Seemed to Happen Around Me, Said My

¶ … seemed to happen around me, said my friend's uncle. "I had no idea how it would impact my life personally, and at the time all I was concerned about was me and my wife." He continued to tell me about his life story and gradually worked his way back to the topic of the Civil Rights movement. Mr. Glick is white, and I'm not sure he'd ever really feel the full impact of the Civil Rights movement as it pertains to African-Americans. For him it was all a blur, a time influenced by the hippie and sexual revolution as much as it was a time of immense liberation for black Americans.

I know I can't speak from the perspective of an African-American," Mr. Glick continued. "But something as powerful as the Civil Rights movement can only affect all citizens. I truly believe what Dr. King said: "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Is that the exact quote? Anyway, it's really hard to believe that half a century ago we were living in a segregated society, and blacks had to drink from different fountains and go to different schools and sit in the back of the bus. I mean, it's shameful!"

The storekeeper, a woman who seems friendly enough to ask questions like these to, echoed the same sentiments. "My goodness, can you believe that 50, 60 years ago we actually lived in a segregated society? I admire the people, both white and black, who fought for Civil Rights in the 60s. It was a bit of a struggle but we made it!" She smiled. "I was around, and I remember my sister marching in one of the rallies, but I was too young to really grasp the importance of the movement. Now I can't imagine where we would be without Mr. King. Although I guess it would just have had to be someone else to carry the message. It was inevitable. You can only oppress a people for so long before the bough breaks. I think we're still suffering the results of slavery today, so the Civil Rights movement is still alive!" nodded in agreement. The remnants of slavery are evident in the inner cities and the ghettos. The 1960s was a culmination of years of pain and struggle and African-Americans still do have to fight for their rights and freedoms. The law may prevent schools from being segregated, but blacks are still beaten by white cops, and profiled when they drive. Prejudice is alive and well, even though many people deny it. Sure the situation is better than it was before the Civil Rights movement, but the struggle continues.