The Civil Rights Movement
Chamberlain College of Nursing
HIST 405N: United States History
Civil Rights Act Of 1964
In ten years between 1950 and ... [Show More] 1960s, a second revolution begins in the South with Black Americans and White Americans fighting together to make America be America for all citizens. For most of the country, segregation was the norm but especially in the South, it was a completely different environment both socially and psychologically. This period was the Civil Rights years. Challenging Americans' basic beliefs; what is liberty and justice for all, what is freedom, what does it truly mean to be freed. The social system that was put in place could not sustain itself for much longer.
Through nonviolent protest, the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s ended the trend of public facilities being segregated by "race" in the South and accomplished the most critical advance in African American equality legislation since the period of Reconstruction (1865-77) (Corbett et al, 2014). The movement produced one of the twentieth century's most influential American social activists, Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor, human rights activist, and leader of the Civil Rights movement. He was best known for using nonviolent civil disobedience, which was based on his Christian beliefs and the peaceful teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. This inspired Dr. King to become the change agent in society.
The Civil Rights Movement Effectively Changed the Nation
The Civil Rights movement has changed government policy and has changed, perhaps more significantly, how virtually every American lives today. The 1964 civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination and segregation based on race, religion, national origin and gender at work, in schools, in public housing and federally assisted programs (History.com, n.d.).
Segregation had its draconian rules and if blacks did not obey there were severe consequences sometimes even death. For instance, if a black man looked too close at a white woman or did not step aside and let a white person pass. Citizens began to question traditional practices about how people were treated. Such as, why did blacks and white children go to separate schools? why were women prohibited to hold such jobs? and why could a person be drafted at a certain age but not allowed to vote? (History.com, n.d.). Groups started to organize protests to combat inequality and to support equal rights for all.
Also, citizens did not employ traditional political strategies. Protestors took a more direct democracy (History.com, n.d.). They took to the streets marching, picketing, and demonstrations, winning the converts to their causes and reforming local, state and federal public policies (History.com, n.d.).
Effects the Civil Rights Act Have Across the Continent on Minority Groups
President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in law on July 1964, it outlawed segregation in public places, called for the integration of schools and other public facilities and made discrimination against jobs illegal (History.com, n.d.).
The march on Washington was a profound moment, this began the movement. Congress started to act. The movement was about taking a stance not walking away from what is right. This expanded the rights of American citizens, as a result, the federal agency became involved to make sure rights were reinforced. Furthermore, this Civil Rights Act led to other pieces of legislation that expanded to persons with disabilities and older people (History.com, n.d.).
The Civil Rights Movement has accumulated many notable victories, ranging from the dismantling of Jim Crow segregation in the South to the passage of federal legislation outlawing racial discrimination to the widespread awareness of African American cultural heritage and its distinctive contributions to US history (History, n.d.).
Tactics and Strategies used In The 1960s would it apply today?
In the same way, the protest of the 1960 civil rights Act caught public attention and raised important questions for the country, in a like manner, those same tactics were used during a protest against the Trump administration's policies. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked to leave the restaurant by the owner of the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Virginia (Zelizer, J., 2018). This incident was more of upholding their moral values and standing up for the staff employed at the restaurant.
Similarly, the use of confrontational and sometimes violent tactics will cause a political backlash and encourage fellow travelers to enter unacceptable and dangerous territory, such as the incident in Oakland, California, "Moms 4 Housing". The homeless Oakland mothers who have been illegally occupying a vacant property for months highlighted the housing crisis in the Bay Area (Brooks, K., 2020). This protest was a long fight that ended in some protestor being jailed. In the long term however, uncivil demonstrations sometimes can be the only way to move the public debate forward in the right direction and to persuade elected officials to clean up their discriminatory policies. This housing incident prompted legislation to reprimand business who deliberately keep homes empty.
Still Relevance Today
Before the Civil Rights Act, African Americans were faced with immense obstacles allowed by law. For example, the continued struggles to integrate schools ten years after Brown v. Board of Education. The Act paved the way for new legislation on civil rights for African Americans and other minority groups including the abolition of racial voting barriers (Jones-Castro and Johns, 2016). Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a momentous event this prohibited discriminatory literacy test and offered other safeguards (History.com, n.d.) being able to vote without being harassed or injured allowed Blacks into office. The Fair Housing Act of 1968, this protects from discrimination when renting or buying housing. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 this is specific protection for individuals with disabilities.
Besides, one of the major accomplishments of the civil rights movement, the Civil Rights Act led to greater social and economic equality for African Americans across the country (Jones-Castro & Johns, 2016). The Civil Rights Act is as relevant today as when the movement began. Today, the Act resulted in greater equality for women, LGBTQ people, disabled persons, and immigrants. Further, the Act influenced the implementation of educational initiatives that accentuated equity in education such as the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and later the 2015 reauthorization Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (Jones-Castro & Johns, 2016).
Civil Rights Movement the Impact on Diversity in America Today
The civil rights movement gave people who didn't previously have a voice be able to speak out. In today's world, all citizens can live a better life than in earlier years. In particular, education and where an individual chose to live. From the words of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, all people should live without discrimination on the bases of gender, race, color, religion, or national origin.
The march on Washington has been called "the most glorious evidence of interracial harmony this country has ever seen" (History.com, n.d.). Thousands bore witness as the world heard Dr. King's electrifying speech "I Have a Dream". Everyone together, black and white, young and old, rich and poor. They held hands and sang a song called "We Shall Overcome", sharing King's vision that someday "black and white together" would live in peace, equality, and understanding (History.com, n.d.).
The 2008 election of President Barack Obama, the nation's first African American president, was a powerful illustration of just how far the struggle for equality has come. However, other factors show a lot of work remains to be done. The goal of full social, cultural, and political equality has yet to be achieved (Khanacademy.org, n.d.).
Summary
In conclusion, It was a difficult fight but a fight that could not afford to be lost. Without the courage of those that took a stance against the beatings, hangings, verbal abuse and injustice, by police, white supremacists and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) not only would my ancestors still be enslaved but I would not have the rights that I have today. As groundbreaking as the Civil Rights Movement was, the fight for full equality remains. In the famous words of Dr. Martin Luther King "... “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred" (History.com, 2017). We must forge on and continue to make a difference.
References
Brooks, K., (2020). Homeless moms claim a victory in the Oakland house battle. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/homeless-moms-claim-a-victory-in-oakland-house- battle-as-owner-agrees-to-sell-property-to-local-land-bank/
Corbett, P.S., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T., Washiewicz, S., Vickery, P. (2019). U.S. History. OpenStax. CNX. Retrieved from https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/6- introduction
I Have a Dream Speech. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/civil-rights- movement/i-have-a-dream-speech
Jones-Castro, A. and Johns, D., (2016). 5 reasons the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is Just as Relevant Today. Retrieved from https://educationpost.org/5-reasons-the-civil-rights-act-of-1964- is-just-as-relevant-today/
Khan Academy (n.d.) Introduction to the Civil Rights Movement. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/postwarera/civil-rights- movement/a/introduction-to-the-civil-rights-movement
Zelizer, J. (2018). A Template for "Incivility". Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/06/incivility-vietnam-protests/563837/ [Show Less]
