The Civil Rights Movement - Essay Example

Civil rights movement Many people today refer to the modern civil rights era as the period between the 1950 and1970s. However, this is but a glimpse of the historical context of the civil rights era. By early 19th century, the presence of the civil rights movement was already active in America. This was mainly in the form of the struggle for racial equality, which was experienced in during the era. Therefore, the civil rights movement witnessed in 19th century was a continuation of the struggle for equality, which began in the early 19th century and even earlier than that. Nonetheless, the civil rights movement comprised of various African American who led the struggle for racial equity, since the blacks in America was entitled to fewer privileges compared to the whites (Banner-Haley, Charles, 17). This essay focusses on the civil rights movement from the World War II until 1968. The struggle for equality will be evaluated by analyzing the movies developed to depict the civil struggle. The Ku Klux Klan is a name given to three organizations that are considered far-right. These organizations exhibited strange behavior of racist tendencies especially against the black in the society. The extremist advocated for white supremacy, anti-immigration and White nationalism. The group used the conical hat, robes and masks to cover their identity. The Klan existed in three phases, but all of them focused on the same issues of racism. The success of the group was threatened and wiped by several Acts that were passed to protect the Black and minority in the society (Feldstein, Ruth 15). The success of the Klan was due to political support and lack of proper legislation to protect the right of the blacks. With the problem of insecurity, in the slums, it was easier for the group to unleash terror to the Blacks who lived in the slums. Additionally, the three generations of the Klan were focused on making the lives of the immigrants worse through abuse and violence with the most affected being the black population. Most of the Klan based their argument on descent by claiming they were from the original British colonial revolutionaries. The Klan was politically linked to the Democratic Party with main support coming from the desire to restore white supremacy. The group with the support of political leader killed thousands of Negros. The covering of the face ensured that they evade prosecution, but fear of the southern democrat created a change in the political support. The group was eliminated by the passage of the force bills. These bills offered protection for the Black community and ensured the influence of the Klan was reduced (Feldstein, Ruth 32). The force Acts are a series of four Acts passed by the US congress, to protect the rights of the Blacks. They are the 14th and 15th amendments of the American constitution. The act gave power to the federal authorities to penalize any interference in services offered to the African American. The violations produced over 5,000 indictments with the Supreme Court later ruling that some parts of the Acts were unconstitutional. The Acts offered protection to the black through enforcing support and legal redress in case of violations. The Act of April 20 1871 was nicknamed the Ku Klux Klan Act attempted to prevent the intimidation using illegal action against the Blacks. The act also gave the president right to employ the militia. The force acts established the necessary support by protecting the rights of African Americans which was addressed in the 1870 Force Bill (Taylor, Clarence). The issues that were addressed by the Force Acts were the issues of voting, rights protection and issuance of identification cards. The final bill was passed in 1875 before the Republicans lost control of the congress. Despite the enactment of some legislation, it was not until the mid-twentieth century that the rights of the African American in the south were secured by the Force Bills. Although the civil rights movements are associated with the African Americans only, this movement was important for both the whites and the African Americans. After the civil war which was detrimental to America, the country was left with many national issues to address in order to ensure stability of the nation and its people. It was during this period, after the civil war, which is also called the reconstruction period that major civil rights were experience. During this era, America had a considerable number of its population comprising of African Americans (Taylor, Clarence). These were former slaves, who upon being freed needed to find land, build homes, settle down and live a free like any other white person. Therefore, the American government had a responsibility of addressing the needs of the former slaves in order to ensure there entry back to the society, as free people. However, when the government failed to address the issues of the African Americans in a fair way, these would rise up and demand for fair treatment and fair legislation, which did not deny them of the privileges the whites were entitled to (Feldstein, Ruth 21). Therefore, this continued struggle for racial equity gave birth to the modern civil rights movement. The situation is evident in the film by addressing the challenges faced in the struggle for equality. Before the World War II, the America government, starting the late 19th century, had used legislation to enable integration of the African Americans back in to the society as free people. Although the government based its decision and legislation of the doctrine of “separate but equal,” there were vast elements of discrimination (NAACP on view in Brooklyn). The African Americans were not free to share public space, or enjoy the privileges if the same legislation with the whites. Public places and amenities such as the restaurants, school, bus and rail stages, among others, were separated between the whites and African Americans. Facilities belonging to African Americans were of poor quality and inferior, compared to those of the whites (Jeffries, Hasan Kwame, and Patrick D. Jones). This