How Did Robert F. Williams Influence The Civil Rights Movement

There are many political activists in American History that made substantial contributions to nation. Activists in the 1900’s took on many different roles in their communities and had a huge impact on changes made in the country. The freedom most Americans take for granted today are a result of the struggles many faced years ago. Many of the activists during the period after WWII contributed greatly to history by representing both violent and nonviolent methods to employ new views on freedom and civil rights that America has adopted.

Robert F. Williams was an African American activist in the 1900’s who advocated freedom and civil rights for Negroes in the South and across the country. He brought justice to mistreated and misrepresented

Majority of the activists who focused their efforts toward change took more nonviolence responses. Dr. Martin Luther King took these methods, whereas Williams wanted to use a more forceful method. However, despite the use of guns, “Williams advocated self-defense not aggression” (6). Williams wanted Negros to be able to stand up for themselves and avoid being overpowered by white supremacists. He took on a position and advocated for “armed self-defense,” and on non-violent political forms of activism. It is easy to agree with this position in some ways. Every American should have the right to bear arms and stand up for themselves regardless of race, religion, or gender. The tactic of removing guns from the Negroes possessions basically left them as sitting ducks tormented by white racists. Authors of the Journal and Guide Newspaper published an article in 1957 titled “Citizens Fire Back at Klan” which refers to the new found right of African Americans to use weapons to represent their efforts against racial tensions. This is the right all Americans should have when being discriminated

There is so much to learn about culture and traditions, especially in America. There are many different views on how race and religion should be seen and respected, however the first Amendment does enough justice being that all men and women are created equal. Americans would not have the roles or rights in the country that they do today without the detailed history the country has. Without reading into American history majority of Americans would “literally have no idea of the violence” (5) most Negroes faced in the South during the time periods. Today there has been much controversy on gun laws and rights in our country. During hard times facing the Ku Klux Klan, Negroes began to exercise their first Amendment and Williams wrote “we started arming ourselves” (19). This is relevant to minorities who feel their rights being taken