One key turning point in the history of America was the Civil War. While it significantly helped rid the nation of the yoke of slavery, blacks still endured untold discrimination for long thereafter. The discriminative nature of policies in the country made many blacks rally for change, more so in the areas of equality and social justice. This article chronicles a couple of historically significant African American Civil Rights Movement facts.
Long after the Civil War was over, there seemed to be no commitment from the white majority to deal with the issue of black discrimination, something that was actually more predominant down south. In the lead up to the middle of the nineteen fifties, many black people in America felt the time had come for change. By mustering the support of some whites, they embarked on an era of civil disobedience that went on for two decades.
It is a fact that the nation made some genuine efforts to rid itself of the grip of racial discrimination after the end of slavery. The enactment of the 14th amendment heralded this moment. This amendment was enacted in 1868 and gave all citizens equal protection in all facets of the law. In 1870, this law was redrafted into the 15th amendment, tentatively giving blacks a right to cast their votes. The amendment sent many whites in the southern states into a rage, reason being many of them still viewed black people through the prism of slavery.
This widespread hatred brought about the establishment of Jim Crow laws in the years leading up to the end of the nineteenth century. The laws, passed by the southern states, were meant to separate blacks from whites. It meant that blacks could not use the same public amenities as whites, including schools. Black and white intermarriage was also made illegal. Furthermore, blacks were not allowed to vote as voter literacy tests were skewed against them.
Luckily, northern states did not take up these laws. However, discrimination continued unabated. An ordinary black would have to go through hell to get educated or purchase a house. A handful of northern states even passed legislation limiting the black population from voting.
Some events ultimately led to the historic protests of the 1950s and 60s. The first major event took place on the first of December, 1955. A 42 year old woman by the name Rosa Parks boarded a Montgomery, Alabama bus after work. The segregation laws back then required buses to have designated seating spots for blacks and whites, with blacks expected to seat at the back, which Parks did.
After taking her seat, a white man hopped on but could not get a place to seat. The driver then instructed four blacks, including Parks, to give up their seats. Upon resisting, she was arrested.
The black community reacted to news of the incident with furor. Martin Luther King Jr immediately formed a social justice movement. Its many members staged several peaceful protests that ultimately resulted in the declaration of segregated seating as unconstitutional. Years later, blacks got equality in education, housing, employment and in all social facets
Long after the Civil War was over, there seemed to be no commitment from the white majority to deal with the issue of black discrimination, something that was actually more predominant down south. In the lead up to the middle of the nineteen fifties, many black people in America felt the time had come for change. By mustering the support of some whites, they embarked on an era of civil disobedience that went on for two decades.
It is a fact that the nation made some genuine efforts to rid itself of the grip of racial discrimination after the end of slavery. The enactment of the 14th amendment heralded this moment. This amendment was enacted in 1868 and gave all citizens equal protection in all facets of the law. In 1870, this law was redrafted into the 15th amendment, tentatively giving blacks a right to cast their votes. The amendment sent many whites in the southern states into a rage, reason being many of them still viewed black people through the prism of slavery.
This widespread hatred brought about the establishment of Jim Crow laws in the years leading up to the end of the nineteenth century. The laws, passed by the southern states, were meant to separate blacks from whites. It meant that blacks could not use the same public amenities as whites, including schools. Black and white intermarriage was also made illegal. Furthermore, blacks were not allowed to vote as voter literacy tests were skewed against them.
Luckily, northern states did not take up these laws. However, discrimination continued unabated. An ordinary black would have to go through hell to get educated or purchase a house. A handful of northern states even passed legislation limiting the black population from voting.
Some events ultimately led to the historic protests of the 1950s and 60s. The first major event took place on the first of December, 1955. A 42 year old woman by the name Rosa Parks boarded a Montgomery, Alabama bus after work. The segregation laws back then required buses to have designated seating spots for blacks and whites, with blacks expected to seat at the back, which Parks did.
After taking her seat, a white man hopped on but could not get a place to seat. The driver then instructed four blacks, including Parks, to give up their seats. Upon resisting, she was arrested.
The black community reacted to news of the incident with furor. Martin Luther King Jr immediately formed a social justice movement. Its many members staged several peaceful protests that ultimately resulted in the declaration of segregated seating as unconstitutional. Years later, blacks got equality in education, housing, employment and in all social facets
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