The Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement took place in the mid-1960s. The movement aimed to
advocate for African Americans to gain equal rights under the United States law. The Civil War
had been effective in ending slavery but did not abolish discrimination against people of color.
The Black Americans, especially those in South America, continued to experience the effects of
racism. Within a century, the people of color have enough violence and prejudice against the
oppressive Americans. Therefore, they mobilized a movement that lasted for two decades
advocating for equality. Martin Luther the King contributed towards ensuring Civil Rights for all
regardless of race, which would eventually bring equality to America. He delivered a speech, ‘I
Have a Dream,’ during the great March to Washington. The speech became iconic in American
History especially become it was a defining moment of the movement.
Civil Rights Movement effectively changed the Nation
Before the Civil Rights movement, Black Americans were segregated. Black people were
not allowed to use the same facilities as white people. Besides, they were not allowed to live in
the same neighborhood or attend the same schools. They were denied the right to vote, and
interracial marriages were illegal. Following the reconstruction, African Americans obtained
leadership positions in America. Those who held public offices enhanced legislative changes for
the right to vote who would eventually lead to equality. The people of color gained equal
protection by the American law after the 14 th constitutional amendment in 1868—besides, the
15 th amendment offered African Americans the right to vote. The March on Washington also
impacted change in the Nation. President Roosevelt issued an order that provided for open

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government jobs for all people in America regardless of their racial or ethnic backgrounds
(Wiegand & Wiegand, 2017). Also, there was an order issued to end discrimination in the
military by President Harry Truman at the beginning of the Cold War. The order played a
significant role in setting a platform for the enactment of racial equality legislation. The White
Americans, especially those in the south, were unpleased with the idea that they would have
equal rights with the same people that they had enslaved even in their land.
Effect of Civil Rights Acts on Minority Groups
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 had significant effects on the minority groups across the
continent. The act provided for equality in access to public facilities such as transportation and
restaurants. Such equality enabled Black Americans, women, and other minority populations to
break the barriers to accessing employment opportunities in the workplace. The minority groups,
including the Black Americans, were granted access to equal education, and they began
attending integrated schools in both the South and North America. The Civil Rights Act of 1968
and Voting Rights Act of 1965 provided protections against racial violence and expanded
protection to housing and voting. There was also the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 that
addressed the issue of economic inequalities that accompanied exclusion and racial
discrimination (Wiegand & Wiegand, 2018).
The Civil Rights Movement of 1964 inspired minority groups seeking access and
equality. Organizations were formed under these acts that enabled the groups to advocate for
equal treatment. An example of such an organization is the National Organization for Women
(NOW) that was formed in 1966 under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which campaigned
against discrimination based on sex, race, color, or creed (Wiegand & Wiegand, 2018). The
achievements of the Civil Rights Movement are still felt in the United States to date. For

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instance, activists have convinced congress of the importance of protecting different groups in
society such as the elderly, people living with disabilities, and pregnant women. Such people are
allowed to participate in both private and public life by having equal access to opportunities.
Tactics and strategies that Civil Rights Activists used in the 1960s
It is quite unlikely that the tactics and strategies applied by the civil rights activists in
1960 might be used in the current ethnic and racial conflicts. The most popular tactics applied in
the 1960s were freedom rides and sit-ins. Although they played a significant role during the
movement, it is doubtful whether they would have the same effect in the present. The strategies
involved the presence of Black Americans in the segregated buildings as well as riding interstate
buses to the southern parts of America for activism (Malveaux, 2017). However, such division is
rare at present and, therefore, employing these methods would be less effective. Nevertheless,
some strategies might breed positive outcomes, such as involving the college and university
students in activist actions. Peaceful protests and University actions have proven to have a
significant impact on civic engagement. Therefore, engaging students in finding solutions to
existing discrimination and ethnic conflicts would be relevant, especially because they are ardent
participants in such movements.
Do the Ideas of the 1960s still have Relevance Today?
The United States has experienced significant changes since the civil rights movement
era. However, the ideas of the Civil Rights Movement are still relevant today. The issues that the
movement sought to address during the 1960s are still evident in the new millennium. The
people of color are still experiencing racial discrimination. For instance, cases of police brutality
on Black Americans have been prevalent. An example is the recent case of George Floyd, who

