From 1955 to 1965 war broke out between the United States and the United States. No, it was not a war like World War II or the Revolutionary War. It has been a battle of the heart and soul of this country to decide forever whether America will be a country of equal opportunities for all. It was a war that eventually became known as “The Civil Rights Movement.”
We must not make a mistake, this was not just a joke. Some of the events we remember today were vicious and deadly. Those who fought in this war on both sides were very determined for the causes they stood for and were willing to fight to the death to see their goal achieved. The war was fought over many years and further progress was made but without the great sacrifice of the party leaders who were committed to giving a new meaning to the phrase “deliver my people.”
Throughout the dark history, there may not have been a significant period since the Civil War in which the rights of African American people were deeply fought and won. Tensions in the country were starting to rise. When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the division of schools in Brown's landmark case against the Board of Education, a court was set up. But it was December 1, 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama to a white man when the organization was eventually founded and became a major struggle for the rights of African Americans in the United States. That first battle brought with it one of the greatest human rights activists of all time, Rev. Martin Luther King.
This great struggle for freedom was not easy and was often marked by violence. Over the next decade one of the most important historical events in black history took place which included ...
* 1957 - President Eisenhower had to send troops to Arkansas to secure admission to Central High School by nine black students.
* 1960 - A stay at the Woolworths restaurant in Greensboro North Carolina set the stage for a non-violent protest that was used successfully throughout the struggle. Non-violent protests and public disobedience became the basis for a human rights movement because of the influence of Martin Luther King.
* 1963 - A landmark March in Washington where more than 200,000 people gathered to hear Dr. Kings' famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
* 1964 - President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill which was the most important event in his presidency and he strongly believed in it, the Human Rights Act of 1964.
* 1965 - Allocation of Malcolm X and Watts race rights.
* 1965 - President Johnson takes another bold step to accelerate the human rights movement using Affirmative Action in issuing Executive Order 11246.
This short list is one of the highlights of this troubled time when the rights of all American citizens, black and white, and all colors were redefined in the streets, courts and various government departments. In the years to come there will be big steps going forward. Individually, every area of American life will see the success of African Americans in the fields of sports, entertainment, education and politics. There were many moments of pride and there were moments of great humiliation and atrocities committed by white and black people. But throughout that struggle, society continued to grow and adapt to democracy as has always been the norm in American culture.
The struggle is far from over. Prejudice and hate speech are still a problem today. And while it is easy to reflect on the days of the struggle for remorse, we can look back on them with pride. We can be proud of great leaders who have shown great courage and ingenuity to lead this nation to a better life. And we can be proud of America because it is here that such a struggle can lead to equality and freedom for all citizens, not just a few.
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