Understanding African American Civil Rights Movement Facts

By Anna Cooper


While the fight for equal rights began in the 1950s, there are still many fighting for equality. Whether those involved in establishing the early African American Civil Rights Movement Facts or those involved in other areas, it is one that still continues. Still, those whom have worked tirelessly in the fight for racial justice need to be honored.

Facts stating the movement began in the mid-1950s is somewhat accurate. Although, there were people working to promote equality among the African Americans and Whites as early as 1909. At the same time, progress toward equality in education, employment and housing were not actually seen until the late 1950s to late 1960s, so the mid-1950s is often considered accurate.

Rights which only Whites were offered before the movement included the right to vote, live in various areas and enter public venues. In fact, African Americans were often seen as second class citizens in most areas of the country. After all, slavery had only been abolished in the mid-1800s and as many White families were previously considered to have owned slaves, most were drastically mistreated even after having found freedom.

The work of Malcom X, President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Junior and Rosa Parks, all whom gained momentum and pushed the movement forward need to be honored. For, it was after the initiation of the official Civil Right Movements that the Supreme Court reconvened as one based on equality rather than one which had previously been somewhat racially biased.

While the media and history books often focus on the movement having began in the mid-1950s, it was actually in 1909 when blacks and whites formed the Advancement of Colored People, a national organization now known as the NAACP. After which, people of all races came together to promote equality in education, employment, housing and other areas. Later, in the late 1940s and early 1950s, veterans returning home from World War II also had a major part to play during this integral period in the fight for equality.

The war also had a great deal to do with the origins and growth of the movement. For, veterans of all colors refusing to be mistreated had a great deal to do with the origins of the movement. After which, the military and other organizations began treating veterans of all races with a great deal more respect.

It was only a few years later in 1954 when the first trial based on race landed in the courts. During this trial, the NAACP won the case of Brown versus Board of Education. As a result, the Supreme Court eliminated mandatory segregation of children in public schools.

Today, there are some states which are attempting to re-segregate various schools. For the most part, these attempts have failed over time. The reality that there are people whom still attempt to promote White supremacy in schools and around the world only go to show how much work is still needed when it comes to the fight for true equality.




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