Introduction
Since the post-war years in the United States, the problem of the struggle of African Americans for civil rights as a result of prolonged racial discrimination has been particularly acute. Many social barriers aimed at discriminating against black US citizens naturally provoked a backlash. As a result, this led to the desire to form their own ethnic community. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States became a movement for social change on a macro level that aimed to eliminate racial segregation and discrimination.
Stages of the Social Movement
As already mentioned, the main reason for the emergence of the movement was long-term systemic racism and inequality. A significant event was when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus, causing a wave of resistance. This led to the formation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Mace, 2021). As a result, grassroots efforts and localized protests began, such as the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott (Mace, 2021).
Thus, after Rosa Parks’ act of defiance sparked a wave of resistance, the stages of the Civil Rights Movement began with grassroots actions (Films Media Group, 2013). As it escalated into a nationwide struggle, sit-ins, freedom rallies, and voter registration, campaigns challenged Jim Crow laws and segregation in public spaces. The March on Washington in 1963, when Dr. King gave his iconic I Have a Dream speech, demonstrated the unity and determination of the movement (Younge, 2023). Legislative and legal victories followed, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Younge, 2023). Thus, more and more people raised the issue of national identity.
Elements and Events That Kindled the Movement
Over time, the Civil Rights Movement grew, aided by various elements and events. For example, the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) acted as a catalyst for activists and galvanized public opinion against segregation (Clabough, 2021).
Leaders and Important Figures in the Movement
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most significant figure, and other leaders used non-violent tactics inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi to challenge segregation peacefully (Clabough, 2021). In addition, there was increasing media coverage of the events; they exposed the mistreatment of peaceful demonstrators, further strengthening the cause of the movement. Also, local organizations and ordinary citizens have played a key role in mobilizing communities, organizing protests, and maintaining momentum.
Theoretical Framework: Social Change and the Selected Movement
The Civil Rights Movement can be viewed through the lens of resource mobilization theory. This theory states that social movements emerge when individuals and organizations mobilize resources such as funding, skills, media attention, and public support to achieve their goals (Edwards et al., 2018). The leaders of the Civil Rights Movement skillfully used these resources to plan and carry out non-violent protests, civil disobedience actions, and lawsuits. A specific continuation of the concept of “resource mobilization” was research strategies focusing on the role of new media, which have a different impact on protest actions in competitive and non-competitive regimes (Edwards et al., 2018). Participants have applied successful resource mobilization thanks to the movement’s ability to organize and sustain its efforts, combined with strategic alliances with sympathetic groups and international support.
Conclusion
Thus, the Civil Rights Movement in the United States stands as an example of an effective movement for social change at the macro level that opposed systemic racial discrimination and changed the social and political landscape of the country. The stages of emergence, organization, legislative victories, and ongoing struggles underline the movement’s resilience and influence. Elements such as landmark court decisions, non-violent resistance, media coverage, and mass mobilization ignited and pushed forward.
References
Clabough, J. (2021). Using thematic social studies teaching to explore the Civil Rights Movement. The Social Studies, 112(4), 177–189. Web.
Edwards, B., McCarthy, J. D., & Mataic, D. R. (2018). The resource context of Social Movements. The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Social Movements, 79–97. Web.
Films Media Group. (2013). Moyers & Company: How people power generates change [Video]. Films on Demand. Web.
Mace, D. (2021). Rosa Parks: A life in American history. ABC-CLIO.
Younge, G. (2023). The speech: The story behind dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream. Haymarket Books.