Attention citizens of America, change is coming. It’s time to say good bye to the Articles of Confederation and hello to the Constitution. Don’t believe me? Please take a seat, get comfortable, and continue reading. “What you deny or ignore, you delay.
During the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s, shifts in the political and societal views were very apparent. Through out the time era, we saw figures of great importance and the strength of activists are its highest. The build up of severe racism and discrimination led to the beginning of the civil rights era, which led to several divides in blacks, as well as a beginning of a more enriched society.. The Civil Rights era had several key events leading up to the full force of the movement - including bus boycotts, Freedom Riders, and the Little Rock Nine. Once the movement began to increase in involvement, many supporters were gained.
The 1960-70’s was the height of the Civil Rights Movement. African Americans were dedicated to gaining liberties which only whites could exercise freely, and did this was done through peaceful as well as violent means of protest. Individuals such as Martin Luther King protested by means of preaching peace and utilizing nonviolent actions against whites while others such as Malcolm x and elijah muhammad resorted to not only violence, yet separatism to protest and show their urge to gain civil Liberties. Though, both methods of protest were aimed towards the same goal, only one was to be influential and bring about the change that African Americans desire.
For hundreds of years African Americans have faced racial discrimination in the United States. Over and over again contracts were made that gave them hope of equality such as the Emancipation Proclamation, the 14th and 15th amendment, and the end of the separate but equal law. However, they were continuously refused the basic rights that they were promised and were still forcefully separated from whites. Racist police and white supremacists evoked fear in African American men and women who attempted to participate in the rights they were entitled to. Then, in the 1950s and 60s there was a spark of interminable protesting of the clear racial injustices that the African American people faced, this time was known as the Civil Rights Movement.
Just as the Age of Enlightenment took place (Post-Napoleonic Empire), I consider our present generation to be entering another era that’s very similar. The Age of Enlightenment aimed for Political and Economic Liberalism, the creation of a new middle class, increased literacy, and the Popularization of Science (Lecture, Public Communication and Private Individuals). In comparison, the BLM movement strives for both Political and Economic justice for African Americans. It also aspires for black people to be given the same opportunities as any other individual (education, workplace, and sports). The purpose of the BLM movement is to create awareness and to enlighten the society in which we live.
“One individual can begin a movement that turns the tide of history. Martin Luther King in the civil rights movement [is an example] of people standing up with courage and non-violence to bring about needed changes” (Jack Canfield). The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s was a renewed struggle for equal rights. Despite African Americans being freed of slavery, they were still mistreated and discriminated against. The South was taking great measures to ensure that African Americans could not be equal to whites, such as Jim Crow laws and the literacy test.
Ultimately, in a nation that has a long and turbulent past in relation to different races, ideals of equality, and discriminatory practices, the Civil Rights Movement finally steered our nation in the direction of racial equality and legal protection for African Americans in the United States. The movement not only changed the legal landscape of the United States, but also stirred larger social and cultural changes that fostered racial equality and integration for generations to come, forever changing our nation for the better. Both the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the Civil Rights Movement helped change the United States forever by better aligning our nation with the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Challenging systemic injustices, these two movements reshaped the legal and social landscape of the United States, thus creating a nation that better aligns with its founding principles and moves forward from a past that is littered with injustices, segregation, and exclusivity in relation to both legal and social
The Civil Rights Movement took place during a time of widespread political change and upheaval, with the passage of landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These laws were the result of years of activism and advocacy by the Civil Rights Movement and helped to secure important legal protections for African Americans. On the other hand, the Black Lives Matter Movement emerged in the context of a highly polarized political climate, with increasing tensions over issues of race, immigration, and identity. The movement has faced criticism from some quarters, including politicians and law enforcement officials, who view their message as divisive and
There have been many movements in the United States in which African Americans have been the focal point for example the Selma March, the March on Washington, the civil rights movement, and even today the Black Lives Matter movement. Those movements have had a significant impact on the United States and still play a part in today’s society. Those movements still play a part in today’s society because without those movements there wouldn’t be a Black Lives Matter because African Americans wouldn’t have the courage to stand up a fight for their rights if it wasn’t for Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, or the many other activists that stood up for African-American rights. Selma and the March on Washington share a big relationship to the Black Lives Matter and they are just as important to the civil rights movement.
The Black power movement was more than just a raised fist. It was an influential movement established in the 1960s, and began to slow down in the 70s, it promoted self-sufficiency among the black and African community, and they fought for equality and power among those who faced discrimination in society. The Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement were two different movements with very similar motives, but different ways of going about their fight for equality. Symbolism played a significant role in representing the Black Power Movement, and helped unify the group by using one symbol that all recognized. The movement began as a reaction to the Civil Rights Movement and continued into the 1970s as a force for good.
The Civil Rights Movement and the BLM movement are driven by a desire to end racism and inequality. During the Civil Rights movement, activists fought for the end of segregation, voter suppression, and other forms of discrimination that were deep in American society. Similarly, BLM activists today are fighting against the disproportionate number of police killings of Black Americans, the mass incarceration of Black people, and the ongoing effects of historical racism on social and economic outcomes. The Civil Rights Movement and the BLM movement share a common goal: to create a more just and equal society while the BLM movement has brought more attention to issues of police brutality and racism, there have been few concrete policy changes
Black Lives Matter picks up where The Civil Rights Movement and the The Black Panther Party left off. There are inherent differences between them that come with a change of times but it seems as though some of the key aspects from the 1960s were lost somewhere in translation. The Black Lives Matter movement draws many parallels with the Black Panther Party but to understand each as a separate movement, it’s more effective to point out their differences. With the advent of social media, information is available instantaneously. Although this is a privilege for movements today it’s not being used to the best of its ability.
As the society continues to develop, changes are inevitable. There have been movements created in order to achieve a more perfect community. One of the most influential movements recently is Black Lives Matter (BLM). BLM was created in 2012, after George Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African-American, and was absolved from his blame. Dead Trayvon was instead placed on trial for his own death.
After all the high profile police shootings and then the protests against police, many peaceful protest initiatives have sprung to life. Black Lives Matter is a group that has gained lots of recognition for their protests against racism because of their continual efforts to raise awareness for it. Black Lives Matter was a group that was created by its three founders in response to a high profile police shooting in which the officer was acquitted of all charges. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi first created the movement “#BlackLivesMatter” as a Twitter hashtag in response to George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the Trayvon Martin shooting case, but now the group has greatly expanded. A guiding principle that the Black Lives Matter group abides by is that every black individual and human on earth has a value no matter their disabilities, sexuality, gender, and etc.
Following the economically successful post-WWII period, the 1960s decade was characterized by the upheaval of American norms at the time. No longer would various groups of people conform to the legislation and social norms of the United States. The Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement best illustrated this resistance against the status quo. Although these movements were made up of similar people, their tactics were immensely different. The Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement provided a foundation for student activism on college campuses.
