A MIRRORED MOVEMENT: The Civil Rights Movement
In a country that is labeled “the land of the free and the home of the brave” it might seem unrealistic to find signs of discrimination. Education tends to avoid conversation that involves racism and discrimination in present America, The signs that are visible today, have also been seen in our past. Considering that this country has labeled itself as free, the racial discrimination tends to overthrow this idea. Although this country might not completely be built on freedom, it sure does show enough signs of bravery. Those who have been affected by the racial discrimination have used the little freedom they had left to protest and regain their rights. A perfect example of this form of bravery is The Civil Rights Movement.
The Civil Rights Movement is known to be a mass popular movement to secure for African Americans equal access to and opportunities for the basic privileges and rights of U.S. citizenship (scholastic.com). The movements peak was around the 1950s and 1960s, where many African American men and women of all ages along with a few whites marched and protested for equal rights for blacks. Generally speaking, when people today think about this movement they usually tend to visualize protests. Aside from the history or those who played a big role in making this movement happen, the people that were out protesting can be the symbol of what this movement is all about.
When reading about The Civil Right Movement today, it might be difficult for most of us not realize that there are similar events happening. Turning on the news today may sound like deja vu for those who experienced the struggle of the African-Americans in the 1960s. Another movement has surfaced that in some ways mirrors that of the Civil Rights Movement. There is no denying that the Black Lives Matter Movement that is currently active, does not take some inspiration from what occurred in the 60s. Although some might say that they are highly different, others might say that the Black Lives Matter movement works as a Civil Rights Movement 2.0. If one were to ask someone to describe this new movement in one word, they would most likely say “protests”. In a way, that word unites these movements. By comparing them using the word “protests” is not enough for some to agree, but the purposes for these protests gives the connection validity. These two movements fight for the freedom of African-Americans in the United States. They might have their differences in origin but they share the same idea and purpose. Similar to the 1960s movement, there are many Americans who do not show any signs of support. The number of non-supporters can be found in both movements. Although they do share their issues, they equally share the dedication and bravery that helped make them come to life in time to fight racial discrimination.
References: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/civil-rights-movement-overview