The term group generally refers to a collection of at least two people who not only interact with some frequency but also to a great sense of their individual identity being somewhat or rather somehow aligned with the group (William " Little).
The Civil rights movement can be termed as an umbrella term for a large number of African American and minority groups that sought to secure the full economic, social, as well as political rights of Black Americans consequently, promoting equal rights; thus under the law as their counterparts from the White community.
The American Civil Right represents what can be termed as a pivotal event
The American Civil Right represents what can be termed as a pivotal event; thus not only in the American but also the world history, generally, the civil rights movement began as early as the 1940s and eventually ended in the late 1960s. During the mid-20th century, African Americans inclusive of other minority groups endured years of social and physical landscape of white supremacy which was greatly embedded in social, policy as well as intimate and various spectacular forms of both violence and racial restrictions (Baldwin). Concerning this, despite the abolishment of slavery, there was widespread discrimination, disfranchisement, segregation inclusive of racially motivated violence, which greatly permeated all structural and also personal aspect of the life of African American ethnic group. In relation to this, the political as well as the political order of the Jim Crow laws laid a foundation for segregation at the state and local barred African Americans from bathrooms, trains, classrooms, theatres, inclusive of legislatures and juries (Baldwin). Therefore, the civil rights movement aimed at ending segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement; thereby, advancing equal rights for African Americans such as property rights.
Encompassing various groups
Encompassing various groups, the civil rights movement widely applied non-violent tools aimed at dismantling institutionalized inequality, discrimination and racial segregation to secure recognition; thus in the US federal law as well as federal protection for all the minority groups particularly disenfranchised African Americans. Regarding this, following guiding principles as well as passive resistance by Martin Luther King, the movement engaged in non-violent protests and acts of civil obedience such sit-ins and boycotts which also included economic boycotts examples of sit-ins and boycotts include the the Greensboro Woolworth Sit-ins, inclusive of the Montgomery Bus Boycott respectively (Anti-Defamation League).
Other tactics employed
Other tactics employed included non-violent campaigns, boycotts, demonstrations, as well as peaceful marches such as the "March on Washington" which occurred in 1963 whereby, more than 250,000 African Americans gathered in Washington in protest of segregation and discrimination of African Americans in the US (Anti-Defamation League). Other famous marches include the Birmingham Children's Crusade inclusive of the Selma to Montgomery marches. Apart from using newspapers publications and pamphlets, speeches were also used to demand for equal rights such include the famous/influential "I have a Dream" speech which was given by Martin Luther King; thus during the famous and historical Washington march for freedom (Anti-Defamation League).
Conclusively, despite the using non-violent tactics
Conclusively, despite the using non-violent tactics, there was widespread violence perpetuated by the oppressors; in this case the whites against the minority groups particularly the African Americans. As a result, many people from the minority groups as well as whites who supported the civil movement were murdered, properties destroyed, and churches tortured while other bombed (Simkins). An example of key events that resulted in the death of many African Americans include the 1965 event termed as the Bloody Sunday. Many more people during the peaceful protests and marches were injured by law enforcement using attack dogs, and tear gas. Moreover, a number of key personalities that participated in the civil rights movement particularly leaders were also assassinated while others were imprisoned (Simkins). Another consequence of the civil rights movement was the passage of landmark 1964 and 1965 civil rights legislations which ended discrimination, and segregation thereby, upholding equal rights for the minority groups and equal protection under the law (Simkins).
Works Cited
Anti-Defamation League. “Civil Rights Movement”. Anti-Defamation League, (2018). Retrieved from; https://www.adl.org/education/resources/backgrounders/civil-rights-movement
Baldwin, Davarian L. “The Civil Rights Movement”. The New York Public Library,
(2011). Retrieved from; http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/essay-civil-rights.html
Simkins, Chris. “Non-violence Was Key to Civil Rights Movement”. VOA News, (2016). Retrieved from; https://www.voanews.com/a/nonviolencekey-to-civil-rights-movement/1737280.html
William Little and Little, William. "Introduction to Sociology-1st Canadian edition." BC Open Textbook project (2012). Retrieved from; https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology/chapter/chapter6-groups-and-organization/
