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Civil Disobedience: Rosa Parks And The Civil Rights Movement

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Does rebellion incite chaos and control bring about peace? It depends. Civil disobedience has long been an excellent solution to finding a a way to effectively show disdain for a law without wreaking havoc. The next part to address in civil disobedience is the question of what is being protested. If the protest is reasonable in its moral and legal goals, civil disobedience can be a positive impact on society.
All it can take is one act. One simple and peaceful denial of the unjust law, and what follows could be a movement of the century. Rosa Parks does just that on a Montgomery bus in 1955. By standing up to the Jim Crow era and the segregation laws around that time, Parks perfectly embodies the act of effective civil disobedience. She said that one "must never be fearful" when the cause is just. Parks actions arguably could have been the galvanizing factor in the Civil Rights movement that soon followed. The Civil Rights movement was a great step towards racial, and even gender equality on the legal side of matters. This demonstrates how a well performed act of civil disobedience, done for the right reason, will benefit society. …show more content…

Persuasive quality is just about defined by the late Martin Luther King, as he writes from his prison cell in his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." The rhetorical strategies that he employs present a compelling case for his actions, as well as the counter to his argument. All the while; however, he remains peaceful and non-combative and is still able to drive home the famous point that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Through MLK's use of peaceful and convincing persuasion, anyone can see that an similar act of civil disobedience - and how one reacts to its consequences - can do nothing but be a positive influence on

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On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks an African-American woman refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. She said, “”I don’t think I should have to stand up.” As a result, she was arrested and fined. Since Mrs. Parks’ appealed her conviction, she essentially challenged the legality of segregation. The even sparked a year-long boycott of Montgomery, Alabama buses and many consider her fateful bus ride to be the birth of the Civil Rights Movement.

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Peaceful resistance to laws has a more positive impact on a free society because it allows people to express how wrong something can be and stress the need for change. In the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King demonstrates how nonviolence allows those who "refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue" (King). Martin Luther King explains how effective nonviolence can be. This demonstrates how those protesting aren't causing chaos, yet are still being able to get their point across.

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In his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. effectively states that social movements need to trigger conflict to advance and bring about societal change. Dr. King highlights the need for nonviolent direct action to generate moral awakening and a sense of urgency in the general population. In his letter, he makes the case that tension, when used constructively, can become a powerful tool for addressing injustices and that, on the other hand, passive acceptance of injustice feeds systematic oppression. Dr. King claims that people can overthrow the current system, force critical thought, and eventually open the door for laws and social norms to be transformed by peaceful protests and civil disobedience. An example of

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Accounts of civil disobediences have made their way into the paper many times since the start of this country: the Boston Tea Party, Thoreau's refusal to pay a poll tax, and Rosa Park's decision to stay seated on the bus. All of these examples represent a time of distress when people responded in non-violence to prove a point. But many would ask if this is really proving a point or if it is simply disregarding the law and setting a bad example? Well let me ask you this: would it be better to sit back and to hope that someone will speak out about the problem, or to go forward in violence thinking that that is the only way to achieve something? It seems that an act of non-violence is a way of being heard without coming across as irrational or

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798 Words | 4 Pages

It's easy to get angry and/or violent protests confused with civil disobedience. Many overlook the effectiveness of civil disobedience and see it as just another way to protest the government but civil disobedience has a long history. A few examples of civil disobedience include Rosa Parks’ famous refusal to move from the back of the bus in 1955; the interracial marriage between Richard and Mildred Loving in 1958; and most recently, the protest against the Dakota Access pipeline construction. In each instance, people stood up for what they thought was just and right.

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505 Words | 3 Pages

Civil disobedience shows how protestors can be peaceful and governments can be violent. Civil disobedience exposes the dastardly under-workings of people that intend to keep others bounded and submissive. Civil disobedience gives a passive resilient face to the body of protest that can be mobilized to create a real and lasting change in

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Civil disobedience against unjust laws established in our society is not done to cause chaos, but to promote equality amongst everyone in society and for the greater good. For example, in the 20th century, people took part in the Civil Rights movement where they protested against segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement that the government legalized. As a result of their efforts, the government passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting discrimination against a person based on their race, color, national origin, religion, and sex, resulting in greater equality for minorities. Due to the Civil Rights Act, it encouraged people with different identities and cultures to come together and exchange ideas, values, and beliefs with one another, and it ultimately moved society forward. In addition, Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist that was arrested because she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus.

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Peaceful resistance to laws does positively impact a free society. In American society, citizens are proud of the fact that they have the freedom to speak their minds and protest without violence or fear of persecution. Throughout our history, there have been a number of people who have peacefully protested and changed the nation for the better. There have also been people who have spoken up about certain situations and have not been able to change the unjust law or situation.

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Civil disobedience and it's impact on society varies greatly. Those of you can recall the peaceful protests of Martin Luther King. A man who led African Americans to integration and brought each race together. How did he do this you may ask?

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In the opinionated stance, the resister fights perceived norms and seeks to establish a more just point of view. As previously stated by Martin Luther King Jr. in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” peaceful resistance positively impacts a free society since it can show disapproval and express new ideas without open violence and bloodshed. History and current events reflect the powerful principles of peaceful resistance. The overall purpose of civil disobedience is to persuade your opponent and to win their understanding of your perspective. Several general principles set the boundaries for peaceful protest.

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Throughout centuries, peaceful resistance has been a form of protest against governments that has positively benefited those in rebellion. As seen throughout America over the years, many have toppled social reforms such as equal rights, same sex marriage, and women’s suffrage with the strategy of peaceful confrontation. This form of defiance has allowed people to share their perspective on issues without causing any physical harm. Although many people have suffered and accepted the consequences of these protests, the overall outcome has aided the vast majority of people. Civil disobedience, or peaceful resistance, is a practice that positively impacts a free society because it limits government power, births unity, and allows the general public to preserve their natural rights as human beings.

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During the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, became the largest example of peaceful protest and civil disobedience in American History. During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans participated in sit-ins and peace marches in order to attain equal rights. Rosa Parks found a way to peacefully protest bus laws in Montgomery, Alabama, by breaking them, and countless other also found a way to peacefully protest by doing things like peaceful marches and sit-ins, which at the time were illegal acts. Therefore, though African Americans were harshly punished during this time, the Civil Rights Movement, an era that brought about significant changes in the American society, was an era of civil

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801 Words | 4 Pages

For example, a little black woman who refused to stand on a bus showed civil disobedience because she believed in the rights of African Americans. This woman’s name was Rosa Parks. In 1955, on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man. This act went against all social norms of the time and sparked the majority of civil rights debates. Through her act of civil disobedience, change occurred, and the first steps toward rights for African Americans were being taken.

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520 Words | 3 Pages

Through our nation's history we have seen many acts of civil disobedience. Most of these acts have come as a response to the cruel treatment of minorities in the United States. I believe that peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a prime example of the positive power of civil disobedience. Dr. King impacted this country largely with the work of his peaceful resistance.

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162 Words | 1 Pages

In the essay “Choosing a College Major: For Love or for the Money”, the author David Keppel states that because of today’s living economic conditions, college students have a hard time choosing between a major that they patient about, or a major that will get them more money in the future. Moreover, a lot of graduate students regret picking a major based on their interests instead of salary, according to the author. Therefore, the author believes it’s more critical than ever to decide what major a student should pursue, to help him/her pay student loans and live decently. However, the author mentions that picking a major that satisfy a personal interests can help creating opportunities for creativity and self-steam even thought if it doesn’t

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