Ending racial discrimination and equalization of rights between the variety of ethnic groups found on the territory of the United States is a struggle with a long history. It gained momentum, approximately, in the middle of the last century, when Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his monumental speech. Diversity may be considered one of the primary merits in the value system of contemporary societies – it is often referred to in political discourse, and an array of academic work is dedicated to its investigation. Nonetheless, the substantial scholarly attention to the civil rights of vulnerable and marginalized ethnic groups does not hinder the strong presence of racial exclusion, discrimination, and power imbalance.
During the last century, the history of the United States underwent several transformative periods that impacted the ways different communities and classes interact with each other. The Civil Rights Movement that reached its peak in the fifties and sixties was a source for significant changes. The campaign started with Rosa Parks’ refusal to give her bus seat to a white man and concluded with immense for its historical period alternations in the social structure. Human rights of different ethnic groups were unprotected by legislation for a long time; for instance, racial segregation was not considered legally punishable and ended less than seventy years ago (Andrews, 2018). The Civil Rights Act was signed in 1964 prohibiting discrimination in public institutions on the basis of an array of characteristics, among which was race (Bell et al., 2018). The act may be considered one of the most revolutionary steps towards ethnic equality over the last centuries. Hence, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s alleviated problems that required immediate action and were the most glaring.
Even though the movement initiated the recognition of colossal societal injustices, centuries of exploitation and racism could not but have an impact on how people continue to think about ethnic differences, and this distinction may not be easy to erase. Prejudice is deeply ingrained in the core of societal hierarchy, and a number of studies prove that racism may persevere, but in more insidious forms. For instance, Bell et al. (2018) state that “similarly educated African Americans typically have higher unemployment and lower earnings than other groups, and continue to face discrimination in access to jobs and in treatment at work” (p. 226). Racial and economic inequality is an acute issue that stems from the systematic malfunctioning of social structures. The struggle for civil rights significantly advanced the situation of ethnic groups other than Caucasian; still, numerous injustices need to be addressed.
The Civil Rights Movement inspired other communities that were looked down upon to pursue the equalization of their freedoms. Although the movement revolved around the rights of the African-American population of the United States, other ethnicities, sexual minorities, and women were able to profit from the movement, as it initiated several waves of activism. In this way, social justice promotion may be traced back to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s – its organization outlined the basics for subsequent activists’ campaigns (Andrews, 2018). Civil Rights Acts that would follow the example of the act of 1964 could alternate how the minority groups across the continent engage in communal life and are viewed by societal institutions. The shift in perception could lead to greater acceptance and a decrease in hate crime rates. The notion of equality embodied in the Civil Rights Acts is one of the movement’s results.
The variety of tactics that the Civil Rights Movement used were designed to achieve objectives specific to its time – nonviolent strategies, such as boycotts and sit-ins, were rather widely employed. In his celebrated speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. (2008) declared, “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force” (p. 3). Current racial and ethnic conflicts, to a certain degree, express the frustration accumulated over the years and stem from the governmental denial to take measures. Even though the strategies devoid of violence are preferable and should be the first ones to which protestors resort, even currently, governments do not always yield to them. This may result in more explosive attempts to be heard and intense conflicts. Therefore, nonviolent strategies of the 1960s are considered fundamental; however, lack of responsiveness may call for more direct actions.
Racial and ethnic inequality is an issue that remains comparatively unresolved and marks a large number of United States citizens’ lives. Nearly for eight generations, African-American people were enslaved. In spite of the fact that slavery in this day and age is outlawed, financial and inequality at the workplace are one of the principal defects of the way the current society operates (Bell et al., 2018). Abuse coming from authority figures is an example of lasting prejudice towards certain ethnic groups. In 1963 in “I Have a Dream” (2008), the next words were publicly expressed for the first time “we can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality” (p. 4). Presently, the relevance of the ideas outlined in the speech and activists’ manifestos can be observed.
Diversity could be considered an inherent concept to the history and societal structure of the United States. “Celebration of diversity” is a widely-spread catchphrase in public discourse: recognizing and respecting individual differences may have become possible due to the advancement brought by the Civil Rights Movement. Martin Luther King highlighted how not only African-Americans but also other ethnical minorities should be engaged in the movement (Andrews, 2018). Currently, demographics of the United States are considered relatively diverse; still, non‑white racial communities may require supplementary activist campaigns. The Civil Rights Movement could lead to further empowerment of ethnic and racial minorities and help to resolve issues mentioned above as they affect not only the African‑American population. In this way, the Civil Rights Movement could potentially bring even more variety to the demographic situation in the country.
The state of human rights advanced significantly in the developed occidental countries over the last decades and provided the basis for the acknowledgment that all human beings are equal in their dignity and freedoms. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s was a stepping stone in the continuous progression of social justice and reinforced the positions of similar undertakings. Presently, the deep-seated biases are unveiled, and new challenges emerge. Contemporary society still contains an array of barriers that people of color, sexual minorities, and women should additionally overcome. The pertinence of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s becomes more evident in trying times, but they can be managed through collective effort.
References
Andrews, K. T. (2018). Freedom is a constant struggle: The Mississippi civil rights movement and its legacy. University of Chicago Press.
Bell, M. P., Leopold, J., Berry, D., & Hall, A. V. (2018). Diversity, discrimination, and persistent inequality: Hope for the future through the solidarity economy movement. Journal of Social Issues, 74(2), 224–243.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (2008). I have a dream; 1963 [Speech transcript]. Yale Law School. Web.