Grassroots Activism

Grassroots activism by definition is a group of people who feel strongly enough about an issue to actively campaign in efforts in make a difference and they are often successful. Grassroots activism is not controlled by any political party, but by groups of individuals who feel strongly about certain issues and want a change. Grassroots activist, often significant figures, build organizations and increase political participation by organizing protest and rallies in efforts to address the issues presented. Then, the issue addressed in cases is reformed to eliminate most the problem until activist are satisfied with the change. Grassroots activism contributed to changes in public policy and influenced the success of the civil rights movement

The first major desegregation was in 1948. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the Executive Order 8802 which desegregated the armed services of the United States. Roosevelt believed it to be important that all service members treated equally. The Executive Order created the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services. The committee was to look in to all military procedures and make changes to any procedures deemed unfit and failed to comply with the new Executive Order. The Committee also worked with every military branch and advised the Secretary of Defense (Primary Source Supplement II, 29). The desegregation of the military was a huge step in the right direction for desegregation reform. In the early 1950’s Birmingham issued Racial Segregation ordinance. The ordinance provided an extensive and detailed documentation on what was expected concerning the segregation of blacks and whites. Some examples are as followed: restaurants where both races were serviced was forbidden unless a physical barrier and entrance separated the two races, all game playing between races was forbidden, all public places such as a theatre was to be segregated, and busses were to be segregated. Per the Ordinance failure to abide by the stated ordinance was to result in a misdemeanor (Birmingham Segregation Ordinance). Following the Ordinance, Brown v. The Board of Education of Topeka in 1954 ruled that segregation, separate but equal, was unconstitutional and deprived citizens of all races the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the 14th amendment (Documents, 243). In reply to Brown v. the Board of Education, the Southern Manifesto of 1956, a public response read to congress, was signed by 100 southern senators and representatives signed an objection to the decision. The manifesto claims an injustice practicing of judicial power and asked the Northern states to