“You can kill a man, but you can’t kill an idea’’(Medgar Evers Quotes). It all started after
the reconstruction period. In the mid 1900’s, African Americans (also known as “blacks’’) were
racially segregated, not considered equal. The rights that the white people had were not given to
the blacks. People who decided to stand up for what is right were known as civil rights activists.
They would fight for what they believe in regarding the high level of danger in the south. Martin
Luther King Jr., James Chaney, Thurgood Marshall, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, and so many
others made an impact and worked hard for the equality they deserved. Some were sadly
assassinated or died from old age before they could see the change they
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African Americans have always been segregated. In the late 1800’s once slavery ended,
their freedom hardly changed. There was a law passed indicating that if anyone did not have a
job they were to be arrested; So, many African Americans had to keep their job in the
plantations. Before the civil rights movement took place, it was known as the reconstruction
period. It was during the 1900’s which involved racially segregating all races not including the
white race. The African Americans were used as slaves until later freed by an address made by
Abraham Lincoln in the Emancipation Proclamation (Pruitt). After the reconstruction period
even close to having the same rights as an a white person did in the South (“Civil Rights
Movement”). Many activists took a stand and worked hard little by little conducting
protests and marches and boycotts and sit-ins. They would often get arrested just to make a point.
Although they were segregated, they were also treated absolutely horrible. No respect was given
towards them, no equal rights, and there was an unbelievable amount of violence and hate.