It is common knowledge that the United States of America is a country of immense opportunities and equal rights founded by a group of refugees from the British Empire who sought possibilities to enjoy civil rights; however it was not until the second half of the 20th century that African Americans were granted such a franchise. If there was one event that was so crucial as to determine the way the whole nation would be moving for years to come, it was Civil Rights and Black Power movement. It came to pass that racial inequality, apartheid or racial segregation got to the point when it was no longer possible to keep the black population checked. Not only were these movements instrumental in providing American black population with God-given equalities, but also sent an international message to those whites having “a pale comprehension of human rights” to remind that there was nothing to choose between people of different skin color who all stem from Africa. The winds of changes were blowing hard, with these people being their heralds.
According to Davis (n.p.), the starting point of the civil rights movement goes as far back in history as the 19th century. Karson (12) admits that in defiance of the servitude ending 13th Amendment signed into law in the course of the Civil War, in 1864, the black populations of the USA would be browbeaten, harassed, and even lynched by radical Ku Klux Klan disciples to the end that African Americans might stay disenfranchised, deprived of money, and illiterate. Supreme Court came to enforce “Jim Crow” laws that forbade the black Americans their access to public places and gatherings, such as parks, restaurants, theatres, streetcars, and drinking fountains, to name a few. The First World War saw 250,000 African Americans relegated to segregated military units on their arrival. Pushed to their limit by acute unemployment, the blacks would seek employment opportunities in the then budding defense industries, immigrating and further re-aggravating the already galloping unemployment in the North. Racial issues went unabated, with African Americans discriminated when at factories or in the army. Segregation did affect education among other spheres, imposing inferiority complex on the colored children, which was all but killing the desire to attend school on the part of the black children (Karson 13-14).
The never before movement united both the whites and the blacks, campaigning for equal rights by means of petitions, negotiations and nonaggressive protests, under one banner. The single largest social movement has become a true inspiration to the contemporary women’s rights movement and the 1960s student movement. It is safe to suppose that other liberation and human rights movement that will derive inspiration from the USA experience are yet to come. The geography of the event suggests the protest used to largely concentrate in the American South where segregation, education infringements, political and legal discriminations as well as unfair economic opportunities that would cause American black population to constantly replenish breadlines were most crying. People demanded that the notoriously known Jim Crow laws along with voting rights restrictions that were keeping the black population away from decision-making be abolished. To lift education barriers, to eliminate social segregation, and to have people granted voting rights was all people were calling for (Davis n.p.). That being said, the stage was prepared for massive demonstrations and it was more a matter of people’s unity and open declaration of their will to live in prejudices-free state than a tacit and undercover strife.
The so-called Freedom Riders are known for having boarded commercial buses in Washington D.C. for them to embark on a trip to the South multiple times. While they were cruising through the southern states, they were publicly challenging the decision of the Supreme Court to keep transport segregation. Vexed and tired of having their rights trampled were people that beating that bus drivers incurred as well as buses arsons was not reason enough to make them stop revolting. The SNCC went as far as to orchestrate campaigns to succeed in winning voting rights for the blacks as well as eliminating apartheid in public places. Birmingham in Alabama was one of the major mainstays of conservative attitude, with Eugene Connor at the head. Demonstrators led by Luther King could no more leave this problem unaddressed than they could hush this blatant injustice. Mayor’s fire-hosing and hounding dogs on peaceful demonstrators was the very last straw that caused John Kennedy’s administration to take the control over to elaborate legislation needed. Kennedy assassinated, Lyndon Johnson was the one to railroad the 1964 Civil Rights Act through Congress. As from 1964 it was decreed that apartheid in respect of public places and employment practices not be employed by official authorities (Davis n.p.). Though in the face of death, the protesters would not stop braving the backlash of Ku Klux Klan members who stage-managed terrorist attacks (Fairclough n.p.; Strauss n.p.). Nor did arrests keep protesters from abandoning their noble cause even on penalty of imprisonment, with Martin Luther alone being jailed 13 times (Fairclough n.p.).
