The Civil Rights Movement: The Black Lives Matters Movement

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In a society run by judgemental onlookers, peer-created pressure, and an array of stereotypes, it is difficult to be entirely blasé to the opinion around you. While African Americans have progressed greatly from the physical segregation they once had to endure, the mental segregation and mindset of many people who still see them as inferior still exists. The “Black Lives Matter” movement following the tragic death of teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, is a necessary movement as it battles the lasting problem of racism and represents what the nation stands for.

For almost the entire extent of American history, African Americans have been subjected to the brutal racism of European cultures, spanning form being owned as slaves to having unequal rights. And now, in the land of opportunity, they are denied many of these opportunities that many others take for granted. While the efforts of activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X have on pater given equality to blacks, they
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Furthermore the pledge of allegiance that many Americans, including African Americans say every day claims that we are “one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all”. However, was Michael Brown treated with justice in the moments before he was shot? Was his family treated with justice when the officer that took his life received just a light slap on the wrist? It is quite questionable as to why the officer escaped from his actions nearly scot-free, something that should not happen in a country with just law. Therefore, in order for the nation to truly stand for “justice for all”, the “Black Lives Matter” movement is necessary to help people realize the injustice that African Americans have been