The United States has a long history of racism. Laws against race-based discrimination have existed since the country’s founding, but it wasn’t until the civil rights movement that these laws became a reality for people of color. Racism in America – as well as in many other developed countries – has been driven by ideologies such as white supremacy and anti-racism.
The main goal of racism is to perpetuate the idea that one race is superior to others, while anti-racism strives to eliminate these ideas from society. The term “civil rights” refers to various concepts and movements that are aimed at ensuring equality for all people regardless of race or other demographic factors. To understand how the civil rights movement worked and what its impact was on American society, you should read on…
What is the Civil Rights Movement?
The civil rights movement began in the United States in the 1950s and ’60s as a collective effort to secure equal rights for African Americans. This involved a push to end segregation, secure voting rights, and end discrimination in the workplace and elsewhere.
These efforts were highly political, and African Americans who took part in the movement faced threats, intimidation, and even acts of violence. In the end, however, they were able to achieve a lot.
The Goals of the Civil Rights Movement
The goals of the civil rights movement were to overturn laws and customs that perpetuated racism, and to ensure the civil rights of all people – regardless of race.
The movement sought to eliminate laws and customs that allowed for racial segregation, discrimination, and slavery. They also wanted to make sure that African Americans had equal access to political power, jobs, housing, and education.
The Key People in the Civil Rights Movement
During the civil rights movement, many key players emerged who became important figures in the effort to end racism in the United States. These include Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks – who were all leaders of various civil rights groups.
Other key figures were Medgar Evers, Coretta Scott King, and John Lewis. These people used various methods to help change laws and ensure that all citizens had equal access to resources. The most effective methods were using nonviolent protests, building alliances with other groups, and using public opinion to push for change.
How Did the Civil Rights Movement Work?
Civil rights groups used a variety of methods to change laws and raise awareness. One of the most effective methods involved using nonviolent protests to pressure politicians and the general public to take action on civil rights issues. Civil rights leaders also used lawsuits and public opinion to raise awareness and encourage action.
These methods worked because they were nonviolent and nonviolent protests have a much higher chance of changing people’s minds than violent protests do.
The aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement
Civil rights groups continued to work after the movement had ended, and they were still very active decades after the movement had ended. In many ways, the civil rights movement was a precursor to the modern LGBT rights movement, as many of the same issues are still being faced by the LGBT community today.
For example, the civil rights movement sought to end prejudice against LGBT people, but many people today still feel that such prejudice is wrong. The civil rights movement also worked to end racism in the US, but many people today are still prejudiced against members of certain groups, like the LGBT community.