The Work for Civil Rights The fight for equality has been a consistent theme in our country. From the start of slavery, to the early 1950s, and continuing on until the 1960s, the work towards civil rights was one of the most important events in our nation’s history. People worked extremely hard throughout this time period to bring equal rights to African Americans. One of the most famous civil rights leaders is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For much of his life he dedicated his work to the lives of fellow African Americans, in the hopes that one day they would be seen as equal to the white man. In a way, Dr. King sped up the process of the civil rights movement. Without his determination and fight for equality, the movement could have continued
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These tactics included marches, sit-ins, and civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is a form of political participation based on a conscious decision to break a law believed to be unjust and to suffer the consequences (Government in America). While it may be thought that these acts were violent, they were not. Martin Luther King was probably the most famous civil rights activist and he was arrested many times for performing different acts of civil disobedience. The most famous act of disobedience would be his letter from Birmingham Jail. In it he states, “In spite of my shattered dreams of the past, I came to Birmingham with the hope that the white religious leadership in the community would see the justice of our cause and, with deep moral concern...I had hoped that each of you would understand. But again I have been disappointed” (Letter from Birmingham Jail). In many efforts to bring an end to the segregation, Dr. King was let down by the other person. However, he continued to fight for African Americans’ civil rights. He delivered one of the most famous speeches of our country’s history, “I Have a Dream.” Hundreds of thousands of people gathered to hear Dr. King speak about his hopes for the future and bringing an end to segregation. As King continued to attract more and more activists, he also began to draw the attention of the media. When Dr. King and his followers planned to march across the bridge from Selma to Montgomery, they were awaited by the state troopers. Unwavering in their beliefs, the marchers continued, only to be attacked by the force. They were beaten, trampled, sprayed with tear gas; and while all of this was happening, the cameras were watching, allowing all of America to view the horrific scene of “Bloody Sunday.” Even after having to turn around, the marchers were not going to quit, as they came
These tactics included marches, sit-ins, and civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is a form of political participation based on a conscious decision to break a law believed to be unjust and to suffer the consequences (Government in America). While it may be thought that these acts were violent, they were not. Martin Luther King was probably the most famous civil rights activist and he was arrested many times for performing different acts of civil disobedience. The most famous act of disobedience would be his letter from Birmingham Jail. In it he states, “In spite of my shattered dreams of the past, I came to Birmingham with the hope that the white religious leadership in the community would see the justice of our cause and, with deep moral concern...I had hoped that each of you would understand. But again I have been disappointed” (Letter from Birmingham Jail). In many efforts to bring an end to the segregation, Dr. King was let down by the other person. However, he continued to fight for African Americans’ civil rights. He delivered one of the most famous speeches of our country’s history, “I Have a Dream.” Hundreds of thousands of people gathered to hear Dr. King speak about his hopes for the future and bringing an end to segregation. As King continued to attract more and more activists, he also began to draw the attention of the media. When Dr. King and his followers planned to march across the bridge from Selma to Montgomery, they were awaited by the state troopers. Unwavering in their beliefs, the marchers continued, only to be attacked by the force. They were beaten, trampled, sprayed with tear gas; and while all of this was happening, the cameras were watching, allowing all of America to view the horrific scene of “Bloody Sunday.” Even after having to turn around, the marchers were not going to quit, as they came