Following the Second World War which African Americans had played such a large part in, and ended up still coming home to beatings and brutal racism, President Truman felt obliged to commit to Civil Rights for African Americans. Strongly demonstrated through his report titled ‘to secure these rights.’ in 1947, which outlined many of the hardships faced by African Americans and provided recommendations on how to solve them. Following the report several initiatives were pushed through by Truman, such as the signing of Executive Order 9980 and Executive Order 10308. These were crucial in improving the lives of African Americans as they guaranteed fair employment practices in the Civil Services and that defence contracts would not go to companies that discriminated against African Americans, hence empowering them in the workplace. On the other hand it could be argued that the Second World War’s influence was in fact limited.
There were many other civil right groups such as SNCC, who helped organise The Sit-ins of 1960; NAACP, who also aided The Montgomery Bus Boycott; and The Black Panthers, a more Militant group whose main cause was to empower Black people. It is my opinion that whilst Martin Luther King played a significant part in the black civil rights campaign, the other Civil Rights groups should not be ignored for the part they played. Martin Luther King was a key figurehead in the advancement of black Americans. He was known around the World for taking part in several Civil Rights campaigns. He was a highly intelligent man, coming from a higher-class background.
Because the city of Boston was considered a safe haven for fugitive slaves, when the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed, abolitionists in the city vowed to protect anyone prosecuted under the law, but their efforts were futile due to the cooperation from rich whites, that benefited from the cotton industry, and the indifference by the majority of the community. There were many contributing factors, leading to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 being passed. Slaveholders already had the right to claim escaped slaves in the north, under The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. This act required the slaveholder to take time off, or hire someone to track down and retrieve their slaves, which was additional profit lost. Slaveholders realized they needed a stronger law and help with enforcement.
To achieve its goals the NAACP generally challenged segregation through court cases and put pressure on the president/politicians. It was a significant organisation especially after the war when its membership increased dramatically. The NAACP brought success for the civil rights movement during 1945-1961 when the NAACP decided to use the courts/legal system as their strategy to achieve success. They were able to do this because the 14th and 15th amendment stated that black people shouldn’t be discriminated or denied certain rights due to their race. They provided funds or lawyers such as Thurgood Marshall who was a leading black civil rights lawyer.
After the Freedom Bell Tolls: The effects of Freedom and Reconstruction on Southern African Americans during the late 1800's. “For we colored people did not know how to be free and the white people did not know how to have a free colored person about them.” -Houston Hartsfield Holloway If one were to ask an African American person today how they view the abolishment of slavery, they would more than likely have nothing but positive things to say. For the most part, they would be correct. The abolishment of slavery was, and still remains one of the single most positive accomplishments within the African American community, and the world. However the positive effects of slavery ending did not come without consequences.
Between 1954 and 1968 in the country of America change was being heavily sought after in the area of black civil rights. Discrimination towards blacks was cemented into the law system, with the general public view from whites, especially in the south, agreeing with these. However the advancement of black Americans was the accomplishment of a progressive struggle which achieved much change for this suffering community. One man who was seen as an important figure for the ways in which change was created and the vastness of the support for campaigns which followed this main goal was Martin Luther King. I believe that the contribution of Martin Luther King was huge for the Civil Rights Campaign, however many important campaigners were overshadowed by King who possibly got too much credit when it was due elsewhere.
The Civil Rights movement was just about to peak in the early 60’s. There was war abroad, but on the home front, African Americans were taking a strong stance to gain their rights (Faragher, 905). Political activists led the way, and white Americans took notice. Neither side was willing to back down. To the credit of all who sacrificed their lives for the movement, society progressed and laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 were produced.
Gina Gallagher 9th Grade Ms. Lu H. Frank Carey In the 50’s and 60’s in The United States, African Americans began fighting for the rights they deserved. This fight for rights became known as the Civil Rights Movement. An important leader for African Americans at this time was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. greatly impacted civil rights in the United States. His powerful words led to decreased racial segregation, rights for all African Americans and helped create the culturally diverse society we have today. Martin Luther King Jr. used powerful words, instead of violence in order to obtain rights for African Americans.
Specifically for African Americans, the equality and desegregation under this act of education, the workplace, and voter’s registration has been tremendously empowering. One of the great things about America that many other countries do not have is free education. Under Plessy v. Ferguson, segregation of schools was legalized under the conditions that it was separate but equal. During that time, the schools were definitely separated, but unquestionably unequal. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 overturned Plessy V. Ferguson which not only led to African Americans having better schools, but also allowed them to learn with their Caucasian peers.
After the emancipation of slavery in the 1800’s, African Americans have struggled to be treated with the same equal rights as Europeans. Even with the laws that were pasted to protect African Americans there were states that ignored and created new laws to overturn the laws to protect African Americans. The ignorant of Europeans who denied African Americans the equal rights the laws stated they deserved. African Americans decided to stand up for themselves by developing non violent protest movement to fight for the equal rights of African Americans. ("Civil Rights Movement") Martin Luther King Jr. became the leader of the non violent protest movement in the 1950’s.The development of Martin Luther King Jr. in this era started when an African American woman named Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama.