Civil Rights Movement, Essay Example

The Civil Rights Movement was a point in American history (1960s) in which there were a variety of individuals working towards achieve a common goal: egalitarianism for all in terms of ending segregation. Often times, desperate measures were taken so that African Americans would no longer be discriminated in such a drastic manner. The following will assess the primary goals of the movement.

The primary goal of the Civil Rights Movement was to improve voter’s rights for African American in the United States. Specifically in the south they were turned away at the polls. As a result of the Civil Rights Movement, the Voting Rights Act was brought along by President Lyndon Johnson. This Act had its primary goal set on the idea that African Americans should be allowed to exercise their right to vote under the 15th Amendment (“Voting Rights Act – Black History” 1).

A second goal of the Civil Rights movement was to abolish Jim Crow, specifically in respect to having integrated access to community services, such as restrooms, restaurants, libraries, public transportation, and schools. Protestors would often boycott certain services in order to attain citizenship rights for African Americans. Regarding housing, the Civil Rights Act (otherwise known as the Fair Housing Act) was a revolutionary act, for it was able put a stop to housing discrimination. Brown v. Board of Education announced that the Jim Crow “separate but equal” slogan was unconstitutional which assisted in achieving the goal of school integration (“Brown V. Board of Education,” 1).

A third goal of the Civil Rights movement between 1950 and 1968 was to change the way the white communities in America perceived African Americans as a whole through televised non-violent protests. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of non-violent protest and having the Civil Rights movement protests and marches televised, is single handedly the most significant contribution to the elimination of public and blatant discrimination against blacks in America and it eventually led to public appeal swaying towards the passing of the Civil Rights Act (“Results of the Civil Rights Movement” 2).

In sum, as a result of the Civil Rights Movement, more individuals were continually able to unite forces in order to both formulate and fortify society into the United States of America that exists today. The Civil Rights Movement proves the fact that if and when individuals are willing to work together, great things can be accomplished.

Works Cited

“Brown V. Board of Education.” The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2015.

“Fair Housing Act of 1968 – Black History.” history.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2015.

Results of the Civil Rights Movement. “Results of the Civil Rights Movement.” Mountain Heights Academy OpenCourseWare. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2015.

“Voting Rights Act – Black History.” history.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2015.