Civil Rights: Fight for Racial Equality

The Civil Rights movement was an ongoing fight for racial equality that took place for over 100 years after the Civil War from the years 1954-1968 (“Civil Rights Movement”).

The Civil War ended slavery but that did not change the fact that discrimination was still going on. Americans were trying everything they could to change the rights of blacks. It was a very long movement looking to enforce the constitutional and legal rights for the African Americans that were treated unfairly (“Civil Rights Movement”). Americans they did absolutely everything they had to do to help to gain their civil rights back. There were many leaders that helped the movement such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Booker T. Washington, and Rosa Parks that lead the non-violent protests which led to changes in the law. Those people have changed what civil rights and segregation is today and helped many people back then and to the people they are today.

The 14th and 15th amendment were the major laws that were enforced to help with the Civil Rights movement (Carson, Clayborne.

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). The Civil rights movement had a huge impact on society then and now. Besides the impactful efforts of civil rights leaders, many events helped African Americans gain their civil rights back. Thanks to Brown vs. Board of Education, the Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, these three events helped African Americans gain civil rights in the United States of America such as abolishing segregation and demanding equality. The Brown vs Board of Education helped African Americans gain civil rights in the United States such as abolishing segregation and demanding equality for education and schools.

Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka was a landmark the United States Supreme Court case in which the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional (“Brown vs Board of Education”). It all started on Dec 9, 1952, and ended on May 17, 1954, but it took a huge part in the Civil Rights Movement. There were many people involved through the whole trials.

Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren was the one who delivered the ruling in the landmark civil rights case for the Brown vs. Board of Education (“Brown vs Board of Education”). He said that segregation of public schools was a violation of the 14th amendment and was unconstitutional. Children back then were treated very unfairly in schools. In schools, they had separate water fountains for whites and blacks and certain classroom with the separate races. Warren ruled that racial segregation in all public schools were unconstitutional after all the terrible stuff happening in schools (Brown vs Board of Education”). The Court declared that white and African Americans were unequal. Earl Warren agreed with the civil rights authority that the fourteenth amendment was apart of the decision of the court's final decision on the case to make sure that all the children were treated equal in all the schools. The Brown vs. Board of Education took a huge impact on the Civil Rights Movement.

The Brown vs Board of Educations changed African Americans lives from segregation in schools. This prevented African Americans from being treated unfairly by people saying mean and horrible things to the kids in schools. The Brown vs Board of Education was told to be the most important ruling of the court's history. Brown vs Board of Education really inspired African Americans in the civil rights movement. The Bus Boycott helped African Americans gain civil rights in the United States of America such as abolishing segregation and demanding equality. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a political and social protest campaign against the policy of racial segregation on the public transit system of Montgomery, Alabama(“Montgomery Bus Boycott”). It was a crucial event in the Civil Rights Movement. This movement started on December 5, 1955, and ended on December 20, 1956. Rosa Parks was the main person apart of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Rosa was arrested for not giving up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white person, she sat there and said no because she wanted to show that segregation was getting worse and that she did not care what they did to her (“The Montgomery Bus Boycott”). Rosas Park's decision led to a United States supreme court decision that declared Alabama and Montgomery laws that segregation on buses was ununconstitutional.

There were many other people before Rosa Parks that refused to let their seat up but Rosa was the first to come to the public and the press. Many other important people in the civil rights movement were apart of the boycott such as Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King gave a speech on segregation between the different civil rights that went on during that time. “This momentous decree is a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity. But hundred years later the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later the 1ife of the Negro is still badly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination.” (“Civil Rights Era.”). Rosa Parks Bus Boycott lasted more than a year. Martin Luther King was brought into the Boycott and became one of the most important leaders in the boycott and overall through the civil rights movement ('Montgomery Bus Boycott' History.com). The Bus Boycott was affected by the civil rights movement because it was one of the first major movements that helped social change during the civil rights movement. Rosa Parks decisions on the Montgomery bus made a huge impact on what the civil rights and what segregation is today and how that affected many black people’s lives today. The Bus Boycott was so successful that local civil rights leaders decided to keep going with it and making more organization to help segregation. T

he Boycott took a huge part of the civil rights movement that it came to national press. The Montgomery Bus Boycott became such a success that it inspired African American communities to protest racial discrimination. Every African American felt an effect on segregation and now the civil rights movement has helped segregation tremendously. The March On Washington helped African Americans gain civil rights in the United States of America such as abolishing segregation and demanding equality (“History.com”). The March on Washington was for Jobs and Freedom, the March on Washington was held in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, August 28, 1963. The purpose of the march was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. Tons of people gathered to see the highlight of the march, which attracted 250,000 people, Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech. Over 3,000 people in the press covered the entire event. Martin Luther King was a big part of the March on Washington (“March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.”).

Lots of other people followed Martin Luther's “I Have a Dream” speech to talk on their part and what they thought needed to change. Martin Luther King was one of the main people involved in the March on Washington. Martin delivered his “ I Have a Dream” speech on this day in front of millions and millions of people. The “I Have a Dream” speech was a speech Martin delivered to end racism (Carson, Clayborne.). Martin wanted jobs and freedom for the African American people in the United States. The March on Washington was successful in pressuring the administration of John F. Kennedy to initiate a strong federal civil rights bill in Congress (“March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.”). During this event, Martin Luther King delivered his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech. The 1963 March on Washington had several precedents. “Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children. It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negros legitimate discontent. will not pass until there is .an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality -1963 is not an end but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual.” (“Civil Rights Era.”). Martin Luther King referred to this day as “The greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation”(“Civil Rights Era.”).

Thanks to Brown vs. Board of Education, the Bus Boycott and the March on Washington, these three events helped African Americans gain civil rights in the United States of America such as abolishing segregation and demanding equality. Each one of these three events has made the United States what it is today with racial equality. The United States has changed so much with discrimination since all these events happened. The United States is still dealing with lots of racial issues throughout the United States today but there has been a lot of change since. The Civil Rights Movement has changed lots of people’s lives regarding racism and equality in the United States. This topic is important because the United States should protect and provide equality for all citizens.