Essay Sample on Civil Rights Movement Matrix/Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

It is a case that was experienced in 1896 with regards 'separate but equal' doctrine, which was used to assess the racial segregation issue, which was deliberated unconstitutional. The court, in its ruling, deliberated Louisiana law of constitutionality with the separation of railway carriages for black and white people. According to the court ruling, there was equality created before the law between blacks and whites due to the Fourteenth Amendment, which extended to civil and political rights and left out social rights (Garrow, 1068). The significance of it was that it provided laws from constitutional sanctions which were designed to achieve racial segregation through separation but ensuring public equality services and facilities to both races. This case ruling set a judicial precedent until the supreme court overturned in 1954 under the case of Brown v. Board.

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Jim Crow Laws

These were collection laws of the local statutes and state which legalized the segregation of races (Krieger, Nancy, et al. 2235). It was named after show character of black minstrel which meant to deny Africans from right to be educated, get the job, voting right and any other opportunities. Arresting, fines, violence, death, and jail sentence to those who defied the laws took place. Stacking of legal systems was practised, which made it hard for black people to win in court cases (Krieger, Nancy, et al. 2235). The significance of these laws was to deny the blacks from voting, to control their living areas and means of travelling, and seizing black children purposely for labour provision.

Segregation in the World Wars

In this world wars, African American were valued as citizens of second class while the whites were considered as the segregated society. Regardless of this segregation, many blacks were much willing to take part in serving the nation's military. In the wars, African men were much used in security protection; therefore, they had to join the battle. During the war, the African Americans used it as an opportunity to secure their patriotism, loyalty as well as the worthiness of equality with the whites. The African's effort led to their involvement in the regiments during the war. The significance of this war segregation was to lead to recognition of the blacks as equals of whites. It was still used as a means of proving the patriotism and loyalty of the Africans.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

It was a landmark of Supreme Court case of 1954 in that there was unanimously justice rule which ruled that there should be segregation of races of children unconstitutionally in public schools. It was concerned with the movement of civil rights, and assisted in the establishment of precedent 'separate but equal' education were not equally exercised. In this case, Brown cases and other school segregation were combined to a single case. There was a division of rules concerning schools segregation. The significance of this case was to achieve desegregation of schools and fueling of movement of civil rights. It was purposely for overturning the doctrine of 'separate but equal' between the two races.

Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott

It was a civil rights protest which took place to African Americans who refused to use city buses to participate in segregated seating. Boycott strike took place to demonstrate against segregation. Rosa Park's arrest due to decline of yielding her bus seat to a white man (Pinkney,et al. 2344). African Americans required to occupy back half of the buses as well as yielding their position to whites if there is no space in the front seats. Due to the seeking of total invalidation of busing laws of segregation, representatives of African Americans with NAACP sued the whites in the city to U.S court. The significance of Montagomery was regarded as one of the earliest protests of mass due to civil rights to bring fair treatment among African Americans. The other importance is that it leads to the emergence of Martin Luther as a prominent leader of the movements of civil rights.

MLK Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (nonviolent resistance)

Martin Luther was a baptist minister as well as a social activist. He played I vital role in the movement of civil rights of Americans before his assassination. He sought human rights and equality for blacks (Garrow, 1068). Due to unconstitutional bus seating segregation, King influenced by Gandhi entered the inspiration of nonviolent resistance. Many fellow ministers contributed to the foundation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) which was much committed to the attainment of full equality among the Africans. The significance of it was to ensure that there is equality among African Americans and the white man.

I Have a Dream" speech

It was delivered by King Martin Luther, before people which remains to be among the most famous speeches. Martin Luther used universal themes on weaving references in the Bible and the Founding Fathers to depict African struggles before improvising of a riff on his equality dream. There solicitation contributions from colleagues as well as the incorporation of successful elements in his speech (Garrow, 1088). The King was different from other speakers as he did not have ready text in advance contributions. The speech's significance was to enlighten the African Americans on their rights and remain focus on the achievement of equality as the whites.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Act marked the end of public places segregation and banning of employment discrimination which was based on color, sex, race, religion, and nationality origin. The first proposal by John survived opposition which was from the southern members and later signed into law. Congress participated in the expansion of the Act and the passing of legislation of civil rights like voting right. The Act runs through Congress (Pinkney,et al. 2356). Lyndon Johnson signed the Act. The Congress participated in the provision of referees in the courts to help the Africans in registering for voting. This Act mainly was to ensure that the blacks were well represented in the courts. It was still founded to mark the end of the segregation of blacks by whites.

Work Cited

Krieger, Nancy, et al. "The unique impact of the abolition of Jim Crow laws on reducing inequities in infant death rates and implications for the choice of comparison groups in analyzing societal determinants of health." American Journal of Public Health 103.12 (2013): 2234-2244.

Garrow, David J. Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian leadership conference. Open Road Media, (2015): 1050-1100.

Pinkney, Andrea Davis, and J. Brian Pinkney. Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks inspired a nation. New York: Greenwillow Books, (2008): 2343-2367.