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Civil rights movement

The civil rights movement of the 1950s an d 1960s was an attempt of the minority populations in America to gain rights to citizenship. The supporters claimed that they must be given equal rights and also that the unjust system should be removed. The blacks were lacking socially and economically because they were denied of better jobs and rights that were enjoyed by the whites. The protests involved many black leaders who raised their voice for a just and fair system for the blacks where they could have better chances of progress and survival CITATION Gua10 \l 1033 (Guarrdian).

Martin Luther King wrote letter from Birmingham jail to address the issue of black segregation. In the letter King attempted to highlight the unfair and unjust American system which was treating Africans as secondary citizens by denying them equal rights. He mentioned, “follow this decree because integration is morally right and because the Negro is your brother” CITATION UPE63 \l 1033 (UPENN). The letter holds great significance in the history of the United States because he gave consciousness to the blacks to rise for their rights and reject the system of oppression and suppression. King claimed in the letter that blacks remained part of the US history and were involved in all the struggles but the unjust system is denying their rights which is unfair. He emphasized on growing economic injustice apparent in the low level jobs of the Africans. The only reason according to him for the economic suffering was this unfair system CITATION Gua10 \l 1033 (Guarrdian). He claimed that blacks had suffered brutality and segregation that is also the cause of their destruction.

Malcolm X is another prominent figure of the Civil Rights Movement who also stood for the rights of the minorities. He himself was a Muslim and emphasized on the oppression faced by the people of different religions in America. His anti-oppression campaigns in the country focused on demanding equal rights for the minorities and standing against the unjust system CITATION Har19 \l 1033 (Hartford). Malcolm played a prominent role in civil rights movement because he encouraged the blacks and people from other backgrounds to joining him in the protests for demanding equal rights and justice. He claimed, “if we don’t something real soon, I think you’ll have to agree that we are going to be forced either to use the ballot or the bullet” CITATION Har19 \l 1033 (Hartford). His concerns also focused on the voting rights of the blacks and the minorities. He claimed that blacks have equal voting rights so the state must give them their rights to vote. According to him voting was the only way for changing lives of blacks.

Civil rights movement also paved the way for the women liberation movement. Women who were part of the civil rights movement explored that they themselves were lacking equal rights such as rights to education, property or voting. The central agenda was to promote the idea that women must have all fundamental rights and rights to life. The members of this movement claimed that women have always been kept out of the mainstream media and politics that in unfair to them. The idea that women must be confined to homes is also wrong CITATION Jis19 \l 1033 (History). They also claimed that women should have equal rights to choose an independent life. Gay liberation is also linked to this historical period because the supporters claimed that there should be freedom of choosing gender and sexual identity. The platform engaged many supported of gay liberation and demanded that they must possess all rights to life and to citizenship.

Work Cited

BIBLIOGRAPHY UPENN. "Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.]" . 1963. 22 09 2019 <https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html>.

Guarrdian. Civil Rights in the USA in the 1950s and 1960s . 2010. 22 09 2019 <https://www.theguardian.com/gnmeducationcentre/14>.

Hartford. ‘The Ballot or the Bullet’ . 2019. 22 09 2019 <http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/065.html>.

History. The Women's Liberation and Gay Liberation Movements. 2019. 20 09 2019 <https://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/newtonq.html>.