Evolution of the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th Century

Evolution of the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th Century

Introduction

When a substantial number of people believe that civil rights enforcement is insufficient, a civil rights movement may emerge to demand that laws be implemented fairly and without prejudice in accordance with the Constitution (Dudziak n.p.). In this essay, the evolution of the American civil rights movements is discussed with regard to periods within the 20th century up to the present. The focus will be on the Civil Rights Movement period of 1954 and 1965, the Black Power Movement (1965-1972), and the Present-Day civil rights movements (2000-2021). Wholesomely, civil rights movement is not a singular period in history but rather a process structured between different social issues and within different time periods such as the recent Black Lives Matter movement or the Black Power Movement in the late 60s.

1954-1965 – Civil Rights Movement

African-Americans were denied equal legal protection throughout the civil rights movement in the United States, which took place mostly in the 1950s and 1960s and was aimed at establishing social justice in the nation. However, although the Civil War brought an end to slavery, it did not put an end to prejudice towards African-Americans (Hall 237), who continued to endure the effects of racism, notably in the southern states of the United States. Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, African Americans were subjected to much more prejudice and violence than they were entitled to receive. Their actions, in conjunction with those of a huge number of white Americans, marked the beginning of a two-decade-long struggle for equality in the United States.

In the Reconstruction period in America, black citizens rose to unprecedented heights of power and influence. During their time in public service, they campaigned for legislative measures that would enhance equality and the right to vote. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1868, provided African Americans with equal legal protection under the law and the 15th Amendment, passed in 1870, guaranteed the right to vote to African-American males (Forbath 697). The fact that people whom they had previously enslaved were now on a more or less equal footing, however, was met with unhappiness by many white Americans, particularly those in the South. The creation of “Jim Crow” legislation in the South began in the late 1800s with the goal of marginalizing Black people, keeping them segregated from white people, and obliterating the achievements won after Reconstruction (Bader and Warkentien 139). In addition to being denied access to the same public amenities as white people, African-Americans were also denied the opportunity to reside in many of the same areas and attend many of the same schools as white people. Interracial marriage was prohibited, and the vast majority of African-Americans lacked basic voting knowledge.

The United States’ post-World War II unity across racial lines was aimed at eradicating the country’s remaining prejudice and discrimination. In the decades leading up to World War II, a smaller number of Americans pushed for equality on a sustained basis. However, with the conclusion of World War II, a more organized Civil Rights Movement began to take shape. Throughout this time of American history, a variety of causes had a role in the establishment of the civil rights movement. Throughout World War II, hundreds of thousands of African Americans gave their lives in the service of their nation (Harris 19), discovering that in European nations such as the United Kingdom and France, racial prejudice was not nearly as prevalent as in the United States (Bader 136). Many people realized for the first time that the United States could be able to become a country free of racial discrimination.

I believe that the Civil Rights Movement in the 50s and early 60s must be credited with changing the social and political scenery in America as it is today. Following World War II’s conclusion, the G.I. Bill played an important part in the establishment of the Civil Rights Movement. Returning World War II soldiers were supported in their transition to civilian life by the federal government, which covered the costs of their college studies (Forbath 697). Despite the fact that thousands of African American veterans benefited from this program, they continued to confront discrimination in the workplace, which prevented them from moving to higher-paying professional positions. Untold numbers of African-American college graduates were driven to enter occupations that they would not have been able to acquire without a four-year college degree. A large number of African Americans and their allies created a much more organized campaign for equal rights as a result of their dissatisfaction with the United States’ failure to really guarantee freedom and equality to all people.

I find it important to mention Martin Luther King as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and early 1960s. When the Montgomery Bus Boycott took place in 1955, he was one of the co-organizers, with the goal of putting Montgomery, Alabama’s segregated public transportation system to an end (Hall 239). The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was established as a result of King’s actions. Established in 1957, this group intended to bring together churches from throughout the South in opposition to racial segregation and denial of other civil rights to African Americans, as well as other injustices. The importance of such actions are still felt today even as civil rights movements take shape. From then till the end of his life, King was a prominent figure in this group. He was a proponent of nonviolent protest. King thought that a movement that called for peace and equality while refraining from resorting to violence in reaction to injustice would be seen positively by people of all colors and ethnicities. King’s peaceful message inspired thousands of individuals from many walks of life, all of whom were convinced that segregation and the denial of civil rights to African Americans must remain.

1965-1972 – Black Power Movement

I believe that the Black Power Movement was one of the most important civil rights movements of the 20th century. Its effects are still evident today through the way Black People remain detached to government institutions including law enforcement. Black Power was both a political and social movement in the United States throughout the 1960s and 1970s that promoted racial pride, self-sufficiency, and equality for all African-Americans (Claybrook Jr 3). By 1966, thousands of African Americans had chosen a nonviolent means of demonstrating against racial segregation and seeking equal legal rights as the civil rights movement gained steam over the course of more than a decade. However, a rising number of African Americans, particularly young Black men and women, believe the existing strategy is inadequate. They contended that combating segregation was insufficient to overcome the poverty and helplessness instilled in so many Black Americans by years of institutional racism and discrimination on the part of the government. The Black Power movement, which began in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was inspired by Malcolm X’s concepts of racial pride, autonomy, and self-determination, as well as by African, Asian, and Latin American liberation movements of the day (Hughes-Watkins 29). According to the book’s premise, black Americans should concentrate on expanding their economic, social, and political power rather than attempting to adapt into a white-dominated society.

