The American Civil Right Movement - 922 Words

It was just a single line in a speech given more than fifty years ago, yet many still remember it as one of the most important turning points in Southern political history and the American civil right movement. As many civil rights activists were fighting for the abolishment of Jim Crow laws, newly elected Governor George Wallace stood at the podium under the Alabama State House to deliver his inaugural speech which would later cement his legacy amongst the most controversial figures in Southern history. His infamous line, â€Å"segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever†, represents the pinnacle of the southern struggle between pride and blame (Wallace). To some, George Wallace was an unabashed racist who was the embodiment of white supremacy and opposition toward the civil rights movement in the South. To others, he was a brave fighter for states’ rights amidst one of the most difficult transition periods in the South. Regardless of one’s p ersonal opinions about Gov. Wallace, his influence on many of the themes covered in this course such as the transformation of Southern politics, race relations, and ideals cannot be undermined. The Alabamian stood at the center stage of the southern civil rights movement where his fierce rhetoric and the subsequential outburst of racial violence and anger were forever seared in the region’s memory. By studying George Wallace and his inaugural speech, one can trace the roots and evolution of southern ideals and politicsShow MoreRelatedThe American Civil Rights Movement586 Words   |  2 PagesHas someone ever told you that you were not allowed to do something that others had the right to? Maybe it was your parents, your boss, the government, but you thought you had just enough right as anyone else did? Well, during the 1960’s not everyone had the same rights. During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans were fighting for equality. They didn’t want â€Å" separate but equal† they wanted full equality for their people. This caused many riots throughout the US. When we look at riots weRead MoreThe African-American Civil Rights Movement1295 Words   |  5 Pages The African-American Civil Rights Movement is arguably the largest and most successful push towards toward change in American history. The movement was influenced by some of the biggest figures in American history as well, led by Martin Luther King Jr. and influenced by others such as president Kennedy and Johnson. Amongst the numerous protests and powerful speeches during the Civil Rights Movement perhaps the most prominent is the series of three marches in 1965 known today as the â€Å"Selma to Montgomery†Read MoreThe Civil Rights Movement And The American Civil Movement958 Words   |  4 Pages The Civil Rights Movement, also known as the American Civil Rights Movement and other names, is a term that encompasses the strategies, groups, and social movements in the United States whose goals were to end racial segregation and di scrimination against African Americans and to secure legal recognition and federal protection of the citizenship rights enumerated in the Constitution and federal law. The movement was characterized by major campaigns of civil resistance. Between 1955 and 1968Read MoreThe American Civil Rights Movement1519 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Civil Rights Movement is personified through several prominent personalities. These figures exhibited strong character throughout their careers in activism that revolutionized the ideals and opportunities of the 20th century, standing as precedents for courage and perseverance in the face of widespread systemic oppression. However, not all of these figures received the acknowledgment and acceptance that their legacy deserved. One such figure was Bayard Rustin, a lifelong Civil RightsRead MoreThe American Of The Civil Rights Movement949 Words   |  4 Pagesstatement. As a whole, the Civil Rights Movement accounted for a drastic amount of changes to black businesses that primarily served black consumers. For instance, African American people stayed at blacked owned hotels, resorts, and restaurants, which gave way for African American entrepreneurship (Blackford 149). Once segregation was outlawed, African American consumers leapt at the opportunity to shop at white owned businesses. Post-Civil Rights Movement, the African American community has becomeRead MoreThe American Civil Rights Movement912 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Ferguson Riots after a young, unarmed teenager named Michael Brown was shot by a police officer. Some believe that these events and the emergence of the #BlackLivesMatter campaign could be the beginning of yet another American civil rights movement. The first LGBT movement began in 1969 after the raid of one of the few gay bars in the United States, Stonewall Inn. Often, the story of this seedy nightclub is distorted or hardly taught at all. A huge example of this is the recent movie on the riotsRead MoreThe American Of The Civil Rights Movement1886 Words   |  8 PagesFrom slavery to the Civil Rights Movement, the African American community has faced hardships, discrimination and prejudice based on their position in the racial hierarchy in the United States. Although the melting pot called the American population has learned to coexist in t he twenty first century, the African American community continues to face these problem even after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by Congress prohibiting discrimination of race, color, religion, sex, or national originRead MoreThe American Civil War And The Civil Rights Movement1725 Words   |  7 PagesAfter the American Civil War (1861-1865), major changes which were crucial to the establishment of African Americans in the American society took place. Before the bloody war, slaves were comprised of thirteen percent of the total population of the United States. The treatments they receive from their masters ranged from generous to abusive. The issue of slavery was becoming more and more apparent in social, economic, and most importantly political aspects of the country. In fact, even before theRead MoreThe American Civil War And The Civil Rights Movement1539 Words   |  7 PagesIn elementary school, students study the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement. Teachers s peak about slavery and racism as if it were a thing of the past; and juvenile minds are lead to believe that Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream has finally come true. But as these futile minds mature, they encounter different versions of this â€Å"dream†. Caucasian faces may live to believe the world is a blissful place, but scoff at the waitress who struggles to speak english. Brown faces may look at the homosexualRead MoreThe American Civil War And The Civil Rights Movement901 Words   |  4 PagesStates were slave owners (Piersen 1996: 24). However, the controversy over slavery was a hotly debated topic in American society, leading eventually to the American Civil War (1861-1865), which finally brought slavery to an end. After the emancipation, overcoming slavery s legacy remained a crucial issue in American history, from Reconstruction following the war to the Civil Rights Movement a century later. The practice of slavery dates to prehistoric times, although its institutionalization