Discussion
I need help with a History question. All explanations and answers will be used to help me learn.
Discussion: Civil Rights and Historical Distortion
Following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr., widened his concerns beyond African American Civil Rights; he went on to question the Vietnam War and advocate for those in. King’s departure from his original campaign caused many of his followers to question the goals and principles of the Civil Rights Movement. After reading your text, answer the following questions in your discussion post: What do you think the goals of the Civil Rights activists were? Why did the movement split in the mid-1960s? What do you believe are the most important successes of the Civil Rights Movement? What were the failures of the movement? Have modern Americans distorted either the understanding of the Civil Rights leaders or the movement itself? Fully explain your answers.
To receive full credit for this assignment your post must:
- Address the questions asked in the paragraph above in at least a 300-word post and cite all outside sources appropriately
- In your initial post, include at least one interesting question the readings raised for you
- Reply to at least two of your classmates’ posts and attempt to answer their question (100 word posts minimum)
link to the book https://openstax.org/books/us-history/pages/29-introduction
Joash N
Civil Rights and Historical Distortion
The 1960s civil rights movement’s core objective was to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans and ensuring that they are legally recognized both in state and the federal level as rightful citizens of the U.S. From the online class text, the activities of the civil rights movement were most of the time nonviolent. These activities included boycotts such as Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama, sit-ins such as the Greensboro sit-ins, marches such as the Selma to Montgomery marches in Alabama and the march on Washington, as well as a wide range of other nonviolent activities.
In mid-60s, the movement split and it was polarized between non-violent civil rights activists led by Martin Luther King, Jr. Versus young, assertive and radical African Americans led by Malcom X who advocated for violence and other methods to agitate for change.
The successes of the civil rights movement cannot be overemphasized. From leading with the dismantling of Jim Crow segregation in the South, to the federal government’s passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Despite the passage of laws, which were aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination, there is still widespread poverty and discrimination against African Americans. African Americans are targets for police brutality and they are in disproportionate numbers in prison compared to their population. Many blacks have been executed wrongly with others stopped by the Supreme Court for having errors in investigations. These are examples of civil rights movement’s failures.
I think many modern American do not fully understand the civil rights leaders of the movement itself because they did not live it or experience it. Modern Americans and their leadership are just doing business as usual by just commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. day with speeches and celebrations. These commemorations have nothing to do with carrying Luther King message forward like ending segregation, racial suppression, and equal access to jobs but just like any other day. We still have poverty, police brutality and unequal education and home ownership amongst African Americans and the civil rights movement was championing for change.
I have a question, What do you think about Black Lives Matter and similar movements agitating against discriminations against African Americans today?
Work Cited
Brian Stevenson. “Slavery gave America a fear of black people and a taste for violent punishment. Both still define our criminal-justice system”. The New York Times magazine, August 18, 2019, https://nyti.ms/2SPnPNF
“Civil Rights Movement.” History , 15 May 2019, www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement. Accessed 16 May 2020.
Deshaunta S
Civil Rights and Historical Distortion
The main goals of the Civil Rights activist were to eliminate segregation and gain equal opportunity. During the Civil Rights movement, the 1960’s experienced many phases. Many activists put their focus toward racial discrimination, equal rights to job opportunities, education, voting, and education. While those were all great and necessary movements, people started to shift their focus away from the Civil Rights movement and turn towards the Vietnam War. Along with attentions being diverted towards the Vietnam War the Civil Rights movement took a hard blow with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death left the Civil Rights movement without leadership and guidance. I believe the most important gain from the Civil Rights movement includes the Crusade for Citizenship, the Birmingham Campaign, and the March on Washington. During the Civil Rights movement, these acts allowed blacks the right to vote, ended segregation, and led to worldwide attention towards the movement. Although the Civil Rights movement led to many great changes, the movement still failed to eliminate economic discrimination and poverty. The Civil Rights Movement was an act of solidarity. Citizens from every walk of life, both men and women, from all ethnic’s groups sought out to broaden the meaning of the American promise and reform American society to make it more equal. With that said I believe that people today are aiming for the same goal. So, I do not think that modern Americans have distorted the understanding of the Civil Rights leaders or the movement itself. Unfortunately, discrimination and unjust situations still take place today, it is my opinion that most Americans stand behind the American promise and equality.
While we have had great success and progress regarding the Civil Rights Movement, do you believe commitment to true equality has been fulfilled?
