Monday, November 22, 2010
Civil Rights Movement
As discussed in class, we think of the Civil Rights Movement taking place during the 1960s... However, many important events helped shape the early days of the movement during the 1950s. In class, you learned from your peers about the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the murder of Emmett Till, Brown vs. the Board of Education, the Little Rock Nine, the Greensboro/Woolsworth's Lunch Counter Sit-ins, and the struggles Lorraine Hansbury and her family faced (which led to her writing of Raisin in the Sun). Which of these events (or another that you are aware of) do you feel is most significant in terms of the Civil Rights Movement? Why? How did these early events help shape what happened nationwide in the 1960s? What else was going on in America at the time that factors in? What are the effects that still resonate today? What else, if anything, still needs to be done in society to create equality (whether racial or otherwise)?
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I believe the Montgomery Bus Boycott is the biggest contributor of the Civil Right Movement for it was and continues to be a historical significant event started by Rosa Parks. It was a single non-violent act of defiance taken by one strong black women who truly believed in equality and integration of all races. By her refusal to give up her seat on the city bus to a white man, she lead the way for other African Americans to follow her example and change society fo the better. By the 1960's, this event had laid the organizational groundwork for the civil rights movement which would take on the pressing issue of segragation. Due to resistance by blacks, today all people, under the consitutuion, "are considered equal." We need to continue to educate people of our past so we remain to have equality for everyone in this world no matter which race, religion, gender, etc. a person might have.
ReplyDeleteThe murder of Emmett Till was an incredible brutal act during the Civil Rights Movement. His murder opened up people's eyes to the severity of prejudice. It showed how poorly and inhumane African Americans were treated. This was proof that the discrimination against them had gone much farther than the unfairness of segregation and name-calling. Emmett's murder cause anger amongst the African American people which contributed to the civil rights movement.
ReplyDeleteMany of these events influenced the Civil Rights movement the Death of Emmet Till was one that shock the nation through the brutality they showed towards this four-teen year old boy. Also the flaws in the equality of the courts for his murders where left without any punishment as the defendant stated "Your fathers will turn over in their graves if and I'm sure that every last Anglo-Saxon one of you has the courage to free these men in the face of that pressure." This shows a gross inequality towards the Black culture for the murders where being tried by a all white jury.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Woolworth's Lunch Counter sit ins was one of the most significant effect in the civil war movement. It was a time were all of the blacks came together for something that they wanted to fight for and for something they wanted to stand for. They didn't care if they got sent back to jail. Once they got out of jail they just went back and did it over and over again. This event shows its effect on us today because even in the tinniest little argument the black culture always stick together for their own people.
ReplyDeleteMatti said:
ReplyDeleteI think the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Greensboro/Woolsworth's Lunch Counter Sit-ins were most important of those mentioned in class today, because they attracted big crowds and drew the attention of the media, so it was spread all over the country for a long time. But I also think Martin Luther King was an important person in that movement. I haven't heard of Lorraine Hansbury or the murder of Emmett Till before, but the other things are known in Germany as well. That is why I think they were most important. There is one big change, which I think should be done in society. In my opinion education should be free; not only up to high school, but also colleges. That would make equality. Now only those who have enough money can become educated, so your parents have to be rich (or wealthy) for you to be able to become educated and get a job. If it stays like that, most poor people cannot become educated and are therefore not able to help themselves out of their poverty.
Joseph R said:
ReplyDeleteI believe that out of those six choices that the Little Rock Nine had the most impact in the civil rights movement. This is because nine students stood against hundreds, including military and other authority figures. They also stood against the very core of people who thought that segregation was a good thing, all for their education. Later the U.S. government came to their aid, and helped them stand for thier rights. Also this event was highly publicized because the government became involved and it polarized the nation in a sence. This gave example to the rest of the nation. I believe that this event gave rise to many Aafrican Americans to stand up in other circumstances with segregation. Basically, other people felt if students can stand up, then they can, too.
Shelby G. said:
ReplyDeleteI believe that the murder of Emmet Till was one major act that helped us to the 1960'sas well as the Montgomery bus boycott, but the murder of fourteen year old Emmet was very brutal. The young killer who murdered Emmet did not show remorse or regret of killing this boy but a sign of relief in a way. Pictures of the dead boy showed how unequal the rights were, his face was beaten so badly you could not even tell who he was. In court this case as many others where an African American was killed it was a court of all white in which case is unjust if the killer is white just like his peers.
