The Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s Essay - 1796 Words

The 1960’s were one of the most significant decades in the twentieth century. The sixties were filled with new music, clothes, and an overall change in the way people acted, but most importantly it was a decade filled with civil rights movements. On February 1, 1960, four black freshmen from North Carolina Agriculture and Technical College in Greensboro went to a Woolworth’s lunch counter and sat down politely and asked for service. The waitress refused to serve them and the students remained sitting there until the store closed for the night. The very next day they returned, this time with some more black students and even a few white ones. They were all well dressed, doing their homework, while crowds began to form outside the†¦show more content†¦Although blacks may have been freed from slavery, it didn’t mean that they were treated the same as everyone else. In 1896, Plessy vs. Ferguson, the Supreme Court defined separate but equal standards. Rarely was anything equal though. Segregation went on until the landmark case, Brown vs. Board of Education, declared that separate schools based on race was unconstitutional (Microsoft). This case â€Å"†¦became the cornerstone of sweeping changes (Chalmers 17)† because the decade following the Brown decision â€Å"†¦witnessed a complex interplay of forces between black citizens striving to exercise their constitutional rights, the increasing resistance of southern whites, and the equivocal response of the federal government (Robinson 2).† From 1955 to 1965, boycotts, sit-ins, demonstrations, marches, and community organizing raised black people’s spirits and expectations, and greatly hurt legal segregation. The weeks that followed the Greensboro sit-in more sit-ins occurred throughout the country. Thousands had taken place by the end of 1960 and many people had often gone to jail for it (Chalmers 21). The Kennedy Era, 1960 – 1963, saw man y important events. In 1961, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes were the first African-Americans admitted into Wayne State University (Adams 6). The March on Washington, August 28, 1963, was a huge gathering of two hundred thousand people who gathered at the nations capital to show theirShow MoreRelatedThe Civil Rights Movement Of The 1960 S1077 Words   |  5 Pagesmany social changes that have occurred. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s was one of the most significant and important for the equality of all people. Since the abolition of slavery in 1863, there had been a continuous conflict between the races of people who live in the United States. African Americans have a history of struggles because of racism and prejudices. Ever since the end of the Civil War, they struggled to benefit from their full rights that the Constitution promised. Jim Crow wasRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s974 Words   |  4 Pagesof the 1960s, the goal of the Civil Rights Movement, led by Martin Luther King, Jr., was to end legal segregation and to integrate society. His strategy to achieve these goals was non-violent protest. By the end of the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement moved from integration to black separatism, and the strategy of the movement changed from non-violent methods to a militant style of protest. This change in strategy had a deep impact in the opinions and support of white people for the Civil RightsRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement During The 1960 S1224 Words   |  5 Pagesand negative effects on the people of the US.   During the 1960’s there were a lot of changes and one of these major changes was know as The Civil Rights Movement.   The civil rights movement was a movement created by African Americans to achieve rights equal to white people and have equal opportunity in housing, employment, education, the right to vote, and to not be segregated.   This movement had many important leaders that helped get rights for African Americans.   The book â€Å"Tambourines To Glory† isRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement During The 1960 S1368 Words   |  6 PagesThe American South in the 1960 s and Ancient Thebes both had a rigid social and legal system that did not effectively and legitimately represent the majority of its citizens. In both eras, an antihero rose up to defy the establish system. Dr. King, in the 1960 s, protested unjust laws and was jailed and viewed as an antagonist. Similarly, in Ancient Thebes, Antigone is sentenced to death for doing what she believes is right, regardless of the law. If Dr. King failed, he stood to lose, in additionRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pageshave been struggling for equality for many decades. It only seems that during the 1960?s is when there were actual significant advances made. This was about the same time that civil rights came into the political scene. Throughout the South, Blacks were still in the majority, but had no political power what so ever. The Civil Rights Movement gave African Americans a voice and a chance to make a difference. The 1960s helped open up hope and expectations for Black Americans. One of the most prominentRead MoreEssay on The Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s447 Words   |  2 PagesFighting for Civil Rights during the 60s The struggle began with non-violent protests. Backed by students, the civil rights movement trudged onward. African Americans staged mass protests to show their support. Despite all this, many racial barriers still remained in the South. Black objectives were redefined in the 60s when militant black consciousness developed. The great society emerged providing hope for all. Liberal optimism swept the nation and liberalism influenced internationallyRead More Students and the Civil Rights Movement During the 1960s Essay1036 Words   |  5 Pages The 1960s was a decade of tremendous social and political upheaval. In the United States, many movements occurred by groups of people seeking to make positive changes in society. During this decade, the Civil Rights movement continued to gain momentum. The black community was continually persecuted and discriminated against by prejudice white individuals and figures of authority. Blacks everywhere struggled to end discrimination. They demanded the right to vote, to receiveRead MoreRacial Segregation During The 1960 s Civil Rights Movement Essay2048 Words   |  9 PagesA primary technique used to overcome racial segregation during the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement in the United States was direct action. One of the most influential leaders of the Civil Rights Movement was Martin Luther King Junior who is known for his use of nonviolent direct action, which often entailed the violation of laws as an act of civil disobedience. On April 16, 1963, King composed his â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail,† where he accepted the consequences for his disobedience against the BirminghamRead MoreSocial Changes During The 1960 S1254 Words   |  6 Pa gesThe 1960’s was a decade filled with change in the existing conditions of the social, political, and economic spectrums. These social changes involved challenges to the conservative status quo of the time. Parts that contributed to this social revolution were new developments in the Feminist Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and a rebellious counterculture. The political changes of this time period were embodied by the continuation and extension of the Vietnam War, new laws pertaining to civil rightsRead MoreReasons For The Civil Rights Movement1436 Words   |  6 PagesWhen did the Civil Rights Movement begin in earnest in Buffalo? The Civil Rights Movement In Buffalo was weak and many people were quiet and conservative. It was less a Movement than a group of scattered individuals, primarily black and Jewish. This Civil Rights Movement happened in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Some people believed that this movement began in Western New York. African Americans faced many social problems during this time period, which demonstrated the significance of organizing