Civil Rights in World War 2, Research Paper Example

The civil rights era is the period between 1954-1971 when there were African American civil rights movements that were aimed at the restoration of the suffrage in the southern parts and to outlaw racial discrimination over the African- Americans. This period that spans through the Voting Rights Act of 1965 following the 1954 decision of Brown v. Board of Education marked the elimination of racial barriers and led into the American transformation in the cultural, social and political life.

During this period, there was resistance to racial discrimination and segregation which was carried out in many forms. These forms included non-violent resistance, civil disobedience, boycotts, protests, marches as well as rallies and “freedom rides.” The events received much attention within the nation and were documented as a struggle for the end of racial inequality. The role of the courts and the government was redefined due to change that prevailed concerning the citizenship rights of the African-Americans in order to protect the rights of all Americans, regardless of the race. Initially, the blacks’ community was segregated and discriminated. This made them debate on the strategies they would use in order to fight against such injustice and inequalities. National Association for the Advancement of the Colored People (NAACP) was formed by the blacks in order to bring together the educators, lawyers and activists. These groups could collectively fight for the black civil rights (Levy 40). The steady campaign of ending segregation continued in different areas through agitation, lobbying and take of legal action.

The NAACP had a legal victory over segregation in the Supreme Court in 1954 in the ruling of Brown v. Board of Education. Segregation that had greatly settled in the Public Schools was considered unconstitutional. The “separate but equal” doctrine was thus nullified since it had detrimental effects on the students in which they felt a sense of inferiority complex. The ruling was adamantly opposed by majority of the whites and this segregation did not end at once.

Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955 also was aimed at protesting against segregation that was practiced in public buses. This had started after the arrest of Rosa Parks who defied the law by refusing to offer her seat to a white passenger. In this protest, the NAACP and other black leaders took this opportunity including Martin Luther King Jr., to conduct a massive Montgomery Bus Boycott which lasted for more than a year. The perseverance of the boycotters led to the intervention by the courts and on December 1956, the buses were desegregated. Such efforts of the blacks resulted to some success. In 1957, the Civil Rights Acts were passed by the Congress in establishment of voting and other rights for the blacks. Different organizations such as Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) publicized the civil right abuses, launched sit-in campaigns in the efforts of desegregating the southern Lunch counters. Many Black youths participated in such techniques hence swelling up expectations. This led to the bringing of public demands into the public, national media.

According to (Levy 81), there were freedom rides organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in 1961. The interracial trips were aimed at the implementation of laws that did not segregate race in buses and other facilities. However, during the freedom rides, many were arrested. The freedom rides campaign continued till John Kennedy, the then president, intervened and regulations were reinforced to bar segregation in the travel from one state to another. The protest movements increased among the Black leaders and groups which were aimed at giving the blacks the rights to vote. The massive campaigns were conducted in efforts of bringing together the blacks of Birmingham, Alabama. King Luther Jr. was arrested but the other blacks continued with the desegregation campaign which commanded the American leader’s attention. Violence was reported and thus the city officials had to repeal Birmingham’s segregation when two blacks were blocked from entering the Alabama University. The Blacks’ temper arose and President Kennedy sought for the legislation of the protection of the civil rights of all the American and ban segregation.

The civil rights activists, king and other leaders planned for a massive gathering on the March of 1963 in Washington. This was aimed at enhancement of the civil rights legislation and promotion of the economic activities for the black people. Luther gave his stirring and famous speech “I have a dream” generating high hopes for the blacks that they would realize such a dream in America. Kennedy’s assassination led to Lyndon Johnson taking over as the president. Johnson approved and signed the Kennedy’s Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law (Loevy 167). In this legislation, segregation and discrimination was outlawed in education, public facilities and employment.

The Freedom Summer of 1964 was liberation of the blacks to be registered voters in order to take part in the election of the leaders. However, in the southern, there were many blacks denied the right of registering as voters by using overt means and literacy tests to intimidate the blacks and bar them. In 1965, there were protest and demonstration in Selma, Alabama against the discrimination in voter registration. The state trooper stopped marches using clubs and army whips. This day was referred to as a “blood Sunday.” Some people accomplished the march but in the company of Alabama National Guard. After the publication of the events of Selma, Alabama, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law and the Black American of the southern were allowed to register (Karson n.p).

During the mid 1960s, the Black activists had started losing faith in such reforms since there was still discrimination. This resulted in the Blacks being politically and economically crippled. Black Nationalism started to rise. Malcolm said that there was no more nonviolent means to be used but rather “by any means necessary.” Other groups like Black Panthers took over the slogan after Malcolm’s assassination in 1965. This was against the advocacy of Luther (i.e. Non-violent means). The discontent continued to rise and riots exploded across America. This led to the end of racial segregation and discrimination (Karson n.p).

The Rights during the Civil Rights era were formed after a big struggle unlike in the second world war where they rights were allowed more easily due to the fear that they would be defeated in the war  if the blacks were to move apart. In the Second World War, most of the black men served in the Allied forces but were segregated.  The black pushed for racial equality both in abroad and at home. The president of the National Negro Congress, Philip Randolph, threatened for protests so that there would be more legislation on the civil rights of the blacks. The threat made President Franklin Roosevelt afraid of the interruption of the war effort and thus signed an executive order 8802 which desegregated the war factories and created Fair Employment Practices Committee. This made thousands of blacks to acquire top positions in the defense industries. The executive order 9981 by President Harry Truman also desegregated the military (Clarke 121).

In conclusion, the civil rights era created a permanent mark in the American history. Racial discrimination, violence declined and was brought to an end. The blacks can now exercise the Right to Vote, and participate equally in both political and economic opportunities. This serves as an advancement model for the minority groups.

Works Cited

Clarke, Parker A. The Second World War: A Short History. USA: Oxford University Press, 2002

Karson, Jill.  “Introduction.” Opposing Viewpoints in World History: The Civil Rights Movement. Ed. Jill Karson. San Diego: Green haven Press, 2005. August 2004. 29 April 2010. <http://www.enotes.com/civil-rights-article/48295>.

Levy, Peter B. The Civil Rights Movement. NY: Greenwood Press, 1998

Loevy, Robert D. The Civil Rights Act of 1964: The Passage of the Law That Ended Racial Segregation. NY: State University Press, 1997