Alexis W. said:
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lauren in the fact that the Montgomery Bus Boycott started by Rosa Parks was one of the most significant changes brought about in the 1950's. Her defiance towards a white man was not out of rebellion or anger, but purely because she was tired and wanted to remain seated. This clean protest led to her arrest, but also shifted the mind sets of many African Americans being neglected in this time. The African Americans began to boycott the bus system by walking many miles to work or carpooling. This led to a major decrease of public transportation and eventually, because of the lack of customers, it caught attention of the racist white people. By refusing to give up her seat, Rosa Parks sparked a chain of African American will power to get the rights they deserved. Although the murder of Emmett Till caught the awareness of the brutality of racism in America during this time, I believe the Montgomery Bus Boycott led to more change and organized protest for equal treatment of all races under the constitution.
The most important event during Civil Rights Movement time was situation happened in the living district with Hansberrys. It was big problem at that time and of course the problem of that very family had repercussions on lives of many other families like that. The book which was published and the play directed by African-Americans made everybody see and understand problems they face in everyday life. The importance of this fact can scarcely be overestimated, as well as importance of some others. All five events which were presented in class are significant for history in their own way. All of them worked together to make people move closer to understanding and treating other races equally.
ReplyDelete--
Looking back on those events, I understand how great people will is; how democratic the U.S. was. It was really great that racism stopped. Unfortunately, Europe had problems with it, has problems with it and always will have problems with it.
I think that the Buss boycott was a big step in the movement toward civil rights. It took almost all of the customers away from the buss system and, I feel, made the buss drivers look at the civil rights as a good thing; they would get their business back. The violence that also took place durring this time, makes the boycott all the more memoirable. Many people were injured and much of the black's property was destroyed because of their acts.
ReplyDeleteI believe that all of these events had a very significant effect on the civil rights movement. The all brought about the awareness but I think that Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech was the most significant in stopping segregation and discrimination in our country. This speech is possibly one of the most famous speeches in history and it was highly effective in communicating to the people what was wrong and what needed to be changed. I am sure his speech affected many people deeply and changed many people's minds. Although King's movement eventually ended with his assassination it was the most powerful of all of these civil rights movements.
ReplyDeleteI believe the event that left the biggest effect on civil rights was the montgomery buss boycott. The reason for this is because I think if Rosa Parks had not chosen to not give her seat up for the white man that more people would have been afraid to stand up for themselves. I think this movement would have still gone on but way later in time. This also led to other movements but i think this had the greatest effect.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Greensboro Sit-Ins were the most important because it wasnt only the older people speaking out for themselves, but teens. Not only did they speak out, but they rioted and even went to jail for their freedom! Even that didnt stop them. They continued to fight for their freedom and went to jail as many times as it took for someone to finally listen to them. I think that those kids were really brave and influenced so many people!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shelby as the Murder of Emmett Till became a major eye opener in the 1950's to both black and white men and women. Though the awareness of racism and segregation towards black people was evident, this event sparked people to fight for their rights even more than they already had. When Emmett Till, 14, was brutally beaten and killed, and then had his body dumped into the Mississippi River, people saw it as an outrage. This young boy had been murdered for flirting with a white woman. When a killer shows absolutly no remorse for not only murder, but a murder so bad and so brutal as this one, then you know that something is seriously wrong with him, and more so America as some people sided by this killer. In conclusion, the horribly saddening Murder of Emmett Till marked a turning point in the Civil War Movement that will be remembered throughout all of history.
ReplyDeleteAforesaid by Alexis, the biggest effect on the Civil Rights Movement seems to be the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It shows true courage for one small group of people to stand up to the 'man' and not back down. This small event seemed to shape the huge nationwide event by triggering a chain of reactions; because of one woman not giving up her seat for a white person, many other colored people began to take on that attitude and realize that they should not have to feel inferior to anyone else. It is very obvious that that same attitude has stuck with African Americans because there is no longer any slavery and there is now a colored president which shows that the color of someone's skin does not matter. Just like Dr. M.L.K. Jr had hoped, this country has finally grasped the idea that it does not matter what color the person's skin is, the only thing that matters is the content of the person's character.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Christina and Shelby that the Murder of Emmett Till was a Brutal act during the Cival Rights movement during the 1950's. His murder opened up many eyes, making many aware of segregation and racism towards black people. The event of his murder made fight for their rights more than any others had ever done. This showed how cruel african amaericans were treated during the 1950's. Emmett Till was Brutally beaten and killed for flirting with a white girl. The man who killed Emmett did not show any remorse for the murder that he had commited.
