Black Women's Role In The Civil Rights Movement

When students learn about the Civil Right Movement in history class, they know it as an event that took place in the 1950’s and 1960’s that involves Black people and their organizations pressuring the government for change with famous male leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. But what about women, where were they when of this happened? Were they non-existent and inactive? No, but history books fail to mention them and their roles in the fight for freedom as crucial to many aspects of the movement. They also forget to mention the oppression that they faced as a result of their involvement. In addition, their significance or their struggles aren’t recorded for everyone to read and are pushed to the back as if they were not as important
However, these setbacks were the fuel that caused them to actively participate in any way they could. The oppression of Black people, especially Black women goes back to slavery and has taken many forms. They include sexual abuse, spending a limited amount of time with their own families on the plantation, denial of basic rights, job discrimination, sexism, patriarchy and economic injustices (Alkalimat, 208-210). This is why their role in the Civil Rights Movement and the liberation of all oppressed people is important. While they were championing for these causes, they were also doing so for themselves and making waves. They wanted freedom from a system that silenced their opinions. They chose to be activists and leaders who broke standards, despite a society that told them that they were to be subordinate to men. Their struggles created strong, independent Black women who were just as effective as men and have much success to show for
These women changed society before this movement, not just during it. But their oppression is also a crucial piece to their participation in the struggle for freedom that has to be recognized too. It must become common knowledge that they were not dormant before or during this movement and that they chose to work in the face of their discrimination. They have to be connected to and equal victors in a significant event that left an impression in America’s story. Once this happens, students can learn the Civil Rights movement as a struggle for all Black people’s freedom that took place in the 1950’s and 60’s and has Black women and men who actively challenged and transformed the system they were both oppressed