The Civil Rights Movement
By, Cole Campbell
Did the Civil Rights Movement make the U.S. a more just and equal society?
Civil Rights Tactics and strategies
Civil Disobedience is defined as: "Is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, or commands of a government, or of an occupying international power." Non-violence is the main concern when practicing Civil Disobedience. The African-Americans were not the first to practice this strategy. It has been used dating back all the way to the Egyptians. Some of the most important moments in The Civil Rights Movement are related to this act of protest. One widely known example is when Rosa Parks refused to sit in the back of the bus after a long day.
Grass Roots Organizations are called this because the founders state that the development of these movements are natural and differ from government mandated systems. These organizations are mainly on a local and voluntary basis, and can create new political parties that represent the people and inspire more voting registration. Methods to bring these movements to action include: House meetings, putting up posters, filling out petitions, and organizing large demonstrations such as marches.
The last and very influential primary strategy used during the Civil Rights was boycotts and economic withdrawals. This is the use of the community to band together and cause a monetary influence on the oppressors by refusing to buy a product or use a service provided by the oppressing power. The best and most impacting example of this strategy was the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Thousands of blacks banded together and decided to stop using the bus system to protest after the Rosa Parks incident. The sense of community in a race-wide boycott showed how serious the African-Americans were about their struggle, some had to walk miles upon miles to work, but through all this they stayed united and proved a very important point as the buses sat un-used in lots.
The Top Five Events of The Civil Rights Movement
Montgomery Bus Boycott- One of the first economical protests of the Civil Rights Movement. This began with the prosecution of Rosa Parks when she refused to give up her seat to a white man. This influenced the black community to stop using the bus system all together, making an impact on the income of the buses.
March on Washington- People marched from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial while listening to speeches. This was where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.
16th Street Church Bombing- An act of racial-terrorism where a church was bombed. The explosion killed four girls, marking a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.
Civil Rights Act of 1964- Lynda B. Johnson passed this act to end public discrimination against blacks and other minorities. This act ended segregation and promoted integration.
"A Change Is Gonna Come" -Sam Cooke
Oh, and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go down town
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
Its been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say, "Brother, help me please."
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
There been times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will