began in 1954 with Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka. Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka was the cornerstone for change in American History as a whole. Even before our nation birthed the controversial ruling on May 17, 1954 that stated separate educational facilities were inherently unequal, there was Plessy vs. Ferguson in 1896 that argued by declaring that state laws establish separate public schools for black and white students denied black children equal educational opportunities. Some may argue that Plessy vs. Ferguson is in fact backdrop for the Civil Rights Movement, but I disagree. Plessy vs. Ferguson was ahead of it’s time so to speak. “Separate but equal” thinking remained the body of teachings in America until it was later reputed by Brown vs. Board of Education. In 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, and prompted The Montgomery Bus Boycott led by one of the most pivotal leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. After the gruesome death of Emmett Till in 1955 in which the main suspects were acquitted of beating, shooting, and throwing the fourteen year old African American boy in the Tallahatchie River, for “whistling at a white woman”, this country was well overdo for change.
Sanders, Viv. "Rosa Parks & The Montgomery Bus Boycott." History Review 55 (2006): 3-8.Academic Search Premier. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
Out of all the movements in history, the Civil Rights Movement would have to have the most powerful argument and the most moving. This is this most convincing or moving movement of all because people’s lives were at stake. This movement is a specific leader because it was an event in history that had a dramatic change on the world and what has made it how it is in today’s time. Also, the Civil Rights Movement is a specific event because of the events that took place during this movement. Some of the areas that were targeting for reform were equal rights between blacks and whites. This movement would have to be both powerful at the time it occurred and still powerful today. Without the Civil Rights Movement our country would still be living in hatred toward each other between the whites and blacks.
Robinson, Jo Ann Gibson, and David J. Garrow. The Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Women Who Started It: the Memoir of Jo Ann Gibson Robinson. Knoxville: University of Tennessee, 1987. Print.