Impacts of the Civil Rights Movement: How It Shaped the Country?

The Civil War was a major turning point in the American history. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared slavery illegal across the country. However, freed people were still widely deprived of their basic rights mainly in Southern states. Discrimination and racism against African Americans continued to be a major issue.

During the reconstruction phase after the end of the Civil War, Black people got rights to vote and held public offices. However, their rights that were initially protected by the law were revoked as a result of Jim Crow Laws.

The Supreme Court delivered a court ruling in 1896 about the well-known case of 1896, Plessy vs. Ferguson. The court declared that the 14th Amendment didn’t apply to social rights, thereby, constitutionalizing segregation.

A series of similar events and discrimination in almost every aspect of social life paved the way for the Civil Rights Movement that went on between 1946 and 1968.

Civil Rights Movement: A Brief Overview of Prominent Events

How Did the Movement Start?

The African American community raised a voice for their rights through peaceful protests. NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) organization became the major advocate of equal rights across the country. Under the leadership of people like Du Bois, James Weldon Johnson, Walter White, and Thurgood Marshall, the organization championed the cause.

However, the major turning point was the arrest of Rosa Parks.

The NAACP activist refused to give up her front-row seat in public transport to a white man. Subsequently, she was arrested in Alabama in 1955 and lost her job too.

Martin Luther King Jr, a young pastor arranged protests in her support followed by several other civil rights activists throughout the US. The boycott of public buses was also carried out for over a year until the Supreme Court’s ruling declared segregated seating illegal.

Several prominent events were noted during the movement including but not limited to the integration of students at the Little Rock School, sit-in movement in downtown Greensboro, New Orleans School Integration, Freedom Rides, and Birmingham campaign.

As a result of the unstoppable efforts of the community, the Civil Rights Act was passed on July 2, 1964.

Prominent Historical Figures

Countless people played a critical role in the Civil Rights Movement. Here are some of those whose struggles cannot and should not be forgotten:

• Malcolm X

• Medgar Evers

• John Lewis

• Bayard Rustin

• Fannie Lou Hamer

• Roy Wilkins

• Ella Baker

• Julian Bond

• And many more.

Impacts of the Movement

Legal segregation didn’t stop all of a sudden. Countless people dedicated their lives to advocate for the right of African Americans.

The Civil Rights movement had an impact on almost every aspect of the social life. From education sector to politics and socio-economics conditions, the movement shaped the country for a better future.

Impacts on the Education Sector

The Civil Rights Movement led to desegregation in public schools through a series of court cases and federal legislation.

Further, it improved access to quality education by integrating white-majority educational institutes. Several educational programs were launched for minorities such as Head Start and Upward Bound for this purpose.

The Civil Rights Movement also brought attention to the need for improving the quality of education and increasing funding for public schools.

Aside from students, African American teachers also reaped its benefits. The Movement led to an increase in the representation of minorities in teaching positions. This opportunity helped creating a diverse and inclusive educational environment for students.

The Impacts on Social Rights

The impacts of the Civil Rights Movement on social rights of African Americans can’t be denied. It led to significant progress in legal and political empowerment.

Most notable is the end of legal segregation. From housing to employment, restaurants, and schools, it was no more legal to designate separate sitting areas in public spaces based on skin color.

The right to vote was granted to African Americans once again especially in Southern states. With the end of literacy tests, they could register and use their right to vote.

The Civil Rights Movement also highlighted the importance of equal access to job opportunities and fair housing practices.

There was also a positive trend regarding the representation of African Americans in elected office. Lastly, it left a legacy of nonviolent resistance and strategies and tactics as a model for future social justice movements.

Conclusion

The Civil Rights Movement is a significant part of our history. Driven by a diverse group of activists, the movement made lasting positive impacts on the socio-economic situation of the community.

However, it’s also true that the struggle to achieve equal rights hasn’t come to an end. We have so much more to do. Discrimination against the Black community still prevails while justice system often denies innocent people the access to fair and quick justice due to their race and gender.

Learning from the great leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, we need to join hands and work as a community to speak up for our rights. We can get what we deserve by working together and supporting each other.

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