ReplyDeleteI believe the biggest effect on the Civil Rights Movement was the Woolworth's Lunch Counter sit ins. The lunch sit ins were a big groups of black people that went into restaurants and sat there until they were served. They did this because many restaurants would only serve white people and they believed that it was unfair and they protested. Groups of black people would sit in the restaurants and wait, they didn't care if they got arrested because once they got out they would go right back and wait with all the other people till they were served. I think this is one of the biggest movements because it shows that people will do crazy things to stand up for what they believe in and whats right.
ReplyDeleteThe Civil Rights Movements made a huge impact on the US and how it is ran in today's society. I think that one of the biggest things is that people all over the country began to stand up for what they thought was right. I agree with Joel how blacks began to stay at restaurants that wouldn't serve them. I think that this made a big difference in getting people to notice that they way that African Americans were being treated was flat out wrong. They deserve all of the same rights and privileges that anyone else gets.
ReplyDeleteI think that Woolworth’s Lunch Counter sit ins was the most significant in the civil war movement. That was when all of the blacks came together for something they wanted and went afraid to try to get it. They did not care if they got hauled off to jail because they would not regret what they did. That effects today’s life because blacks are now treated equally as white people.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe the Murder of Emmit Till was a major awakening in the 1950’s. It is ridiculous that a fourteen year old boy would be brutally murdered for apparently flirting with a white woman. This even really proved just how segregated and treated poorly African Americans were back then. I think doing this to any human being is outrageously wrong but especially just because the boy was African American. I believe his mother tried to use his death to open the eyes of the people and see how badly things still were with having an open casket at the funeral. In the end a poor 14 year old lost his life because of the jealousy and unfair laws made in 1950’s and would forever change the Civil War Movement.
ReplyDeleteI agree with several of the statements above. The murder of Emmett Till was an excessively gruesome and violent act against a boy of the mere age of 14. an act of such unspeakable violence such as this for in retaliation to an act of innocence and youth is abominable and wretched in form. This event speaks to the heart of the horrible treatment seen in the states during these times. all those who witnessed the outcome of one boy looking at a married white woman and being beaten, shot, tortured, and drowned must have felt the pain of the event to their very core. It is my opinion that this event was one of the greater and more notable events of the 1960's as it spoke to the true nature of the violence that the African American race faced during their prolonged state of oppression.
ReplyDeleteMost poeple seem to think the murder of emmet till was serious, but gruesome homicides of both whites and blacks are committed everyday. yes this cause an uproaor in civil rights but still its just another death another day. Out of the events listed i think the Little Rock Nine was the most important because it demonstarted that so few could start a revolution that could change the lives of millions. This time was the pinacle of black civil rights movements so this act had alot of worth behind it in the eyes of the people. Poeople in America try their hardest not to be racist or prejudice but there are still tons of people who are. And this creates a general attitude that alot of poeple are racist who really arent. Society needs to overcome this in order to become better.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Little Rock Nine seemed to be the most important in the 1950's in similar ways. Both movements did what they needed to do and stood up for what they believed in. Rosa Parks was apart of the Boycott and I think her role was hugely important as an African American woman, to stand up for what was right and what she believes in is incredible. It just goes to show what one person can do to change the rest of the world as well as influence others. Little Rock Nine was also very much important because it just goes to show that a group of young kids could have successfully changed the lives of others around them. By these times, people were fighting for their own rights but didn't have any say in anything because authorities were just the boss and nobody stood a chance going against them. M.L.K Jr's speech was very inspirational at this time which resonates into this time era as a rebirth of America. His speech was so moving and powerful that it convinced others to stand up for what they believe in and take charge for what is right. Mainly, the only thing that needs to be done in society is to stop spending money to make the country go broke because this will also help the economy and not have so many unemployeed people.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the most significant event that helped start the Civil Rights Movement was the Montgomery Bus Boycott. In the 1950's, segregation and racisim was the way people lived. This had gone on too long and to the point that a black man or woman had to give up their seat on the bus to a white man or woman. African Americans would not tolerate this anymore and started a bus boycott. For a year the public transit system suffered financially because the passangers were African American. Soon after the boycott, the United States Supreme Court declared laws stating that segregated buses are unconstitutional.This event played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement that helped make America what it is today.
