Civil Rights Movement Essay

The Civil Rights movement starting in the 1950’s aimed to fight against racial segregation, discrimination that was rooted in slavery. During the civil rights movement, several protests occurred. In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery Alabama for refusing to give up her seat on the bus to a white man. Rosa Park’s arrest sparked outcry for an economic strike against the city. Dr. Martin Luther King, a young preacher that advocated for nonviolent protest in search of social justice then gave a speech in favor of the boycotts. This speech sparked the Montgomery bus boycott, which lasted a year until the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the law was unconstitutional. The height of the civil rights movement came on August

There are several messages throughout the speech which are explicit. King addresses the status of black Americans as secondary citizens stating, “There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights.” King is saying that these protests will never end until black people have the same rights as white people. King made his statements very clear, with no room for misunderstanding. King’s argument was based around the foundation of America, comparing the constitution to a promissory note. King states, “This note was the promise that all, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” King argued that the constitution guaranteed black Americans the same rights as all Americans, therefore the government needs to step in to protect these

King spoke about some of his real-life experiences as a Black man. There is no question that a white man from that time would have differing experiences, and therefore produce a different speech. King’s position as a preacher also shapes his argument stating that “Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. Considering the circumstances that black Americans faced, it is highly likely that many were tempted to turn to violence to encourage political change. King stayed with his religious values, and his beliefs to create his own