The Civil Rights Movement teaches us that people must be accepting and that they must treat others as they would like to be treated in order for a society to thrive. History has shown that whenever segregation and discrimination occurs, the outcomes are usually hate and violence. The Civil Rights Movement was proof that this sometimes may exist, but also that there are other ways to solve problems. We have learned that in fact protesting along with non-violence is actually more powerful than fighting. Martin Luther King Jr.'s non-violent protest was so efficient that they were able to integrate the most segregated city in America in the 1960's. The Civil Rights Movement also proved the importance of working together for a greater goal. African-Americans had been striving for equality for hundreds of years before the Civil Rights Movement, yet equality never came. When African-Americans and their allies against racism came together they were able to change the future of America. MLK Jr. definitely could not have done this by himself, and that is proven by the incident in Birmingham when it was the children that acted where he could not.
About 50 years prior to the Civil Rights Movement, America continuously fails to grasps the meaning of equity and equality. In America, institutionalized racism is present in most schools and public places and will probably be there for quite some time. This is because America struggles with recognizing its past. America can not stand to let it be known how terrible some of its rulers were to people that used to live here. America can not stand to let it be known how racist of a country it used to(and continues to) be. America wants to believe that it is always right and that we barely ever did wrong. But that is not the case and in order to finally rid America of all aspects of racism, the past must be thoroughly explained and unearthed. Then America must use its faults as an example for others in order for others to not do the same. Once this happens, America might be able to ensure equity and equality in all parts of life in the hope that we may become a Post-Racial World.
One of the important ideas from the Civil Rights Movement was that non-violent protest is more effective than a violent protest. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement this enabled African-Americans to make a huge impact on the push for integration and equality. Today, protesters use this in order to achieve social change where they feel the need. People protesting for Gay rights in San Francisco, police officers protesting job losses in Britain, Palestinians in the West Bank protesting racial discrimination, it is happening all over. The Civil Rights Movement has inspired millions to stand up against what is wrong and to correct it, and that individuals can make all the difference.
3 comments:
I agree with the fact that America continuously fails to grasp the meaning of equity because before this civil rights movement, not many acts were passed to establish rights among equity. Dating back to the momement when MLK was shot to death, his "I Have a Dream" Speech gave us all Americans a view of what equality is and as of today, we start battling changes in wages, profits, and poverty. His I have a Dream Speech gave us a visual image what America can be visioned someday, for ex everyone stepping up to equity and fairness. I also agree that we must all step together to accomplish goals. The Movement Cesar Chavez established required teamwork for things to be effective and however the ending results were that the union supported them. I say that without team work, we will never get anywhere farther.
I definitely agree with how much of an effect non-violent protest has had on us. Especially after watching the film on Cesar Chavez, I think it's clear that that's the most effective form of protest. When was the last time somebody got something by yelling and screaming and rioting? I do wonder, though, if you can expound on what you mean in your second paragraph. It's sort of vague. But overall good job.
I agree that people need to treat each other as they'd like to be treated for us to strive. That's been like the golden rule since we were all little & it's sad how cruel people were back then & still are to each other over race. I also agree that America needs to unearth it's past so we can learn from our mistakes. I like how you mentioned the protests in SF, Britain, & Palestine. It just goes to show how nonviolent protest is popular all over the world & proven to be effective because of the civil rights movement.
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