ReplyDeleteThe most significant event that happened in the 1950s, that I know about, would have to be the murder of Emmit Till. This helped to shape the movement in the 1960s because it opened the nations eyes to the horrific things that were being done to blacks at this time. His mother having an open casket funeral helped to promote the popularity of the event which helped a lot in accomplishing what she wanted. I believe that this played an important role in helping other races to be equal to whites in the United States, but I also believe there will never be equality to all because, no matter where you go in the world, there are always those groups of people who hate a certain religion or ethnic group for no reason and those groups will never diminish.
ReplyDeleteKailyn W said:
ReplyDeleteI think that Rosa Parks had a huge effect on ending segregation. She probably did not think of how big her actions were, but I think that her standing up to the white community sort of showed other African Americans that it is okay to stand up against the white men. There is still a lot of inequality going on today. Not so much racialy, but I feel between social classes. A lot of poor and lower class people sometimes do not get as much respect as upper class rich people do. I think that this is still a problem in America that needs to be fixed.
The murder of Emmett Till was a brutal factor that should be taken into account when considering the Civil Rights Movement. Doing something as innocent as whistling at a woman ended up being the death of him. This explicitely shows how African Americans were treated at this time, and how inhumane some people could be. Although this act in history may not be as well known as it should be, it is solid evidence that discrimination went far and beyond the usual thought of namecalling and separation. Although this is a heartbreaking moment in history, the death of Emmett Till did shape our nation, and should be acknowledged as a part of the Civel Rights movement.
ReplyDeleteMeghan Abbott
Alex A said:
ReplyDeleteAn important event leading to the Civil Right Movement would be the statement Rosa Parks made by her actions. Rosa Parks was a woman riding a bus who refused to give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. Her action was not the first of its kind; Parks action sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This boycott was a protest against racial segregation on the public transit systems of Montgomery. All of the city’s black population refused to ride the buses which caused a financial deficit in the busing systems. This boycott was triggered by the arrest by Rosa Parks and because of that she is considered one of the pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement.
Zoe C said:
ReplyDeleteIn the 1960’s there was a lot of racial discrimination. I believe that one of the biggest effects on the Civil Rights Movement was the Greensboro/Woolsworth's Lunch Counter Sit-ins. These sit-ins consisted of blacks going into restaurants and not being served because of their race. These people not being served because of the color of there skin, decided to rebel. They would sit in the restaurants until they were served or until they were physically moved from the restaurant. Some even went to jail, just because they would not remove themselves from dining in public areas. This was cruel and unusual. The blacks decided they would take a stand and protest against what was happening to them. They rebelled against this cruel behavior towards there people and eventually in time after many struggles they got there freedom. I believe this had a big effect on Civil Rights Movement because it shows how people will go and go until they get what they deserve and what is fair.
In my opinion the most important event of the Civil Rights movement was the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It was a non violent act of defiance which caused a movement amongst African Americans which helped lead to black equality in the 1960's. I believe this country needs to continue to educate our youth about the Civil Rights Movement, important people in the Movement, and reasons that started the Civil Rights Movement.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion Rosa Parks was a huge impact of the civil rights movement. She was a very strong willed independent woman who would not give up her bus seat to a white person. This action brought up the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This was a boycott against ratial segregation of the bus system in Montgomery. The colored people in this area protested by not riding the buses which caused a drop in earings of bus drivers. Rosa Parks was a strong woman who changed the world for all of us, without her this world would have turned into a mess.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the lunch counter sit-ins were crucial for the civil rights movement. It took strong-willed and courageous people to speak out against unfair segregation. It was not fair that colored people were not granted the same rights as whites. These protests made a difference in history. The bus boycott caused the transportation system of the time to fall apart. Hardly anyone was riding a bus because most passengers were usually colored. Also the lunch sit-ins were important because it disrupted the way restraunts and cafeterias descriminated against the colored. I feel it was important that young people were involved in the protests because it made a stronger impact. We owe the idea of equality to the brave, courageous people who fought for their rights.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Little Rock Nine had the most impact in the civil rights movement. This is because nine students stood against hundreds, including military and other authority figures. They also stood against the people who thought that segregation was a good thing, all for their education. Later the U.S. government came to their aid, and helped them stand for their rights. This event was publicized because the government became involved. This event gave many African Americans hope to stand up in other circumstances with segregation. People looked up to those nine students because they stood up for their kind. It gave other African Americans courage to also defend their race.
ReplyDelete