Civil Rights Movement In America

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Black communities around the world have faced injustice and oppression in their societies. In the United States, African Americans lived in a post-slavery society still influenced by racist beliefs, leading to discrimination and inequality. On the other hand, Jews in Ethiopia persecuted for their religion and had great difficulty surviving in dangerous conditions. In response to these struggles, social and political organizations were established. For black Americans in the mid 20th century, the civil rights movement was crucial in changing a prejudiced society, where the effects of slavery and discrimination still remained. For Ethiopian Jews in the 1970s to 1990s, rescue missions were planned and executed to help these Jews make aliyah (immigration…show more content…
The primary goal of the movement’s leaders was to end segregation in all areas of society, including education and the public transportation system. Black leaders of the movement organized boycotts and marches, such as the March on Washington in 1963, in order to achieve the legal and social advancement of their cause. Many Jews joined the black community in support of their struggle, encouraged by its goals and methods of enacting social…show more content…
Many court cases pushed to expose discrimination and racism, along with attempts to change unfair laws or prior court rulings. Two key Jewish supporters of the movement’s legal efforts were Shad and Justine Wise Polier. Shad Polier, a prominent American Jewish lawyer, fought in many civil rights cases, most notably the Scottsboro Trial, and worked alongside many members of the NAACP. Similarly, Polier’s wife, Justine Wise Polier (daughter of Reform rabbi Stephen S. Wise), was a major supporter of the civil rights movement, and “firmly believed in the Congress's principles—that ‘... law could and must be used to fight discrimination…’ " (Antler 281). Polier committed himself to working on the defense team for many civil rights cases, including Brown vs. Board of Education, which ended segregation in the public school system according to the Constitution (“Guide to the Shad Polier Papers”). The impact of these legal contributions were felt throughout the country, as discrimination in all areas of life was made illegal. The influence of Jewish lawyers such as Polier was crucial in furthering the success of court battles and the passage of legislation to prevent and stop discrimination across the nation. Through support rooted in empathy and a connection to social justice, Jews aided the civil rights movement by spreading its message vocally and with their
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