Introduction
While talking about American Revolution, Montgomery bus boycott is a major revolution that cannot go unmentioned. Montgomery bus boycott was a civil rights movement inclined to a seminal event. The boycott was to push the government of the United States of America to treat people equally, regardless of their race and color of their skin. The primary activities of the campaign took place between December 5, 1955, and December 20, 1956. It was during this time that the black Americans fought segregation policy, and finally, the High Court abolished the law.However, there are previous activities that substantially contributed to the success of the Montgomery bus boycott.
The decision provided for a free and fair environment for both blacks and whites. As it was in the past, blacks just as their white counterparts were treated equally regardless of the color of their skin. Therefore, Alabama and Montgomery was a free zone where blacks could board buses alongside whites without the previous racial segregation. The Montgomery bus boycott led by a little-known junior pastor named Martin Luther King Junior alongside Ralph Abernathy major impact on the existing Jim Crow laws.This study explores various factors that resulted in the success of Montgomery bus boycott
Discussion
African Americans were treated like second class human beings in the early years of American civilization. The word "negro" was openly used to refer to black people to the extent that African Americans adopted the name for themselves.
Before the success of the Montgomery bus boycott, there are previous milestones that had been made to end racism in the United States of America. A good example is the Emancipation Proclamation made by the then President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln. The Emancipation Proclamation is a fact that significantly contributed to the success of Montgomery bus boycott in 1955. However, the Emancipation Proclamation did not fully end slavery in the United States of America, but it marked a good start to ending slavery. Furthermore, it captured the heart of several Americans who were the primary slave masters and slave traders. Nonetheless, freeing slaves from rebellious nations brought an imagination to several Americans and significantly transformed the characters of the war. From January 1, 1863, the advance of the federal troops substantially changed, and it inclined towards freedom.The inclination towards freedom expanded the scope of liberty.
Another activity that led to the success of the Montgomery bus boycott is the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. The amendment got ratified into the Constitution on July 9, 1868.
In its provision, it advocated the state to take due legal process before undertaking any activity related to human lives, liberty, and property. The blacks were the minority and suffered from the hands of the uncaring whites who denied them their rights to property, life, and liberty. The amendment led to an equal protection of all the Americans regardless of race. By mentioning the perceived roles of a state, the Amendment significantly expanded the protection of civil rights to all the citizens of the United States of America.
The first black bus boycott in America was the Baton Rouge bus boycott. The boycott occurred on June 15, 1953, which was a Monday. The primary intention of the boycott was to compel the federal government to protect the rights of black Americans. During that time, the Americans of black descent allegedly set a tone of a civil rights revolution; they were agitating for a modern civil rights movement that cared about their welfare. Just like Martin Luther King Junior, Rosa Parks and Ralph Abernathy, the leaders of the Black Leaders in Baton Rouge also agitated for racial equality in the United States of America.
Baton Rouge bus boycott was a major inspiration to Montgomery bus boycott; both were quite similar as they all stood up against racial segregation in buses plying various routes in the United States. Just like the ruling of the Montgomery bus boycott, the Supreme Court ruled for blacks.The decision made compelled the City Council of Baton Rouge to pass an Ordinance that allowed black Americans to set in the buses on a first come first served basis. Allowing the seating arrangement to be on a first come first served basis meant that people were not going to sit according to racial profile. Racial profiling was going to be a thing of the past. Most importantly, the Baton Rouge bus boycott paved the way for the Montgomery Bus boycott; it was a major inspiration to Rosa Parks who instigated the boycott and both Martin Luther King Junior and Ralph Bethany who led the protest.
Critical Analysis of the Facts that transpired during the Social Change: the Aftermath of the Montenegro Bus Boycotts
Those involved in the Riot
Montenegro bus boycott was an affair for the perceived inferior races living in the USA. The groups of people who directly involved in this social security change were African-Americans, and other inferior races like the Indians. These groups had their grievance against the whites, and they were determined to solicit for social change in the USA. Some of the grievances that were entailed in the social security change include, abolition of slavery, equality, and social integration and cohesion, as well as acceptance of the blacks in the navy and other key organs. In fact, the need for change came at a time when blacks served secondary roles to their whites who were their slave masters. Terms and conditions of work mainstream din this social security change welfare and blacks did not let go their determination to have a fair and a just society. The blacks alongside other minority races held a common grievance against the whites, who discriminated them in all accords of social and political life.
Criticisms during the Social Change Movement
With the initial seclusion of the African-Americans in the social security welfare, varied levels of criticisms were hurled at the program. For example, the blacks took a charm offensive and staged a series of boycotts to agitate for their freedom and social welfare. Other criticisms that were leveled against whites attributed to the unfairness and unwillingness of the government to award both colors equal opportunities. These are some criticisms that were leveled as a result of the repeal of the social security that saw many blacks have freedom. On the other hand, the whites were excused in the new emancipation cat since they were the accused race for discrimination and prejudice.
Impacts of Social Security Change to Blacks
The social security change meant a lot to the blacks who felt a sense of liberation. Initially, the blacks had been locked from joining competitive employment, but engaged in secondary jobs to their white counterparts. Thus, the revolution came with greater blessings to the blacks, especially after the ratification of the emancipation proclamation act. Other benefits that came with the success of this social security change include. Freedom of movement, freedom of speech to the blacks, and at least for the first time, black Americans were given their democratic rights.
Alternative Measures
Other alternative measures that could have helped to resolve the standoff include arbitration, and accommodation of one another. These means could have worked had the whites been willing to listen to African-Americans plights. Having dialogue with blacks would have resolved the conflicts in a very amicable way. However, the hardline standoff taken by the whites led to massive boycotts like the one experiences in Montenegro.
Conclusion
Several factors resulted at the end of racism in the United States of America. It is important to note that the end to racial segregation was a process rather than an impulsive situation. Actions such those of Rosa Parks were part of the process challenging other African Americans to take action instead of passively taking abuse, like the previous generations of black people. Activities such as the involvement of the United States of America in the Second World War, the formation of Women's Political Council in Montgomery in 1949, the United States participation in the Korean war just to mention but a few. Not only did Rosa Parks champion better conditions for African Americans, but she also challenged women to become actively involved in the liberation process. But All these activities also acted as pilot activities before the onslaught of the Montgomery bus boycott. These activities support the Montgomery bus boycott through providing inspiration and support for the law.
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