History of Civil Rights in America Essay - 1515 Words

America is a young country and has already developed a rich and multi faceted history. Its history is both bright and ominous as we as a nation have been openly discriminating against African-Americans for many years. For nearly as many years as Americans have been discriminating against African-Americans, people have been fighting for some form of equal rights for everyone, especially the African-Americans. History has shown that African-Americans have had some of the most valuable personal contributions that invariably led to the balancing of the tides of the American population. People are always the driving force behind change and with any major transformation in history there are always individuals that have excelled in setting†¦show more content†¦She was known to many throughout the country as the â€Å"General† because of her daring and infamous trips to the South to lead some 50-60 slaves to freedom. After the end of the Civil War slaves were legally free , but many slave owners in the South refused to adhere to these new laws and those that did still treated the African-Americans as worse than second-class citizens. These continued ill treatment of African-Americans led the way for such spirited leaders as Martin Luther King Jr.and Malcom X. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X had contrasting styles that had the same goal. They both wanted fairness in this country and they wanted the discrimination of African-Americans to come to an end. Martin Luther King Jr. was an active pastor in Montgomery, Alabama, who preached passive resistance. â€Å"On August 28, 1963, the historic March on Washington drew more than 200,000 people in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial. It was here that King made his famous I Have a Dream speech emphasizing his belief that someday all men could be brothers† (â€Å"Martin luther king jr, 2012). This speech was meant to show that African-Americans were tired of the Jim Crowe laws that were not equ al and still fostered isolation and segregation. â€Å"At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 toShow MoreRelatedCivil Liberties and Civil Rights Essay1296 Words   |  6 PagesCivil Liberties (And how they differ from civil rights) If the fires of freedom and civil liberties burn low in other lands, they must be made brighter in our own. If in other lands the press and books and literature of all kinds are censored, we must redouble our efforts here to keep them free. If in other lands the eternal truths of the past are threatened by intolerance, we must provide a safe place for their perpetuation. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1938 (Isaacs 66) Freedom of speechRead MoreThe Challenges African Americans Faced in America963 Words   |  4 PagesChallenges African Americans Faced In America Raymon Rice ETH125 March 11, 2012 The Challenges African Americans Faced In America African Americans had a turbulent history in the United States ever since they were brought to the country as slaves. â€Å"Slavery in America began when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to aid in the production of such lucrative crops as tobacco. (Slavery in America, 2012) During the 17th and 18th centuriesRead MoreImpact Of The Civil Rights Movement1383 Words   |  6 PagesBe the change you desire to see in the world (Gandhi). Throughout the American history, the greatest number of people through an awkward to live peacefully. 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BlackRead MoreRace Relations And The Civil Rights Movement924 Words   |  4 Pagesprogressed. It wasn’t until the late 1900s that African-Americans finally gained the ability to vote in the country they have fought for and lived in for many decades. Today in modern American, even after the Civil Rights movement, many minorities still do not have access to the civil rights that the constitution stated that all men deserve. For instance, in the late 1 800s to early 1900s African-Americans were the hated minority, they were treated differently and discriminated against. Today the hatedRead MoreShould America Be The Same?1648 Words   |  7 PagesWould America Be The Same? Protests and chants full of discriminance and disparity filling America’s vast crevices of segregation. 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African Americans faced many social problems during this time period, which demonstrated the significance of organizingRead MoreVietnam War and American Culture1684 Words   |  7 Pages In the 1960’s America went through many cultural changes. Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights activist, delivered his famous, â€Å"I have a dream† speech. African Americans were fighting for peace, freedom and equality. The United States was involved in the Vietnam War, committed to anti-communism. African Americans were deployed to Vietnam. The Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement coincided. African Americans believed fighting for democracy abro ad would help gain civil rights at home. IIRead MoreAmerican Civil Liberties Union: Study Notes1252 Words   |  5 PagesStatement America was founded on the astute principles of democracy and the potential benefits of freedom it derives. 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