Good civil rights movement essay example

Civil rights movements have been in existence since time immemorial. They however became very popular in the twentieth century. They took the form of gender rights activism, political and cultural nationalism. Towards the end of the twentieth century, philosophies of these movements established themselves so strongly in the society that they became the cultures of the global community they took up a different form in an attempt to state clearly what they were intended for, freedom. In this day, the nature of the global community is an integration of values that are based on political and cultural nationalism all over the world (Featherstone, 2001). The activism of the twentieth century was most aggressive in the three years between 1966 and 1969. In this period, movements such as the Lowndes County Freedom Organization represented the black people of Alabama’s Lowndes County. Even though these were 80% of the population, they had no voting rights. This essay seeks to explain the impact of radicalism of civil rights movements brought about by the youth of the US between 1966 and 1969. It considers cultural nationalism as simplified by the minority groups in their language of seeking liberation in their own country (Yoshino, 2009).
The inclination of a people towards their cultural orientation is a common occurrence in the various groups of cultures in the United States. The case for African Americans was no different. The use of a different slogan however, made clear the intentions of black people of the time. Lowndes movement used the Black Panther as a symbol for their movement with the choice being justified by the character of the animal. In this manner, the youthful population of Lowndes County made certain that they defined their intentions in a more understandable manner. The Black Panther fights for its life to death even though it never attacks. It meant that the black community had no intention to cause wrangles and would peacefully seek justice. Even so, they would pursue their rights to the furthest they could even at the expense of their lives. The problem of cultural difference led to the different cultures seeking to be treated accordingly to their civil rights when the United States began to take shape as a democracy in the post war period (Yoshino, 2009).
The African American group sought to be treated with regard through abolishment of segregation and Jim Crow laws. They however used slogans such as ‘ all power to the people’ to emphasize their position as America citizens and ones who served in the war as soldiers. Furthermore, African Americans had suffered a great deal of oppression under slavery. The message of Martin Luther King and other activists was just the beginning of what has continued up to date. The uprising of civil rights movements in the 1960’s was very convenient for the minority groups (Yoshino, 2009). The need for a different method of communication by activists was not only an urgent matter for Black Americans, it was also necessary for the Native and Latin Americans. For Native Americans, who suffer the plight of minority groups, the activism for civil rights took a slightly different path. It is very important to note that the form of vocabulary used by white supremacists was the cause of the problems arising from racism. It is through the use of media to create propaganda that the African and the Native American stereotypes came into existence.
Therefore, it was only important to emphasize exactly what these communities expected in the exact manner that they expected it unto their governments. Native Americans are among the people that preserved a traditional culture in the United States to date. Even so, they have lived in reserves and lacked education with several fallacies being manufactured against them. Native Americans were in 1964, branded as savages in the television programs of the time such as Daniel Boone and John Quest. By 1969, the American community had embraced the character of the Indian person as a primitive being in a fast growing civilization. In fact, it was a time when technology was developing so fast that the programs in their humour only enhanced racism and led to a disregard of the Native American people. While the message was not a public speech against Indians in the day, it was subliminally intended to capture the minds of the American people to discriminate the Native Indian. This left the opportunity for white supremacy to thrive (Yoshino, 2009).
The purpose of civil rights movements in the United States cannot be undermined. Its emphasis is also something that the youth of the 1960’s ensured was attained and has up to date remained a method of activism. The different communities in the nation only represent its beauty and their contribution to development of the country should be appreciated by the government and the peoples amongst themselves. After all, a democracy is a people’s government for themselves by themselves. Every citizen is equally important as the next (Featherstone, 2001).

References

Featherstone, M. (2001). Global Culture: Nationalism, Globalization and Modernity. New York: SAGE Publications.
Yoshino, K. (2009). Cultural Nationalism in Contemporary. New York: Taylor & Francis.