The Civil Rights Movement was undoubtedly one of the single most influential and historic eras in American history. For the first time, after the Civil Rights Act was signed in 1964 after years of protests, walk-ins, passive fighting, and judicial processes, African-Americans were given equal rights in the United States, a position they had not had since the days after the Civil War, when they were freed from slavery by the 14th and 15th Amendments. This movement has led to other movements since, like the ongoing campaigns for women’s rights and equality, and the campaigns for the rights and equality for gays, lesbians, and even transgender people in America. The Civil Rights Movement began after the Civil War and Reconstruction, where African-Americans were given equal rights under a series of setbacks and laws were passed undoing many of these protections and rights. …show more content…
African-Americans continue to face harassment, discrimination, and racism, but on the other hand, public attention towards racism and attempts to create equality and a mostly free and open society also have emerged. African-Americans are equal members of society in many ways, from lawyers and judges, to police officers and celebrities, to mayors, senators, governors, even the President, all positions and levels of life and equality are open to them, and discrimination is illegal. Though there will presumably always be challenges to racial equality, there is a continued movement and lowering of discrimination and racism in society as the United States moves forward. Finally, the Civil Rights Movement inspired and continues to inspire not only movements for gender, sexual, and GLBT rights and equality today, it continues to be an inspiration for the role that galvanizing political and social movements can have around the world, in any country or society that people are being oppressed or regarded and treated as second class