Question

What do you think were three of the most significant events of the Civil Rights Movement and why? What did these events accomplish or not accomplish?

Answer 1

Civil Rights Movement in America was led by black Americans to ensure or achieve equal rights for all Americans under constitution irrespective of race, colour, sex or national origin. It was a non violence movement meant to end the racial discrimination against African Americans. It started in 1940’s and ended in late 1960’s and was conducted by African Americans under the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. Although there are many events that eventually resulted in the end of slavery and reduced racial discrimination, some of them attract special mention and can be considered as milestones in the success story of Civil Rights Movement.

Birmingham Campaign

Birmingham campaign happened in 1963 to end economic policies that discriminate black Americans in Alabama. The African Americans in Alabama city faced great financial disparities and even retaliation when voiced for equality. During this campaign the African Americans boycotted some of the business organizations that hired only whites and those had separate rest rooms for whites only. The protesters took a non violent approach and they sat in front of these organizations with a view to get arrested and crowd the jail. The police tried to suppress the agitation by using dogs and high pressure water hoses. But the protesters resisted and eventually they were successful in bringing down discrimination and attaining equal access to public places.

March on Washington

This was the largest political rally for human rights that happened on August 28, 1963. About 200000 to 300000 people participated in this rally pleading for freedom and jobs for black Americans. It was in this rally that Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I have a dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington. The march was an important event because it finally led to Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Chicago Freedom Movement

This movement is also called Chicago Open Housing movement and it happened in 1965 in Chicago. The goal was to protest against segregation in housing, education, health services and employment opportunities on the basis of race and colour. They conducted marches, boycotts etc and later on Martin Luther King also joined the movement and together they led a massive rally in Chicago in which they were attacked by stones and fire crackers. Even King was injured in this protest and it eventually led to an agreement the Mayor to build public housing in predominately White areas and to make mortgages available irrespective of race. This movement was the keystone in Fair Housing Act 1969.

Thus it can be seen that the Civil Rights Movement in America was a non violet movement which urged equal rights for Afro Americans. It was led by Martin Luther King and it forced the government to pass several acts which were meant to end racial discrimination against Black Americans.