Essay on Events and Organizations Among African Americans in Civil Rights Movement

There have been many events, organizations, and legislation that have helped in the achievement of civil rights and equality among the blacks and whites. In the year 1870, Congress abolished slavery, accorded blacks citizenship and the right to vote. After the end of Reconstruction in 1877, there was increased opposition to black equality. The African Americans struggled through civil rights movements from the 1920s to 1960s to achieve equal rights equal to those of the whites. These rights included; equal employment opportunities, education, and housing, rights to vote, equal access to all the public facilities and the right to be free from racial discrimination (Dudziak et al. 55). The movement aimed at restoring African Americans right of citizenship which was guaranteed in the fourteen and fifteen amendments, which had been scraped off following Jim Craw laws. This civil right movement led to the return of the judiciary through the establishment of the Supreme Court. The movement did not achieve benefits to African Americans only but also helped the women, people with disabilities among other minority groups. The movement assisted in the winning of Brown v. Board of Education case which saw the Supreme Court remove the laws segregating white and black children in separate public elementary schools. The Congress abolished discriminatory laws in 1964.The voting rights act was passed in 1965 which outlawed the voting qualifications hence African Americans were able to vote. The civil right movement changed the US laws and politics. Legislation which led to the protection of rights of the minorities. However, effects of slavery and the oppressive Jim Crow laws are evident even today.

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Legislation That Promoted Civil Rights Movement among Hispanics

Numerous legislations have been formulated to promote civil rights among the Hispanics. Each ethnic and racial group in the US has a unique history of interactions with the white population which was the majority. The legislations were as a result of activists struggle, for example, Dr. Garcia fought for the abolishment of the segregation signs, racism and even voting discrimination in many Hispanic communities (Orozco & Cynthia 65). The Native Americans were not given voting rights until the year 1924.Tribes were supposed to be sovereign nations as stated in the treaties, the US repeatedly ignored these treaties and forced the Native Americans out of their homes in the East and Midwest. The Asian Americans have been oppressed and discriminated against since the period of California gold rush and the transcontinental railroad. The Chinese have always been subjected to immigration quotas and naturalization. Latinos and Mexican Americans are still being discriminated against, and their political voice is not heard (Orozco & Cynthia 183). The voting rights of the Hispanics was an important landmark in the history of civil rights as they were allowed to participate in the election of the leaders. Since these leaders felt responsible for the well-being of their voters, many improvements were seen in the reduction of discrimination. However, there are some elements of active discrimination even in todays society against the Hispanics hence much efforts are needed to eradicate this injustice.

The Supreme Court Decisions that Enhanced Civil Rights Movement among Women

Through Supreme Court rulings, the civil rights have greatly been promoted. Women did not have the right to vote until the year 1920 after the ratification of the nineteenth amendment. In 1976, due to the influence of the Feminist Movement, the court introduced a new intermediate scrutiny test which was used in many gender-based discrimination cases and other cases that were based on sexual orientation (Orozco & Cynthia 196). This test was used to determine whether unequal treatment was justified by the effects of the law. There are two other areas in which the Supreme Court helped to advance the rights of women which are; Protection against any sexual harassment and affirmative action in these instances. Through these Supreme Court decisions, sexual abuse against women has tremendously reduced since there are laws protecting women against such inhuman actions (Evans & Sara Margaret 102) Women are also able to choose their leaders and also have their women representatives in decision making. This ensures that there is gender equality.

References

Dudziak, Mary L. Cold War civil rights: Race and the image of American democracy. Princeton University Press, 2011.

Evans, Sara Margaret. Personal politics: The roots of women's liberation in the civil rights movement and the new left. Vol. 228. Vintage, 1979.

Orozco, Cynthia E. No Mexicans, women, or dogs allowed: The rise of the Mexican American civil rights movement. University of Texas Press, 2010.