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died at the hands of police officers, which led to the #Black People Lives Matter peaceful
protests in Minneapolis (Clayton, 2018). Besides, the number of Black people incarceration in
the American justice system is high, which shows that people are yet to achieve equal rights. The
African Americans and other minority groups experience educational disparities which limit
their ability to compete for equal opportunities with their white counterparts. Lack of access to
equal opportunities forces youths in the minority populations to engage in criminal activities
leading to mass incarceration. The Nation is yet to embrace the concept of diversity and
inclusion, especially because communities are still segregated.
The government should therefore come up with strategies to promote racial diversity and
integration. Such can be achieved by applying the ideas of the Civil Rights Movement of the
1960s. Some of these ideas never grow old, even over time. The ideas are still relevant today,
especially because society requires effective methods of advocating against social injustice and
inequalities. The idea of amending the constitutional laws and enacting legal acts plays a role in
the current society. An example is the amendment of the criminal, civil rights law that could
provide a powerful tool to pursue accountability and law enforcement (Chong, 2014). The Civil
Rights Acts that were enacted during the reconstruction provided that it is a federal crime to
deprive an individual of their constitutional rights when serving in a formal capacity. Today, the
federal government is considered an avenue for justice when local or state law enforcement is
accused of misconduct. Having eloquent speakers like Martin Luther King Jr. among the
minority populations would be an additional advantage in implementing the Civil Rights
Movement ideas.
Analyze how the Civil Rights Movement would impact diversity in America today

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The Civil Rights Movement would impact diversity in America today. The movement
inspired various groups that suffered injustices. An example is the immigrant rights
demonstrations where they asserted that they too are America (Malveaux, 2017). The immigrants
want to be recognized as part of America and therefore given equal rights and opportunities.
Some parts of the world and especially the developing countries, have not recognized the place
of women in societal leadership to date. However, there has been the establishment of the
women’s rights movement that has played a role in women’s empowerment to enhance gender
equality in society—the movement advocate for equal opportunities for men and women that
would enhance diversity in the workplaces. Women can now assume leadership positions in the
government like their male counterparts. Other dynamic communities have initiated movements
in the spirit of the civil rights movement, such as the gay rights movement (Cain, 2018). Such
movements advocates for diversity and inclusion of all regardless of their race, gender, or ethnic
background.
Conclusion
The Civil Rights Movement aimed at advocating for equal rights of African Americans
and their recognition under the United States law. Before the movement, Black Americans
experienced racial discrimination, which led to segregation and lack of access to opportunities.
The movement led to the enactment of laws that provided for equal treatment of all regardless of
their racial and ethnic differences. Some of the tactics and strategies used in the Civil rights
movement, such as sit-ins, would not be applicable in the current settings. Others like the
participation of college and university students in peaceful protests would be effective in this
millennium. Deriving ideas from the Civil Rights Movement would also help in enhancing the
success of movements in the current century. Such ideas include constitutional amendment and

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law enactment. The movement would impact the diversity in America today by inspiring people
to advocate for equal access regardless of their differences. Although the movement played a
role in enhancing equal treatment of African Americans and other minority groups, the goal is
yet to be achieved in the United States. The issues of racial discrimination are still evident in this
region.

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Reference

Cain, P. A. (2018). Rainbow rights: The role of lawyers and courts in the lesbian and gay civil
rights movement. Routledge.
Chong, D. (2014). Collective action and the civil rights movement. University of Chicago Press.
Clayton, D. M. (2018). Black lives matter and the civil rights movement: A comparative analysis
of two social movements in the United States. Journal of Black Studies, 49(5), 448-480.
Malveaux, S. M. (2017). The Modern Class Action Rule: Its Civil Rights Roots and Relevance
Today. U. Kan. L. Rev., 66, 325.
Wiegand, S. A., & Wiegand, W. A. (2018). The desegregation of public libraries in the Jim
Crow South: Civil rights and local activism. LSU Press.