What Is The Path Of Agitation In African American Society

In the early 20th century African Americans leaders had to choose the path of agitation or accommodation in order to gain equality under the U.S. Constitution. At the start of the civil rights movement African American leaders first chose the path of agitation. However, this choice quickly evolved into the path of accommodation in order for equality to be established. African American leaders struggled with each path considering the variety of merits and barriers faced by African Americans over time. Leaders were able to redirect the path and begin to create a world of equality for African Americans by adjusting to the 20th century and the challenges and obstacles that their race needed to conquer.
Even 100 years after the Emancipation Proclamation,
Agitation seemed like a powerful weapon versus accepting and not objecting to the African American’s second-class citizenship. African Americans objected to agitation at first considering how unpleasant it is. It was difficult and terrifying to live in a world of agitation and wake up to a newspaper with headlines that consisted of folks insisting on talking about wrong actions, behaviors, and crimes. But black and white liberal reformed the struggle against overtly oppressive practices. Citizenship Schools for Civil Rights sprung up across the South and marches to end racial discrimination were being planned and practiced (Patterson
These protestors not only risked their jobs but also risked their very lives. People began burning down homes and churches in an attempt to kill African American organizers. The goal of the organizers was to establish equality between black and white schools versus racial integration. Rather than taking the time to understand this, white, pro-status quo people jumped to agitation. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka assisted by leading the charge to battle racial segregation in schools through the courts. Many historians recognize this as a pivotal moment that led to an escalation in the civil rights movement (History 2009). It followed with Rosa Parks and the large-scale boycott of buses along with other white-owned businesses. These Montgomery movements hurled Martin Luther King Jr. into leadership in the movement. King then established the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to carry on the battle. Following the establishment of the SCLC in 1957, were two major developments in civil rights: the passage of the Civil Rights Act and President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s decision to send federal troops into Little Rock, Arkansas and admit nine black students to the city’s all-white Central High School (History