Fences Fishbowl Blog Discussion: Pre-Civil Rights America/Civil Rights Movement

     The Civil Rights Movement took place in the 1950's and 1960's. This was a time period when the United States was segregated between black and white. There were separate bathrooms, water fountains, theaters, and schools. There were many events that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement that influenced the changes that were made. Although changes were made by law, there was still segregation that remained. There were political, economical, and social hurdles that were dealt with along the way in the Civil Rights Movement.

Questions:

-Who do you think was the most influential person of the time period?

-Which events do you think had the most impact on the civil rights movement?

**How did the tactics of non-violent protest and civil disobedience influence and improve the civil rights movement?

**After segregation was ruled illegal for many segregated situations, it still remained segregated for a long time.  From a political and social standpoint, why do you think this is? Ex: segregated buses after bus boycott and segregated schools after Supreme Court Brown decision.

http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement

      The Civil Rights Movement followed the same pattern any movement would, “The modern period of civil rights reform can be divided into several phases, each beginning with isolated, small-scale protests and ultimately resulting in the emergence of new, more militant movements, leaders, and organizations.”(Civil Rights Movement).

      Although many laws were passed saying that segregation was illegal, it took a long time for society to change their ways, “Despite the civil rights gains of the 1960s, however, racial discrimination and repression remained a significant factor in American life.”(Civil Rights Movement).  This shows how segregation remained a part of society well after laws were passed to end it. 

      The progress made with the Civil Rights Movement for African-Americans set an example for many other minority groups wishing to gain more civil rights in society, “It also served as a model for other group advancement and group pride efforts involving women, students, Chicanos, gays and lesbians, the elderly, and many others.”(Civil Rights Movement).  This shows how other minority groups were influenced by the Civil Rights Movement.  

http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/Civil-Rights-Movement.aspx

     A big goal of the Civil Rights Movement was to desegregate society, largely including the education system, “As a result, school desegregation proceeded very slowly.  By the end of the 1950s, less than 10 percent of black children in the South were attending integrated schools.” (Civil Rights Movement).  This shows how they were successful in legally desegregating the education system.

     As the movement was gaining success politically, the activists became more motivated to keep going and try to gain more civil rights, “The pace of civil rights protests rose sharply in response to the Supreme Court’s decision.  Martin Luther King Jr., led a boycott that ended segregated busing in Montgomery, Alabama.”(Civil Rights Movement).  This shows how after the success of the Brown decision, there were bigger movements planned to increase the success of the civil rights movement.

     The Movement touched even the young African American Population as college students across the country participated in sit-ins, “Sit-ins and other protests swept across the South in early 1960, touching more than 65 cities in 12 states.  Roughly 50,000 young people joined the protests that year.”(Civil Rights Movement).  This shows how the movement affected people of all ages. 

http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/freedom/1917beyond/essays/crm.htm

     Although African-Americans used non violent protest, they were faced with violent retaliation, “They were met with hostility, federal ambivalence and indifference, as well as mob and police violence.  African Americans fought back with direct action protests and keen political organizing, such as voter registration drives and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.”(The Civil Rights Movement: 1919-1960s).  This shows how the protests and riots turned out to be very violent. 

     The burden that needed to be overcome to equalize education was much bigger than just changing some white people’s mind about segregation, “The campaign for desegregated education was part of a larger struggle to reshape the contours of America—in terms of race, but also in the ways political and economic power is exercised in this country.”(The Civil Rights Movement: 1919-1960s).  This shows how there were big political influences working against the desegregation movement of the education system.

     Once desegregation was attained, things such as jobs and more opportunities were being asked by African-Americans, “…demanded not only an end to segregation in downtown stores but also jobs for African Americans in those businesses and municipal government. The 1963 March on Washington, most often remembered as the event at which Dr. King proclaimed his dream, was a demonstration for ‘Jobs and Justice.’”(The Civil Rights Movement: 1919-1960s).  This shows how equal jobs were being demanded.  

Works Cited

"Civil Rights Movement." - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/Civil-Rights-Movement.aspx>.

"Civil Rights Movement." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. <http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement>.

"The Civil Rights Movement: 1919-1960s." The Civil Rights Movement: 1919-1960s, Freedom's Story, TeacherServe®, National Humanities Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. <http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/freedom/1917beyond/essays/crm.htm>.