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How Did The Vietnam War Affect The Civil Rights Movement

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As America is amid a Cold War, World War 2 has just ended and promises were made that were not kept. African Americans continued to struggle by encountering segregation, getting brutally targeted, and not getting an equal opportunity for jobs and education. Additionally, the Vietnam War contributed to questioning social norms during the 1960s, which further inspired musicians to create music that reflected the desire for social transformation and civil rights. In the 1950s and 1960s, there were several noteworthy events and movements that pushed for change and played crucial roles in the advancement of civil rights and social transformation in the United States. Examples include the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the case of Brown v Board of Education, …show more content…

The song resonated with people of all races and backgrounds who were in support of the civil rights movement. Despite the Civil Rights Act coming into effect in 1964, the country was still not in agreement with this sudden change. Brown's song emerged as a powerful song, addressing the issue of racial identity. It aimed to uplift the spirits of African Americans who had been marginalized due to their skin color. By embracing the pride of their identity, it sought to challenge negative stereotypes and promote a positive self-image among African Americans. The lyrics conveyed a message of unity, instilling a sense of belonging. For example, the lines "I've worked on jobs with my feet and my hands, but all the work I did was for the other man" expressed the independence of African Americans as they are to not be used as a tool. This line also draws attention to the unfair treatment and lack of opportunities African Americans faced which moved individuals to participate in the opportunities offered by the Economic Opportunity Act. These opportunities include job training and education programs to improve their social and economic status and climb out of …show more content…

The Buffalo Springfield song "For What It's Worth" was written in response to the Sunset Strip curfew riots that occurred in 1966. These protests were characterized by social and political activism, civil rights advocacy, and opposition to the Vietnam War. Its lyrics and themes resonate with the broader spirit of the era, which included anti-war sentiments and a desire for societal change. The song's lyrics called for calmness and unity in the face of conflict, with lines like "There's battle lines being drawn, nobody's right if everybody's wrong." It encouraged a sense of unity among protestors and promoted the idea that peaceful communication could lead to social adjustment and progress. The song promoted a sense of unity among protestors, urging them to stand together and support each other in their quest for social justice. By recognizing that "we've got to stop, hey, what's that sound, everybody look what's going down," the song encouraged people to look around at the problems of society (Vietnam war, civil rights, riots) and stand together to bring about positive

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Thousands of African American citizens were denied basic rights and discriminated against during the 1950s and 60s. The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, and lasted until April 9, 1865. During the War, the long-debated disagreement about slavery was brought to light and fought over. Segregation laws and black codes inflicted unjust punishments for those who didn’t follow them. Rosa Parks and Thurgood Marshall were some of the most influential activists in the 1950s-1960s because they fought for everyone's rights/beliefs, helped to strengthen the idea of equality in America, and helped develop strong arguments/protests that helped advance the country's unity.

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During the 1960’s, the Civil Rights Movement was a big topic and controversy with all of the United States. It was quite clear that African Americans did not get treated the same way that whites did. It had been ruled that it was constitutional to be “separate but equal”, but African Americans always had less than the whites did. For example, the schools that they had were run down, and had very little classrooms, books, and buses. Martin Luther King had a large role in the Civil Rights Movement, as did Malcolm X, and others.

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The Civil Rights Movement was a pivotal moment in America’s History. The landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education served as a catalyst in the African American struggle for equality in America. This court case took place on May 17, 1954, and it set the political and social tone for events that followed which would make up the Civil Rights Movement. By following these events it can be concluded that the approach towards equality altered over time. Meaning that the way the efforts that equality was pursued began to evolve.

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During the 1950s and 1960s, America was a stormy place to reside in. There were many major events that occurred, including the the rise and fall of two major leaders in the African American community, Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During this time period, America was involved in the Cold War, along with the war in Vietnam, and the Civil Rights Movement. In the Civil Rights Movement, two very influential men had two very different ways in which the country should be integrated.

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The Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement During the 1950s through the 1970s, The United States entered troubling and controversial times. On 1954, American witnessed the official starts of the Civil Rights Movement, “… a movement in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s aimed at abolishing racial discrimination and improving the civil rights of African Americans” (“Civil Rights Movement”). Soon after the commencement of the Civil Rights Era, The United Sates became involved with The Vietnam War, “A war between Communist North Vietnam and US-backed South Vietnam” (“Vietnam War”). Although both of these events had many significant happenings, the murder of Emmett Till should be considered the most important occurrence of the Civil Rights Movement while The Paris Accords of 1973 equally as important to the Vietnam War.

