During my studies in AP U.S. History, my favorite topic to discuss was the racial Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and “Swinging Sixties.” I was fascinated by how America’s rebellious nature since the Revolutionary War would lead to constant stress upon the idea of social change and equality within the nation’s cultural identity. The image that is depicted in this collage was inspired by the cover of a touching novel that I had read in middle school called Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. This historical fiction work describes the plight of a young slave girl who becomes a crucial spy during the New World’s fight against Great Britain. The Revolutionary War is similar to the African American attitude towards segregation, where the oppressed are courageously challenging the institutions of a higher power.
…show more content…
I desired to display how the craving for freedom and fairness will not fall into one’s lap, with the Southern government using police dogs, powerful firehoses, and mental tyranny to tear down the morale of the African American protestors. Historical political figures such as Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized civil disobedience, which is the refusal to obey particular laws or commands of an unruly government without violence. This ideology can be seen within certain protest such as the Freedom Riders, the Greensboro sit-ins, and the Birmingham Bus Boycott. However, leaders like Malcolm X offered a more hostile solution. Adopting some of the ideals of the Black Muslim Movement, which focused on black nationalism, separatism, and self-improvement, Malcolm X commanded that self-defense was necessary to evoke significant improvements for African Americans. His thinking lead to the creation of other militant revolutionary organizations such as the Black
I desired to display how the craving for freedom and fairness will not fall into one’s lap, with the Southern government using police dogs, powerful firehoses, and mental tyranny to tear down the morale of the African American protestors. Historical political figures such as Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized civil disobedience, which is the refusal to obey particular laws or commands of an unruly government without violence. This ideology can be seen within certain protest such as the Freedom Riders, the Greensboro sit-ins, and the Birmingham Bus Boycott. However, leaders like Malcolm X offered a more hostile solution. Adopting some of the ideals of the Black Muslim Movement, which focused on black nationalism, separatism, and self-improvement, Malcolm X commanded that self-defense was necessary to evoke significant improvements for African Americans. His thinking lead to the creation of other militant revolutionary organizations such as the Black