The Civil War was a turning point in the quest for equality in America. Despite its role in the long awaited abolishment of slavery, the black community in America still continued to endure discrimination at all levels. It is this discrimination that gave birth to the quest for social justice and equality. This article expounds on African American Civil Rights Movement Facts.
Following the Civil War, it was apparent that the systemic discrimination of blacks would not end soon, more so in many of the southern states. Towards the lead up to the mid twentieth century, the majority of them had had it. Many African Americans, with the support of a considerable amount of the white population, took to the streets in protests that lasted two decades.
It is no secret that there was a genuine attempt to bring equality after the historic abolishment of slavery. If one moment best chronicles this attempt, it is the passing of the fourteenth amendment. It was passed in 1868, granting every black person equal protection as provided by law. In 1870, a redraft resulted in the 15th amendment, allowing the black population to participate in elections through voting. This particular law maddened a great number of southern based whites, with lots of them viewing blacks as less significant beings due to their history as slaves.
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, northern states did not take up these laws. However, discrimination continued unabated. An ordinary black would have to go through hell to get educated or purchase a house. A handful of northern states even passed legislation limiting the black population from voting.
Certain events eventually caused the far reaching activism witnessed during the 1950s and 60s. On 1st December 1955, an incident of monumental proportions took place in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks, a woman aged 42, got off work and boarded a local bus to head home. At the time, segregation laws partitioned seating areas in buses based on race, with blacks like Parks expected to seat at the back.
Soon after, a white man failed to secure seating space at his designated area. The driver subsequently instructed Parks and three other black passengers to surrender their seats. She resisted and was immediately arrested.
This incident caused a furor among the black community. A justice and equality movement, led by Martin Luther King Jr, was then formed. The peaceful protest staged by its participants eventually resulted in segregated seating arrangements being declared illegal. In the years that followed, including after the assassination of Dr. King, equality was finally achieved in education, employment, housing and the general American social system.
Following the Civil War, it was apparent that the systemic discrimination of blacks would not end soon, more so in many of the southern states. Towards the lead up to the mid twentieth century, the majority of them had had it. Many African Americans, with the support of a considerable amount of the white population, took to the streets in protests that lasted two decades.
It is no secret that there was a genuine attempt to bring equality after the historic abolishment of slavery. If one moment best chronicles this attempt, it is the passing of the fourteenth amendment. It was passed in 1868, granting every black person equal protection as provided by law. In 1870, a redraft resulted in the 15th amendment, allowing the black population to participate in elections through voting. This particular law maddened a great number of southern based whites, with lots of them viewing blacks as less significant beings due to their history as slaves.
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, northern states did not take up these laws. However, discrimination continued unabated. An ordinary black would have to go through hell to get educated or purchase a house. A handful of northern states even passed legislation limiting the black population from voting.
Certain events eventually caused the far reaching activism witnessed during the 1950s and 60s. On 1st December 1955, an incident of monumental proportions took place in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks, a woman aged 42, got off work and boarded a local bus to head home. At the time, segregation laws partitioned seating areas in buses based on race, with blacks like Parks expected to seat at the back.
Soon after, a white man failed to secure seating space at his designated area. The driver subsequently instructed Parks and three other black passengers to surrender their seats. She resisted and was immediately arrested.
This incident caused a furor among the black community. A justice and equality movement, led by Martin Luther King Jr, was then formed. The peaceful protest staged by its participants eventually resulted in segregated seating arrangements being declared illegal. In the years that followed, including after the assassination of Dr. King, equality was finally achieved in education, employment, housing and the general American social system.
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