Dbq Civil Rights Movement Analysis

The Civil Rights Movement made a major impact on how today’s society is. The Civil Rights Movement was an era in America when blacks fought for racial equality. Numerous actions took place in the post World War II era that led to the gain of equality. Individuals alone made a great effect because it made people realize how determined they were. Certain Individuals created organizations to make protest more coordinated. The government also took part in the changing of lives for African Americans. President Johnson said, “… Every American citizen must have an equal right to vote. There is no reason which can excuse the denial of that right…” (Doc. 6) Having a second Reconstruction gave African Americans another chance to fight for equality.
Even if you were just an ordinary citizen, taking part in this movement made a huge difference. These individuals showed how important it was to have an equal country. Even well known individuals played a part. The famous baseball player, Jackie Robinson believed in fighting for civil rights as well. He stated that society can remain good only as long as people are willing to fight for it. (Doc. 2) Although he did not take part in protests, this speech influenced many persons. Martin Luther King Jr, an inspiring civil rights leader, thought that using non- violence would prove how serious it was to African Americans. They didn’t want to cause trouble, but they wanted a change. But, the influential Malcolm X believed that it was necessary to be harsher towards the government so a change would be made. He stated that in a time where a government official or racist citizen harmed a peaceful protester, that then they should out of self- defense, fight back in a violent manner. The first school to integrate was in Little Rock, Arkansas. 9 black students were admitted into this school. Elizabeth Eckford was one of the students admitted. As she got to the school, many angry students and adults approached her. These students were known as the Little Rock 9. (Doc. 7) The bravery of individuals caused the Civil Rights Movement to be more known about and
The first organization was the NAACP or the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People in 1909. They were an interracial group and they took part in the Supreme Court case Brown Vs. Board of Education, and tried very hard to end lynching. In 1955, the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) was created. They arranged protests and non- violent marches. The Congress of Racial Equality specialized in freedom riders, lunch counters and non- violent protests. In 1960, the SNCC or Student Non-violent Coordination Conference was made. They also participated in freedom rides and sit-ins. The Urban League in 1911 helped African Americans with housing and employment in the north. A major protest was when individuals refused to ride on buses due to the unfair system. African Americans were forced to sit in the back or stand. They refused to take the bus until there was an end to the Jim Crow laws. (Doc. 8) This was a successful boycott and it was one of the most famous ones became of the impact it made on the bus system. Sit-ins were also very common. A sit-in was when a group of people occupied and refused to leave a restaurant or other public place. Students or persons of any age participated in this peaceful protest. In North Carolina, college students held sit-ins. (Doc. 10) A major aspect of this protest was that they were non-violent about it. To promote