The Civil Rights Movement

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The 1960s and 1970s signaled a transformative era in American history, marked by a surge of social justice movements that confronted systemic injustices and aimed to reshape society. From the classical phase of the Civil Rights Movement, distinguished by its nonviolent protests and legal triumphs, to the rise of the Black Power Movement and the active involvement of students in the Free Speech Movement and Anti-War Movement, these movements aimed not only to enact significant political change but also to challenge prevailing perceptions. This period was marked by a widespread questioning of established norms, with a determination for equality and justice, especially for Black Americans who had endured decades of racial segregation and discrimination. …show more content…
Despite the passage of legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, nationality, or sex, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting, the movement still encountered barriers in achieving full equality. “Blacks who protested in the least bit could easily end up dead” (Chafe pg. 136). The. The Civil Rights Movement faced various challenges in achieving full equality, as mere participation in protests could result in death for African Americans. Despite success from organizations and individuals, the embedded systemic racism in the nation presented significant challenges to the Civil Rights Movement. The Black Power Movement arose as a response to the limitations of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s through 1970s, and marks the shift from the Civil Rights Movement to a more radical approach. The shift involved a change in tactics, ideologies, and leadership. While Martin Luther King Jr. in the classical phase focused on nonviolent resistance and legal reform to achieve equality, the Black Power Movement adopted a more militant and assertive …show more content…
AS Malcolm X said, they would have to build and fight for their power “by any means necessary” (Schulman pg. 166). The 'Standard' is a 'Standard'. The African American community was sick and tired of “turning the other cheek”, which led to a rejection of more moderate leadership, and an embrace of “Black Power” doctrine (Corey, Lecture 2/13). The Black Power Movement began with the Watts rebellion in Los Angeles in 1965 following an altercation between a young African American man, Marquette Frye, and the Los Angeles Police Department. The incident quickly escalated into a six day riot in the Watts neighborhood, fueling racial, economic, and social injustices endured by many African Americans. The rebellion exposed the racism and violence against black people, and the “black rage” led to a breakdown of the civil rights movement (Corey, Lecture 2/13). Protests became about black power; groups like the Black Panther Party advocated for armed self-defense against police brutality. The African American community had nothing left to give, the Black Power Movement was about their right to
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