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One of the most important of these changes was the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement. According to James Gregory, this movement was driven by a variety of factors as well, including the frustration of African Americans with the “slow pace of change” and the “growing sense of frustration and anger” among young people in the wake of the Vietnam War (Gregory, 242). The movement was also driven by the efforts of civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, who galvanized support for the cause of racial

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Thousands of songs have been made in the fight for racial equality since the beginning of the slave trade. As the years go on songwriters and performers have shifted their songs to focus on the issues plaguing humanity at the time in which the song is being released while also reflecting on the past and hoping for a better future. Common’s 2016 song “ Black America Again” featuring Stevie Wonder is a recent example of a song made in support of racial equality. Common mentions many of the problems Black people face in the fight for justice in his song such as mass incarceration, the wage gap, gentrification, and voter suppression. Throughout the song Common makes his stance evident, he wants to rewrite the Black American story that we know today, instill a sense of pride in Black people across the nation, and reclaim the life and culture that was taken from Black people.

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The civil rights movements that occurred in the 1960’s changed American Society forever. Some of the most memorable and polarizing movements and laws include Bloody Sunday, the Fair Housing Act, the Freedom Riders and the Montgomery Bus Riots. These are just a few of the demonstrations and laws that occurred during this volatile time period in American History. Many of these events have been have revisited and taught in American History class throughout students’ high school and college years. These events have been archived in annuals of American History and have their place of importance right along with the Bill of Rights and the 19th Amendment that allowed women the vote.

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‘For What It’s Worth’ by Buffalo Springfield has a logical message because it is referring to the Sunset Strip Riots that took place in Hollywood during the 1960’s. People protested when they lost their civil rights due to a curfew law that was put into place. The song says, “Stop, children, what’s that sound. Everybody look- what’s going down?”

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The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was passed to allow federal rights to protect citizens for their right to vote and was one of the first legislations passed after the Reconstruction Era. Protests to further educate the public and help pass more legislation for equal

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Lupe Fiasco uses motivational and inspirational phrases throughout his song that motivate me to keep fighting through struggle and pain because in the end it’s worth it. In conclusion, as cliche as the message of this song may be, it’s a tremendously important message. The spread of peace and social equality are issues in today’s society that we see everyday. African-Americans are getting killed in the streets by police officers for misdemeanor crimes.

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The song was also noteworthy because it was the most popular protest song in the 1970’s to 1980’s. Back then when the government told men to go fight in the war they would listen, but during the 1970’s it was the first time people were starting to be against the idea of going to war and fighting. This song became popular because no one ever heard a song that boycotted what the government was telling them to do. So, it became successful because it was different than all the other songs written back then. The song was a realization to the people that listening to the government and going to fight wasn’t such a good idea.

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The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is hailed by many as one of the most important legislations in the American history. The act was passed into law 52 years ago under a lot of pressure and resistance from white senators and African American activists. The act, which was largely known as the “Bill of the century” was aimed at bringing equality for blacks and whites and end racial prejudice. The act was targeted to revolutionize America where blacks and whites would eat together in the same hotels and enjoy similar rights in public places without any discrimination.

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Soon it became interpreted also as a song about race relations. Walter Ray Watson, a senior producer for NPR News, called the song “a poetic plea for justice and contemplation within black communities” (Katzif). Whether or not Marvin Gaye intended for the song to bestow the meaning of speaking up for civil rights (specifically because I know that the song was inspired by the Vietnam War), that does not distract from the fact that it still is a song for civil rights as the lyrics ask “Oh, but who are they to judge us, simply because our hair is long,” which is perceived to be a dig at people who don’t accept black people and long

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755 Words | 4 Pages

All music has multiple functions. While music can preserve artistic value, it can also simultaneously tell a story, bring people together, historicize, heal, and rejuvenate. Most importantly, however, it sends a strong message and stimulates strong emotions to the listener. The song, “Where is the Love” by The Black Eyed Peas, performs all of these functions. The song symbolizes the sociological conflict theory.

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