Civil Rights Movement In America

The social changes that have been wrought in the United States are immense. We went from a country that upheld slavery as ‘the natural way’ to a country with a black president. We went from a country where it was legal for a man to beat his wife to a country deeply embroiled in the feminist movement. We went from a country that was intolerant of immigrants to–well, we’re still working on that one. Despite its many shortcomings, this country’s long-held tradition of marching towards equality has brought long-lasting, overwhelmingly positive results. Every successful social movement in America has used similar tactics of nonviolence and civil disobedience to show society that equality is something to be welcomed, not to be feared. The pages …show more content…
Displays of civil disobedience are not as colossal as they used to be, nor do they receive as much media attention, but those who stand up for equality–whether they be fighting racism or sexism or Islamophobia–are just as passionate as ever. One of the more notable examples of recent peaceful resistance to laws is the story of Bree Newsome, a woman who removed a confederate flag from a statehouse in South Carolina. Newsome felt that after the recent racially motivated massacre in a Charleston church, a symbol of a time when slavery was deemed acceptable, even respectable, seemed distasteful. When asked why she took the flag down, Newsome responded, “We made this decision because for us, this is not simply about a flag, but rather it is about abolishing the spirit of hatred and oppression in all its forms.” Newsome, by her act of civil disobedience, inspired a nationwide debate that allowed black minorities to have their opinions heard. The battle for racial equality has been fought for decades and still hasn’t completely been won; however, this fact is undeniable: unjust laws and prejudiced attitudes have changed, and the world is a more inviting place because of