After World
War II, America faced a long going struggle against racial
discrimination. As a nation, citizens were feuding with one another
about the rights of each citizen. Although some regulations were put
in place, African Americans did not receive equal treatment.
Different cases challenged segregation and the validity of the Jim
Crow Laws. Protests were organized to bring attention to the public
and government. Methods of protest included sit-ins, boycotts, and
marches. Marches were necessary to bring awareness for
disfranchisement, or the denial of voting rights. The South
constantly imposed laws to prevent African Americans from voting.
Education was
also a big deal in this time frame. Many court cases ignored the previous ruling of Plessy verses Fergusson, which gave the right for things to be “separate but equal”. Also, a young African American girl attempted to enroll into an
all white school in Topeka, but once she was denied enrollment, the NAACP
helped their family sue the board of education. By 1955, many whites
were against the whole idea of integration. When questioned by the
Sibley Commission, the majority of the public said they would rather
close public schools than integrate them.
In December of
1955, Rosa Parks sat down on an Alabama bus. A white told her to
remove herself from the seat. She was arrested once she refused. This
event triggered the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Headed by Martin Luther
King, it was planned that African Americans would avoid using the bus
in means of transportation. Many African Americans followed through,
yet some were arrested for this. Due to the boycott, the American
public started to learn of the unfairness that was occurring.
In 1960, a
Supreme Court decision stated that bus stations could not be
segregated. To test this ruling, Freedom Riders would come and sit on
various buses throughout the south and watch the reactions. Freedom
Riders were both African American as well as white.
So, who
inspired the Civil Rights Movement? Various heroes had a part in
making the Civil Rights Movement come to life. The one we most
commonly hear of is Martin Luther King Jr. His inspiring “I
Have A Dream” speech left citizens speechless, yet wanting to make
a lasting effort. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ensured that racial
discrimination within education and employment was prohibited.
The Student
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee assisted African American
southerners register to vote. They organized a march in Selma,
Alabama to raise awareness for voting rights. The march moved forward
towards Montgomery, Alabama. However, disapproving locals and police
attacked the protesters. Due to this shameful act, the American
public became further aware of racial discrimination. Soon the Voting Rights
Act of 1965 was passed, ensuring everyone could vote without
interruption.
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