By the mid-1960s, a large number of them had abandoned nonviolent protests as a viable tactic for confronting racism and other forms of social injustice. New groups such as the Black Panther Party, the Black Women’s United Front, and the Nation of Islam established new cultural, political, and economic objectives, and their memberships mirrored this transformation. Among the first to do so were the Black Panther Party, the Black Women’s United Front, and the Nation of Islam (Rogers 17). Even if desegregation were successful, it was only through the destruction of white supremacist institutions that a place for the growth of a black political voice could be formed, culminating in the establishment of collective black power. Due to its dedication to these core ideals, the movement is sometimes depicted as hostile, anti-white, and anti-law enforcement.

Black power, more than any other kind of emancipation, increased black self-reliance and self-determination. According to proponents, African Americans should protect their human rights by organizing political and cultural organisations adapted to their needs and interests. They were steadfast in their determination to develop their own schools, businesses, community services, and local government. They were victorious. They sought to overcome decades of humiliation by exhibiting self-respect and racial pride, as well as by acknowledging and appreciating black people’s cultural accomplishments around the world. The majority of white Americans were terrified of the black power movement, and many black Americans were incensed by it. Apart from his genius and historical acumen, Malcolm X’s fiery speeches drew both supporters and detractors, and he served as a key motivator for the black liberation fight (Rogers 15). After visiting Mecca and returning enthused about social change, he climbed to the role of senior speaker for the Nation of Islam until 1964. Throughout his life, he saw the African-American liberation struggle as a vital component of a larger worldwide struggle for human rights and anti-colonial emancipation. Following his assassination in 1965, his memory has served as a source of inspiration for a rising tide of black power in the United States. Malcolm X’s message of black pride and self-determination has continued to resonate with and pique the curiosity of many African Americans decades later. When African American servicemen in Vietnam heard recordings of his speeches, they were inspired to organize GIs United Against the War in 1969.

2000-2021 – Present Day

In comparison to the preceding times, the current civil rights movement is one of the most significant and powerful movements in history. Civil rights organizations are increasingly attempting to eliminate our society’s less obvious, but no less significant, injustices. According to the notion of “opportunity,” everyone in America should have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential (Mazumder 923). To my opinion, our nation has not yet lived up to its potential in this area. Hurricane Katrina is an excellent example. The researchers discovered that racial gaps and extreme poverty remain in the United States. A significant portion of it derives from long-standing discrimination that confined black people to the poorest regions, which were the most prone to flooding, the farthest from respectable work, schools, and hospitals, and the most difficult to evacuate in an emergency, among other things. As a result, they bore the brunt of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation. When compared to more prosperous or white districts, our government did not see African American neighborhoods in the same respect.

The present civil rights movement is devoted to developing chances in order to avert future catastrophes. It is vital to ascertain what distinguishes the present from previous eras. In the United States, racial bias in society, even more subtle vestiges of prejudice from past generations, must be eradicated (Sugrue). Throughout history, the African American civil rights movement influenced a diverse spectrum of disadvantaged individuals. Recent immigrant rights marches around the nation are one example of this. When immigrants said, “We, too, are America,” it was a rousing declaration that echoed the civil rights struggle. The Black Lives Matter and the MeToo movements also resonated with the public (Edrington and Lee 289). Additionally, there has been a substantial Latino civil rights movement since the late 1960s, which has included both the agricultural workers’ movement and groups such as the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, which is modeled after the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund (Özbilgin and Erbil 121). Throughout history, the African American civil rights movement influenced the women’s suffrage movement. Without a doubt, the immigrant rights and homosexual and lesbian rights campaigns are critical. These are only a handful of the many possibilities. Although the campaigns were headed by vibrant individuals in their own industries, the African American civil rights movement serves as a good model for conducting effective campaigns in any subject.

Conclusion

The United States provides equal social opportunities and legal protection to all of its people, regardless of their ethnic origin, religion, or other personal qualities, according to the Constitution. The right to vote, the right to a fair trial, the right to government services, the right to a public education, and the right to utilize public facilities are all examples of civil rights. In a democratic society, civil rights are essential components; when citizens are denied the chance to participate in political life, their civil rights are infringed. Civil rights, in contrast to civil liberties, are preserved by government action, which is most typically manifested in the form of law. Those who have historically been subjected to discrimination on the basis of a group characteristic are seeking full and equal citizenship under the provisions of civil rights legislation. In the absence of equality, whether on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, marriage, children adoption, inclusiveness, and any other social or political realms, civil rights movements emerge.

References

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Sugrue, Thomas J. “White America’s Age-Old, Misguided Obsession With Civility.” The NewYork Times 29 (2018). https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/29/opinion/civility-protest-civil-rights.html