Introduction
African American civil rights, women’s rights, and anti-war objectives made significant advances in the 1960s and 1970s. Still, these achievements were only partially realized in later decades, underscoring the ongoing struggle for social equality and peace. Current movements, such as Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, and the manifestations against the Iraq Invasion, highlight the fact that changes are yet to be made. The issue is historically significant, as it highlights the need for change and the failure to achieve it despite all efforts.
African American Civil Rights
One of the most important speeches in American history is “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King Jr. King’s address, delivered on August 28, 1963, advocated for the civil rights and equality of African Americans. African American civil rights can be defined as the legislative and social changes that promote equality and empowerment within the black community (Gardner & Jones, 2009, p. 391). The speech’s primary goal was to urge that racial segregation stop and that African Americans be granted civil rights and equality. He discussed the necessity of justice and freedom for all people, as well as the unfulfilled promises made in the Liberation Declaration. This raised awareness of the civil rights movement in America and swayed people’s opinions in favor of racial equality. Due to its pivotal role in advancing equality and combating racial discrimination, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark in American history. This merger helped to end the long-standing, institutional racial segregation and was a significant win for the civil rights struggle (Gardner & Jones, 2009, p. 379).
Despite the progress brought about by the Civil Rights Act, the following events, particularly the increase in mass imprisonment in the 1980s and 2000s, disproportionately impacted African Americans. Although drug usage rates were comparable across racial groupings, African Americans had greater arrest and incarceration rates due to discriminatory law enforcement methods (Goulian et al., 2022). As defined by Barack Obama in 2009, Civil Rights is the term that illustrates the dream of opportunity for all that is yet to be fulfilled (Johnson, 2012, p. 338).
Hence, it is certain that the focus changed from a legal definition of equality to a more socioeconomic one, acknowledging the unique experiences faced by African Americans in the US. “Eyes on the Prize” is a thorough historical analysis of the American civil rights struggle. It details African Americans’ battle for equal rights, including their difficulties and victories (Bagwell et al., 1987). By highlighting the significant effects that racism has had on people as individuals, families, and communities, these personal stories humanize the struggle. A current event correlating with Civil Rights is Black Lives Matter, a movement against police violence toward African Americans. The protests that have occurred due to incidents in which African Americans were targeted by law enforcement highlight that equality is yet to be achieved.
Women’s Rights
The National Organization for Women outlined its objectives and commitment to achieving gender equality in its 1966 Statement of Purpose. It proclaimed that all facets of society should grant women the same rights as males (Johnson, 2012, p. 268). This declaration was noteworthy because it signaled the beginning of a robust feminist movement that aspired to confront prejudice and dismantle institutional obstacles. Initially, Women’s Rights were defined as the aim to exclude gender as a basis for denying women the privileges that men have (Gardner & Jones, 2009, p. 157).
Another significant law, the Equal Pay Act, tries to eradicate salary discrimination based on gender. The US government has committed to ending discriminatory employment practices and advancing gender equality by passing this law (Gardner & Jones, 2009). The Equal Pay Act served as a model for subsequent laws and ongoing efforts to achieve pay equity and eliminate gender discrimination. Years later, during the Reagan era, Women’s Rights were defined as objectives to obtain stronger rape laws and financial assistance correlating with domestic violence survivors and single mothers (Gardner & Jones, 2009, p. 416).
The term has become less generalized and includes aspects of experience that contrast gender to gender. The #MeToo movement has also served as a reminder that the fight for gender equality is never-ending. It drew individuals together via their everyday experiences and raised attention to the pervasive issues of sexual harassment and assault. The movement has sparked reform and emphasized the need for systemic change, stressing the prevalence of harassment. The film “Half the People” portrayed the considerable transformation that women’s rights had undergone from the 1960s to the present (Moir, 1999). Despite advancements, there are still problems and disparities in areas like representation, fair pay, reproductive rights, and violence reduction. The struggle for gender equality must also include the difficulties and challenges that women from various racial and ethnic backgrounds encounter.
Anti-War Movement
The Anti-War movement was, initially, a localized problem. Specifically, it was defined as the initiative to withdraw US forces from Vietnam (Gardner & Jones, 2009, p. 399). Kerry’s speech against the Vietnam War in 1971 changed how the public saw the conflict. The crimes perpetrated by American soldiers in Vietnam were detailed in his evidence before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which significantly increased awareness of the war’s human and moral consequences (Johnson, 2012, p. 294).
The speech aided in a critical analysis of the war’s legacy and its effects on American culture. Kerry’s arguments upended the preponderant thesis and stoked anti-war sentiment in the US. Kerry’s remarks had an impact on how the US handled the conflict. His statement raised questions about the Nixon administration’s Vietnamization strategy, which aimed to shift the responsibility of fighting to South Vietnamese soldiers (Gardner & Jones, 2009, p. 431).
Kerry’s speech affected choices to de-escalate the US military involvement in Vietnam by outlining the continued atrocities and failures of the war effort, which helped to reevaluate Vietnamization. Without a clear and generally acknowledged international authorization, the United States launched its invasion of Iraq. The Anti-War movement during this invasion was defined as the plea to stop military aggression against the Iraqi government (Gardner & Jones, 2009, p. 435). The failure of the anti-war movement to achieve its objective of locating peaceful alternatives and multilateral strategies was proven by the lack of popular support and the decision to press on with the invasion despite protests and resistance from all around the world. This resulted in political and social unrest, a vacuum of authority, and the emergence of extremist organizations.
Conclusion
The goals of the 1960s and 70s correlated with racial, gender, and military justice, have been partially fulfilled. The evidence is that current movements are still arising, such as Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, and protests against the US invasion of foreign countries. Understanding these movements and their impact is essential to comprehending the systemic national problems that affect US citizens and the experiences of minorities that are yet to be addressed.
The patterns illustrate that changes are yet to be made on a bigger scale, and the fight for justice and peace continues. The future of social justice and anti-war movements correlates with more in-depth approaches to policy-making than generalized ones. Lessons can be learned regarding legislation transitions, which can inform future implementations on the importance of creating legal precedents in which the authorities re-enact citizens’ requests.
References
Bagwell, Orlando, Sheila Curran Bernard, Callie Crossley, James A. DeVinney, Madison D. Lacy, Louis Massiah, Thomas Ott, et al., dirs. 1987. Eyes on the Prize. United States: PBS.
Gardner, Sarah E., and Catherine A. Jones. 2009. The American Promise: A History of the United States. 4th ed. Boston, NY: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Goulian, Andrew, Marie Jauffret-Roustide, Sayon Dambélé, Rajvir Singh, and Robert E. Fullilove. 2022. “A Cultural and Political Difference: Comparing the Racial and Social Framing of Population Crack Cocaine Use between the United States and France.” Harm Reduction Journal 19 (1).
Johnson, Michael P. 2012. Reading the American Past. 5th ed. Vol. 2. Boston, NY: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Moir, Anne, dir. 1999. Half the People. PBS.