was one of the situations, which would result in the civil rights movement. In 1938, one major incidence that showed the struggle for equal rights was experienced in one of the southern states. In these states, there was a high level of inequality of the African American, compared to other states. Southern states did not allow for the admission of African Americans in institutions of higher learning, but referred them to institutions of higher learning in the northern states. During the WWII, African Americans were still discriminated against, and treated unequally, based on their race. In 1943, when the world war was on going, there occurred the Detroit race riots, where 25 African Americans died. These riots mainly involved the attacks between the whites and blacks. In addition, many African Americans were forced to take up different tasks, including construction, transport, among others. In this employment set-up, they worked in segregation from the mainstream population. It was also during this period that the African Americans were forced to give up railroad care sears o the Nazi prisoners of war (Jeffries, Hasan Kwame, and Patrick D. Jones). In addition, African Americans were denied their rights to the GI Bill, which comprised of benefits for those people who served in war (Taylor, Clarence). This is because local authorities at that time were driven by racial discrimination. In Middle Tennessee University, there was no black student admitted until n 1962, when Olivia Woods was admitted. In 1944, Gunnar Myrdal published An American Dilemma: the Negro Problem and Modern Democracy, which explained race relations. In this book, Myrdal showed optimism that democracy would rule over racism. Nonetheless, in future, this was used as a basis for development for policies, which address racism. In 1944, there was the enactment of “The Economic Bill of Rights,” which would grant equal rights to all the American population. This was emphasized by Roosevelt, who also participated in the drafting of the “Universal Declaration of Human rights,” in a UN committee. However, acts of racial discrimination persisted even after these two legislations. A major incidence occurred in 1955, when a 14-year old black in Mississippi was murdered when he whistled at white women. To act on discrimination, which had become elaborate, Rosa Parks in 1955-56 led the Montgomery Bus Boycott, to act against discrimination on transport and buses. This event saw the rise of martin Luther King, Jr. As a leader in the civil rights movement (Jou, Chin). Additionally, in 1960, students in Greensboro NC formed student resistance to discrimination against blacks. This spread to other cities, including Nashville. In the film, “aint scared of your jails,” students in Nashville and Tennessee are shown to employ the non-violent resistance to discrimination, and engage in a wave of demonstration, following their arrest (Smith 45). In the same year, students formed the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which was a branch of the larger non-violent activist’s body (Banner-Haley, Charles 26). In 1961, the congress of racial equality (CORE) launched “freedom rides” to act against segregation in buses and bus terminals. Further struggle by Martin Luther King is evident in the 1963 Birmingham marches, which latter turned violent, leading to the arrest and jailing of Luther. He wrote “Letter from Birmingham” in the same year. Most whites in southern states were opposed to desegregation. In 1963, Alabama Governor showed his opposition to the mover to desegregate the University of Alabama. Evers pushed for desegregation at the University of Mississippi. In spite of his death, actions of the civil rights groups increased. It included the production of films, music and works of art, which protested against increased violence for the blacks. The year 1963 was a vital year in the civil rights movement; the year registered increased cases of violence and discrimination aimed at blacks. In august, activists marched to Washington led by Philip Randolph, but organized by Bayard Rustin (Taylor, Clarence, 34). It was on this day that in Washington that Luther delivered his “I have a Dream” speech. The documentary “four little girls” was inspired by the death of four small girls in the basement of the Birmingham church due to an explosion that was aimed at African Americans. Finally, in November 1963, the assassination of President John F Kennedy happened. In 1964, congress passed the civil rights Act, meant to end segregation in America. In the same year, SNCC and CORE organized the Mississippi Freedom Summer, which was an election campaign attended by both white and blacks (Jeffries, Hasan Kwame, and Patrick D. Jones). This march was successful as the Congress passed Voting Rights Act in the same year, which would eliminate all discrimination against black voting. Works Cited Banner-Haley, Charles. "Myths and Truths: The Civil Rights Movement and African Americans on the Southern Tier Of Upstate New York." Afro-Americans In New York Life & History 33.1 (2009): 17-26. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. Feldstein, Ruth. "“The World Was On Fire”: Black Women Entertainers And Transnational Activism In The 1950S." OAH Magazine Of History 26.4 (2012): 25-29. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Sept. 2014. Jeffries, Hasan Kwame, and Patrick D. Jones. "Desegregating New York: The Case Of The “Harlem Nine”." OAH Magazine Of History 26.1 (2012): 51-53. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Sept. 2014. Jou, Chin. "Neither Welcomed, Nor Refused: Race And Restaurants In Postwar New York City." Journal Of Urban History 40.2 (2014): 232-251. Omnifile Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson). Web. 17 Sept. 2014. "NAACP on view in Brooklyn." New York Amsterdam News 23 Mar. 2006: 9. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. Taylor, Clarence. "Introduction To Special Issue: "The Civil Rights Movement In New York City." Afro-Americans In New York Life & History 31.2 (2007): 7-13. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. Read More