The civil rights movement in the United States represents the epitome of change in the history of America and the world at large. The positive impact that was brought about by these movements continues to be a recognized achievement that is celebrated by the world. The modern movements on civil rights were born out of the history of protests. Any protests would be met with violent retaliation. However, the community leaders, especially from the southern cities, continued to protest against racial segregation even amidst fears of violence. It would be a difficult task to mention all the figures in these movements. The list would be incredibly long.
Many people played major roles in the civil rights movement, but they are not properly recognized. Even so, some key figures have been largely recognized, and their names went down in the books of history as having made a significant impact on the struggle for freedom. They include Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, T. Washington, W.E.B Dubois, Rosa Parks amongst many others. Different black leaders used different approaches to fighting for equity. At long run, their goals and objectives were similar for all of them. Leaders like Malcolm X and W.E.B Dubois were great revolutionists who did not mind using violence in pushing for their goals 1 . On the other hand, Martin Luther King and T. Washington embraced the non-violent approaches to fight for the same cause 2 .
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The philosophy of non-violence was founded on common sense and religion. For success to be realized in the non-violent protest, the approach needed a lot of support from the black community as well as active participation from the public. Churches for the blacks offered joints for the organization of these movements as well as selling the philosophies for the black community. Religious leaders commanded a lot of respect and played a significant role in swaying their delegation to embrace a non-violent approach. Martin Luther King set an example for peaceful civil rights protests. He preached love, self-sacrifice, and restoration of the black people’s dignity. King and other proponents of non-violent approach had faith that the liberal reforms would one day materialize and democracy would be granted 3 .
At one point in time, King visited India where his belief in non-violent resistance hardened. King and his followers preferred serving in jail terms instead of paying bails. The approach of non-violence enjoyed mass participation crowned by the religious overtones 4 . The approach was also characterized by campaigns on civil resistance, civil disobedience which brought about the crisis between the government authorities and the activists. There were also boycotts like the Montgomery Bus Boycott which was mostly successful in Alabama. There were also sit-in and marches amidst a wide range of other non-violent approaches. The proponents of a violent approach like Malcolm X used the rhetoric of violence as well as revolutionary means to awaken the masses. They also promoted hostile retaliation to ensure that the whites got a new level of respect for the minority groups such as the black community.
Programs on black studies and African languages became crucial in strengthening the pride of black identity. Control of the black neighborhoods, as well as black organization, was promoted to ensure that the power base for the blacks was stronger. Black companies, tenant’s council, and community centers were largely used to foster this strategy. Through this approach, blacks had immense control of their destiny as they recognized that they had relative power to grant them the freedom.
Vietnam War was one against communism. It promoted the liberal democracy against the brutal dictatorship. The civil rights movement supported the Vietnamese trusting that if they defended democracy in a foreign land, then they would achieve it back at home. When the Vietnam War escalated and was largely supported by the white house, the Civil Rights movement also intensified their struggle which was expressed in dressing, gesture, language supporting not just their interest but even the Vietnamese 5 . The draft was in itself discriminatory and divisive. No single black was present on board in Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama or Mississippi. Soon rumors escalated that the government was using the Vietnam War as genocide. As a result, the black soldiers, as well as the Civil Rights activists, started to identify themselves with the enemy. They saw the Vietnamese as victims of racial violence just like the black community in America 6 . For this reason, they led demonstrations against the war, organized for marches and sit-ins which were disruptive.
Bibliography
Anderson, Terry, and Joe P. Dunn. "The movement and the sixties: Protest in America from Greensboro to Wounded Knee." History: Reviews of New Books 24.1 (1995): 15-15.
Haines, Herbert H. "Black radicalization and the funding of civil rights: 1957-1970." Social Problems 32.1 (1984): 31-43.
Lynch, Mona. "The culture of control: Crime and social order in contemporary society." PoLAR: Political and Legal Anthropology Review 25.2 (2002): 109-112.
McCarthy, John D., and Mayer N. Zald. "Resource mobilization and social movements: A partial theory." American journal of sociology 82.6 (1977): 1212-1241.
1 McCarthy, John D., and Mayer N. Zald. "Resource mobilization and social movements: A partial theory." American journal of sociology 82.6 (1977): 1212-1241.
2 Lynch, Mona. "The culture of control: Crime and social order in contemporary society." PoLAR: Political and Legal Anthropology Review 25.2 (2002): 109-112.
3 McCarthy, John D., and Mayer N. Zald. "Resource mobilization and social movements: A partial theory." American journal of sociology 82.6 (1977): 1212-1241.
4 Haines, Herbert H. "Black radicalization and the funding of civil rights: 1957-1970." Social Problems 32.1 (1984): 31-43.
5 Anderson, Terry, and Joe P. Dunn. "The movement and the sixties: Protest in America from Greensboro to Wounded Knee." History: Reviews of New Books 24.1 (1995): 15-15.
6 Anderson, Terry, and Joe P. Dunn. "The movement and the sixties: Protest in America from Greensboro to Wounded Knee." Ibid .
