History and Fate of the Civil Rights Movement

¶ … Freedom and Equality in the 20th century

AN UN-ENDING FIGHT

Two Primary Methods against Segregation Policies

The Civil Rights Movement of African-Americans in the United States, also called the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, consisted of mass actions, aimed at ending racial discrimination and segregation against them (Tavaana, 2015). At the same time, it aimed at acquiring legal recognition and federal protection of their rights as citizens, as enshrined in the Constitution and federal law. The Movement was particularly active in the South between 1954 and 1968 (Tavaana).

The two primary methods used by the Movement in pursuing its ends were non-violent protests and civil disobedience (Tavaana, 2015). These and other campaigns were forms of civil resistance. They triggered crises and induced the holding of meaningful talks between them and government authorities. These initiatives were effective in the federal, state, and local levels of government as well as businesses and communities. The initiatives pressured these sectors to immediately respond to each situation. African-Americans took strong advantage of this response to bring out the inequality they suffered from (Tavaana).

These protests and acts of civil disobedience were mostly in the form of litigation and boycotts (Tavaana, 2015). Its initial and inspiring success was its legal victory in the Supreme Court decision in Brown v Board of Education in 1954. This decision was against the separate white and colored school systems. The most popular boycott was the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955-1956, which centered on Rosa Parks, in Alabama. Sit-ins were also successful, such as the Greensboro sit-ins in 1960 in North Carolina. Marches, such as the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965 in Alabama, were also notable (Tavaana).

II. Two Catalysts to Modern Civil Rights Movement

One was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (NPS, 2015). This was a televised mass demonstration against racial violence, the federal policy on desegregation of higher educational institutions, and th passive resistance movement by Blacks in the early 1960s. This led to the second catalyst, the adoption of the landmark legislation, Civil Rights Act of 1964 (NPS).

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is regarded as the most comprehensive legislation of its kind in American history (NPS, 2015). It vested strong enforcement powers on the government in the field of civil rights. It outlawed tactics to limit voting and job discrimination against race, color, religion, gender and national origin. It guaranteed equal access to public accommodation to racial and religious minorities. It served as the continuation of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. And it created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (NPS).

The earlier 1957 Civil Rights Act established a separate and independent U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (NPS, 2015). Its function was confined to fact-finding but its reports helped by serving as the foundation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This 1964 legislation enlarged the authority of the Commission.

III. Two Goals of the Movement and Limits

These goals were to put an end to racial segregation and discrimination against African-Americans in the United States and to obtain legal recognition and federal protection of their citizenship rights, which are contained, guaranteed and protected by the American Constitution and federal law (Civil Rights 101, 2001).

The nature of the Movement appeared to change by the mid-60s (Civil Rights, 101, 2001). Blacks themselves who were united in support of Movement activities began to develop varying viewpoints on what political initiatives should be undertaken to fulfill their common goals. Different groups within the movement itself expressed increasing disagreement with other internal groups. Militant and radical groups, such as the Black Muslims and the black power advocates, objected to the movement's limited goals and its anti-violence stand (Civil Rights 101).

Many of the new members of radical groups sought black separation or nationalism from the white population instead of integration and unification with it (Civil Rights 101, 2001). These new members demanded more than civil equality. They cried out for social and economic equality with the whites. They also questioned the appropriateness of non-violence. They refused to accept whites in the movement. An example of such groups is the SNCC, which in 1966, became an all-black group (Civil Rights 101).

Even in the late 60s, African-Americans still experienced many disadvantages, such as higher poverty rates than whites (Civil Rights 101). A consequence is the corresponding persistence of racially motivated violence. An example is the killing of Martin Luther King Jr. himself by a white in 1968 (Civil Rights 101).

IV. Social Forces and Legal Battles since the Founding of the Movement

These included the Brown v. Board of Education of 1954, the Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the desegregation at the Little Rock Central High School in 1957; Robert F. Williams and the debate on non-violence in 1959-1964; the sit-ins from 1958 to 1960; freedom rides in 1961; the formation of voter registration organizations for Blacks; the integration of Mississippi universities from 1956-1965; the Albany Movement from 1961-1962; Birmingham Campaign of 1963; the so-called "Rising Tide of Discontent" of 1963; the Washington March of 1963; the joining and collaboration by Malcolm X with civil rights organizations; the 1963-1964 event at St. Augustine in Florida; the Mississippi Freedom Summer of 1964; the formation of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party of 1964; the Selma Voting Rights Movement of 1965; the Fair Housing Movements from 1966-1968; the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. And the Poor People's March of 1968 (AAO).

The most important social and legal encounters by the Movement were the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 (AAO, n.d.).

V. Roles and Contributions in U.S. And World History and Culture

Booker T. Washington, a foremost 20th-century educator, advocated vocational education and hard work and founded the Tuskee Institute of Alabama in 1881 based on this advocacy (Hickerson, 1993). He believed that they should be integrated into the white population. African-American historian W.E.B. DuBois believed otherwise. He perceived that African-Americans who developed more skills and became better educated would be ready to take up intellectual position. He also theorized that African-Americans needed to cooperate more strongly in gaining more political clout, legislate and secure the same rights enjoyed by white Americans. Those who agreed to his belief founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People or NAACP in 1909. The organization and the National Urban League joined forces in abolishing lynching and other forms of discrimination against African-Americans. Their lawyers often argued for laws, which would support segregation and in opposition to the U.S. Constitution (Hickerson).