One key turning point in the history of America was the Civil War. While it significantly helped rid the nation of the yoke of slavery, blacks still endured untold discrimination for long thereafter. The discriminative nature of policies in the country made many blacks rally for change, more so in the areas of equality and social justice. This article chronicles a couple of historically significant African American Civil Rights Movement facts.
Long after the Civil War was over, there seemed to be no commitment from the white majority to deal with the issue of black discrimination, something that was actually more predominant down south. In the lead up to the middle of the nineteen fifties, many black people in America felt the time had come for change. By mustering the support of some whites, they embarked on an era of civil disobedience that went on for two decades.
There was an effort to reinforce the aspect of equality after slavery was abolished. This began with the passing of the fourteenth amendment. This act, passed in 1868, assigned an equal level of protection to blacks under law. A further amendment in 1870 furthered this cause by making it a right for blacks to vote. These efforts enraged the majorly white population down south, being as they viewed the blacks as inferior owing to their long held position as a slave race.
This widespread hatred brought about the establishment of Jim Crow laws in the years leading up to the end of the nineteenth century. The laws, passed by the southern states, were meant to separate blacks from whites. It meant that blacks could not use the same public amenities as whites, including schools. Black and white intermarriage was also made illegal. Furthermore, blacks were not allowed to vote as voter literacy tests were skewed against them.
Luckily, Jim Crow laws were not enacted in the north. Nevertheless, discrimination continued to be prevalent. Getting an education or buying a house was a near impossibility for the ordinary black man. Sadly, some northern states still passed laws to limit the rights of the black population to vote.
A number of events led up to the start of the historic activism of the 1950s and 1960s. It all started on the 1st of December, 1955. Rosa Parks, a 42 year old lady, took up her seat on a bus after work in Montgomery, Alabama. Back then, segregation laws required blacks to seat at specific seats at the back of buses, which is exactly what Parks had done.
After taking her seat, a white man hopped on but could not get a place to seat. The driver then instructed four blacks, including Parks, to give up their seats. Upon resisting, she was arrested.
The black community reacted to news of the incident with furor. Martin Luther King Jr immediately formed a social justice movement. Its many members staged several peaceful protests that ultimately resulted in the declaration of segregated seating as unconstitutional. Years later, blacks got equality in education, housing, employment and in all social facets
Long after the Civil War was over, there seemed to be no commitment from the white majority to deal with the issue of black discrimination, something that was actually more predominant down south. In the lead up to the middle of the nineteen fifties, many black people in America felt the time had come for change. By mustering the support of some whites, they embarked on an era of civil disobedience that went on for two decades.
There was an effort to reinforce the aspect of equality after slavery was abolished. This began with the passing of the fourteenth amendment. This act, passed in 1868, assigned an equal level of protection to blacks under law. A further amendment in 1870 furthered this cause by making it a right for blacks to vote. These efforts enraged the majorly white population down south, being as they viewed the blacks as inferior owing to their long held position as a slave race.
This widespread hatred brought about the establishment of Jim Crow laws in the years leading up to the end of the nineteenth century. The laws, passed by the southern states, were meant to separate blacks from whites. It meant that blacks could not use the same public amenities as whites, including schools. Black and white intermarriage was also made illegal. Furthermore, blacks were not allowed to vote as voter literacy tests were skewed against them.
Luckily, Jim Crow laws were not enacted in the north. Nevertheless, discrimination continued to be prevalent. Getting an education or buying a house was a near impossibility for the ordinary black man. Sadly, some northern states still passed laws to limit the rights of the black population to vote.
A number of events led up to the start of the historic activism of the 1950s and 1960s. It all started on the 1st of December, 1955. Rosa Parks, a 42 year old lady, took up her seat on a bus after work in Montgomery, Alabama. Back then, segregation laws required blacks to seat at specific seats at the back of buses, which is exactly what Parks had done.
After taking her seat, a white man hopped on but could not get a place to seat. The driver then instructed four blacks, including Parks, to give up their seats. Upon resisting, she was arrested.
The black community reacted to news of the incident with furor. Martin Luther King Jr immediately formed a social justice movement. Its many members staged several peaceful protests that ultimately resulted in the declaration of segregated seating as unconstitutional. Years later, blacks got equality in education, housing, employment and in all social facets
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