Civil Rights Movement

Civil Rights Movement Student’s Name Institution Affiliation Course Name & Code Instructor’s Name Date Civil Rights Movement The Discontent that Inspired the Movement in the First Place The civil rights movement, mainly between the mid-1950s and the late 1960s, was a historic period brought about by the dissatisfaction among blacks in America. This disillusionment resulted from the historical framework of formalized prejudice and oppression, which originated during slavery. Despite the emancipation of the enslaved people and the enactment of the 14th and the 15th Amendments, which gave citizenship and the right to vote to formerly enslaved people, the dream of equal rights for African Americans was unfulfilled (Pruitt, 2020). In the late 19th and early 20th century, lawmakers enacted the Jim Crow laws that legalized racism in America and developed a clear system that demanded the inferiority of black people (Editors, 2018). This unequal treatment applied to a person's education, job opportunities, home ownership, and access to stores, restaurants, and other public establishments, which stoked resentment in the population and an urge for change that would eventually manifest in the Civil Rights Movement. The Main Goals and Objectives of the Movement The key aims and objectives of the Civil Rights Movement focused on eradicating the culture of racial discrimination and separation. Some of these goals included attaining legislative protection of citizenship rights by seeking federal constitutional rights (Library of Congress, 2014). This included the right to vote, often denied through literacy tests, poll taxes, and other forms of discrimination. Another significant goal was to provide educational equality for black people; in the Plessy v. Ferguson case in 1896, the Supreme Court pushed for the 'separate but equal' notion, arguing that African Americans and whites could be provided education individually without having to mingle. (Powell, 2021). The movement also aimed to eliminate employment and residential discrimination and integrate restaurants, buses, and parks. Moreover, activists sought a change in people's perceptions of race, striving for a racially equal society and, thus, an equal nation. Influential Individuals and Leaders Who Were Involved The civil rights movement was characterized by the appearance of many prominent leaders who fought to achieve equal rights for blacks. The black power movement was heavily influenced by Indian independence activist Mahatma Gandhi's policy of non-violent civil disobedience and was led by Baptist minister Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King's use of words and authority made a significant influence in the mobilization of communities and ensured that the goals of the movement were met (Newsela, 2019). Rosa Parks, a forty-two-year-old black seamstress and civil activist, rang the bell of black American folktales when, for her, the bus was not segregated enough: she dared not to surrender her seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks' action can arguably have precipitated the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. Other leaders were equally important: Malcolm X was the apostle of Black Nationalism and rebellion; he urged African American people to become united and armed, and he condemned non-violent methods used by other leaders for some reason (NAACP, 2022). However, other leaders and workers who contributed to the civil rights movement include Ella Baker, who served as an organizer and strategist; Activists were targeted and killed by Assassins, and among the victims was Medgar Evers, a field secretary with the NAACP. These leaders collectively shaped the vision, direction, and motivation for civil rights liberation. How Those Objectives Were Achieved or Not Achieved and the Legacy of the Movement Itself People, courts, and lawmakers fortified the culture of supporting the organization. One of the first successes was racial discrimination in Schools. In 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States of America eradicated the compartmentalization and the process of deleting the "separate but equal" clause. (National Archives, 2021). One of the most famous boycotts was the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted 381 days. It ended when the buses in Montgomery became integrated, revealing the effectiveness of collective action and non-violence (Murray, 2019). Another victory was the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which safeguarded the voting rights of black people by banning socially legitimate practices like literacy tests and poll taxes. However, the fight for equality was not without loss, evident during this period. This was demonstrated in the Birmingh...