Black American Resistant Movements

The Civil Rights Movement Student’s name University Course Name of the Professor Date The Civil Rights Movement The Civil Rights Movement was an essential mass struggle to secure social justice in the United States of America, principally in the 1950s and 1960s. It targeted racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. It aimed to secure federal protection and legal recognition of the citizenship rights of all as enshrined in the Constitution and federal law. Objectives of the Movement The main objectives of the Civil Rights Movement were to abolish Jim Crow laws, eliminate segregation in public and private places, and gain voting rights. This movement aimed to achieve racial equality and justice while clinging to systemic educational, employment, and housing inequalities. The supreme landmark objectives were enshrined in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These were meant to shatter the institutionalized fabric of racial discrimination and enfranchise African Americans (Steinberg, 2022). Federal Government's Reaction The federal government's response to the Civil Rights Movement was double-folded. At first, there was a tremendous amount of local and state resistance, particularly in the Southern states, where segregation was at its peak. On the other hand, regular sturdy activism in the form of nonviolent protests and civil disobedience finally awoke the federal government to take measures. The Civil Rights Act of 1964's main legislative victories outlawed,ewhichrious discriminatory practices based on race, colour, religion, or national origin. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlaws all kinds of barriers that hinder the voting process for African Americans (Bair, 2020). Ways of Counteraction The Civil Rights Movement mainly adopted nonviolent resistance in line with the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. It was spearheaded by its figureheads like Martin Luther King Jr. Actions taken by the movement included sit-ins, boycotts, and marches. Key events included the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Freedom Rides, and Selma to Montgomery marches. It proved important in bringing national attention...