Citizenship and civil rights - Coursework Example

Task: Discuss social, political, and economic s/organizations in play during the civil right movement. The most significant achievements in the History of America in trying to uphold civil rights movements was the post civil war constitutional changes, which led to the abolishment of slavery and formation of citizenship status on blacks. This allowed for the judicial decisions and legislation centered on the set amendments. Furthermore, the legal amendments, largely affected the opportunities presented to women, non-black minorities, the disabled and other subjects of discriminations (McKissack & Fredrick 9).

According to McKissack & Fredrick (13), argued that, “Brown decision proved that the lawsuit method adopted by the National Association for sole purpose of Advancement of Color People (NAACP) had capability to weaken the strong legal foundations of the Southern segregationist practices.” This strategy yielded fruits only because blacks acted independently. In addition, after the statement by the Supreme Court that public schools discrimination were unconstitutional, black activist saw the need to urge and force the government to put into realization decisions and do the same in every aspect or sphere of life and not only in schools.

In 1950s and 60s NAACP and legislative petitions were inspired by growing number of militant and enormous movements who were restless for change (McKissack & Fredrick 12).According to McKissack & Fredrick (16), Montgomery Bus Boycott together with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was another institution during the civil rights movement in which, Rosa Parks of Alabama resisted Southern custom, which ensured that blacks surrender seats at the front side of the bus to whites. On her imprisonment, a community of black fellows boycotted the city bus for a year.

This showed the unity and firmness of black populace in trying to get their civil rights. According to Mckissack and Fredrick (42), “the Montgomery movement, consequently led to the inception of new organization known as Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) headed by Martin Luther.” Martin Luther continued to be a key representative for the black’s movement until the beginning of 1960 when freshmen at the vibrant North Carolina College of Agriculture, by a way of starting student’s sit-ins, with an objective of halting isolation within lunch counters.

In 1960, he formed another movement known as Student Non-violent Coordination Committee (SNCC) (McKissack & Fredrick 23). These students pressed the creation and advancement of free and impartial indigenous movements, which contradicted the SCLCs campaign approach to accomplish obsessive reforms.In 1963, SCLC disapproval approach accomplished its target, when it embarked on a vibrant campaign in Alabama. The Birmingham conflicts and other civil rights efforts pressed President John Kennedy to advocate for the implementation of civil rights legislation (McKissack & Fredrick 26).

Even though some whites responded pessimistically to the diffusion protests/disputes of 1963, Kings close affiliation with black militancy and optimism helped to realization of civil rights act, which was pivotal in prohibiting discrimination in public facilities, eventually, the act applied to all victims of discrimination. The SCLC now concentrated in urban centers believed to be white strongholds. The NAACP and the mostly White Congress of Racial Equality funded protesters to the vibrant Mississippi movement, in 1940s; SNCC organizers were at forefront in leading civil rights desire for ten years.

Mississippi resident Moore and Hamer were major players in SNCC, they even contributed to foundation of Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (McKissack & Fredrick 30). Despite civil right achievements of the 1960s, racial discrimination and suppression remains a vital factor in American life, even after President Johnson affirmed war on poverty and King leading the Poor People’s Campaign in 1968.Compare and contrast current global civil rights issues to the American Civil Rights Movement 1954-1965.

Starting with the post war assimilation of the armed forces to the near achievement of gender equality and giving voice to the disabled, one can indeed confirm that the civil rights movements have laid a sledding and heroic past (McKissack & Fredrick 45). However, as much as, the movement-reshaped public opinions, it acted as the point of reference to other countries. An America civil rights has been used as mirror to other parts of the world. Civil rights movement shaped continents like Africa and Asia to agitate for their fundamental rights from there colonizers.

The civil rights movements in US were centered on whites and blacks while in Africa it was also between the whites and blacks, for instance during apartheid regime in South Africa. The civil rights movement has led to universal suffrage, increase number of minority representation in governments worldwide (McKissack & Fredrick 56). Compared to other civil rights, American civil right was a real fight to democracy since it was first of its kind as compared to contemporary one that has the backing of lobby groups and the media.

Work CitedMcKissack & Fredrick L., Jr. This Generation of Americans: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement. Columbus, Ohio: Jamestown. 2000. Print