However, there was much more to it than that. Far from being over, equality strife was only gaining in speed and scope of spreading. As of mid-1960s authorities would not grant voting rights to the black citizens of America. Post-war plans of getting people enfranchised never came to fruition; hence, it was after the Council of Federated Organizations or COFO, initiating freedom Summer and the Summer Project, when the process gained a much needed momentum. The COFO efforts, such as voter-registration drive, were anything but successful; however what they did was garner plethora of public attention, including that of lawmakers. King’s 54 miles’ march to Montgomery from Selma claimed 3 demonstrators who were shot dead in the process. Such was the price of remonstrating against human rights violation; still this sacrifice was instrumental in tilting scales in favor of legislation, which had been finally signed after so many futile efforts. In August 1965, president Johnson made it official equal voting rights for all citizens regardless of the color of skin (Davis n.p.).
The urban North and West caught the eyes of civil rights activists around this time. These were the activists who were being militant, growing tired of the slow motion campaign process. Stokely Carmichael deposed John Lewis as the chairman of the SNCC whose members came to be known as the “Black Power”. Their activity revolved around protecting African American heritage as well as exercising economic independence. However, there arose a lot of controversy after racial separatism and self-protection against white violence had been declared. These principles run counter to the doctrine of racial integration and passive resistance propounded by traditional activists. The California-based Black Panthers were a leading group assembled in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. Civil rights movement radical-winger, Malcolm X was one of the most notable central figures of the movement, whose politically incorrect statement regarding the late president Kennedy had him excommunicated from the community shortly thereafter, no longer representing the Nation of Islam, aka the Black Muslims. What the black panthers never managed to achieve were supporters that would have shared their radical ideology. By 1970s organization had come close to being disbanded, with no real power in hands (Davis n.p.).
The scope of inequality was such that people were ready, willing, and able to make any sacrifice up to putting their lives on the altar of strife. Martin Luther and his militant fellow-in-strife Malcolm X were assassinated; however it is the former who is believed to have been killed for movement-related reasons. The number of sacrifices and the importance of people to have forfeited their lives for a high aim speaks volumes for how important these historical developments were. The question now becomes: did these movements eradicate racial prejudices one and for all? According to Oskin (n.p.), the USA is still in need of another civil rights movement these days. Though it has been 50 years since the famous “I have a dream” speech, the gap between the whites and the blacks with respect to employment opportunities does exist. Poverty, voting issues and, most importantly, racial inequalities are said to still persevere, to say nothing of grand scale imprisonment of blacks that is spinning up presently. Ellis (n.p.) stresses the importance of securing black people prosperity and equal educational opportunities that the black American children are utterly under-receiving by enlisting the support of cultural celebrities.
Overall, Civil Rights as well as Black Power Movement was a turning point in history of the fine American nation, which had achieved worldwide recognition and a great success except for equal civil rights for all citizens. Being for years in the making, these movements aroused human awareness and sent a resounding message to those doubting the equality and challenging it on a regular basis. The fact that many a conscientious man were as good as dead after numerous beat-downs that they sustained in the process of demonstrations speaks volumes for an irresistible longing to live in equal society. People just would not have their right infringed any longer and their ardent activity got the pendulum of authorities’ opinion to become firmly swayed in favor of them granting civil rights to the black citizens of the USA. Years have gone by; however, now these movements are relevant as never before, with the rights of the black population still infringed. Plenty of experience and inspiration may be borrowed from the events of 1960s and they will be by wise and competent administration of the current president who has the firsthand knowledge of what is going on in the USA. People put so many American signature civilian features on display during the Civil Rights Movement; still, what says it best is integrity and unity.
Works Cited
Davis, Jack E. “Civil Rights Movement: an Overview.” Scholastic. n.d. n.p. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
Ellis, Judy Howard. “Why Blacks Need Another civil rights Movement.” The Washington Post Politics. 03 December 2012. n.p. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
Fairclough, Adam. “Better Day Coming: Civil Rights in America in the 20th Century.” BBC.co.uk. 01 April 2003. n.p. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
Karson, Jill. “The Civil Rights Movement.” Greenhaven Press. 2005. 13-14. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
Oskin, Becky. “Why US Still Needs a Civil Rights Movement.” Live Science. 29 August 2013. n.p. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
Solis, Steph. “Strong Women Were Pillars behind Civil Rights Movement.” USA Today. 19 August 2013. n.p. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
Strauss, Valerie. “Learning the Pivotal Moments in America’s Civil Rights Struggle.” The Washington Post. 15 September 2013. n.p. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
