Argumentative Essay Examples on Civil Rights Movement

Television with Civil Rights

Imagine a time period without television or social media to influence how Americans view race and social injustice. I believe the Civil Rights Movement would have been a predominantly big factor, but I believe it would not have translated to the ideal American family. Think of a traditional home or family having the white privilege mentality when it comes to forming an opinion about the culture. If there were not television sets showing families the horrible outcomes of these situations, […]

Movements for Civil Rights and against Racial Segregation

In the mid-20th century, various civil right movements were being held in the United States to focus on specific political or social issues. Two of the most influential movements were the Feminist and Civil Rights movement. Toni Morrison seems to have been inspired by the two movements because she voices the treatment of African-Americans throughout literature. In Toni Morrison’s Sula, the context of the novel takes place between the 1920s and 1940s. During this time, racism was a major issue […]

What were the Civil Rights Problems Faced by Black Americans

What were the civil rights problems faced by black Americans during the 1950’s and 1960’s? How did Martin Luther King respond to these problems? Racism has been ruling America since way back in the 1800’s when African Americans were used as slaves by the white people. The emancipation proclamation was introduced to free people of slavery but of course this really didn’t change much. Things finally started to change during the 1950’s and 1960’s when civil rights problems were finally […]

Maya Angelou: the Civil Rights Activist

Maya Angelou was considered very magnificent in every career she had. From a dancer and an actress to a journalist and a civil rights activist, she represented blacks and their exigency for equality through her writing and many skills. Maya Angelou’s performance next to significant figures, such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, molded a principled and better path for everyone in society today. The speaking of the Tree (Nichols 5). They hear, they all hear the […]

The Success of Civil Rights in the World

Many men and women have worked tirelessly to achieve one goal; desegregation. Desegregation is the ending of racial inequality and racial separation. These men and women have fought for this through the many civil rights movements of our past, Spreading the word about what needs to change. The American Civil Rights Movement of the 50’s and 60’s achieved change for African Americans using a variety of different methods. These methods and achievements then inspired a group of Australians to follow […]

The Success of Civil Rights Activism in Australia

For generations, Indigenous Australians have had to endure acts of discrimination, prejudice and injustice. Since the arrival of European settlers in 1788, traditional customs and way of life for Indigenous Australians have been majorly altered. When Australian colonies federated in 1901, public policy revolved around the concepts of segregation and assimilation. The inhumane treatment of the Aboriginal people was heavily influenced by the assumption that they were inferior to the Europeans. When the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was ratified […]

Malcolm X and the Civil Rights War

There are some who may argue that immediately after the end of the American Civil War and abolition of slavery, America entered in a new era of modern black slavery. One that did not see the blacks physically restrained in chains, but entangled in an era of segregation, physical and verbal attacks, lynching, and silver tongued political promises of equality. The African American Civil Rights movement has had a long and tumultuous history. However today only the Civil Right movements […]

The First Lady of Civil Rights

Rosa Parks Violence was brought against many peaceful black protesters upset Americans. Many people got injured and killed protesting for the bus boycott. After a long day at work Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus in December 1, 1955. She then was escorted out of the bus by a police officer and then arrested. Rosa Parks worked as a seamstress. She went on the Cleveland Avenue bus for home. She […]

How did Leaders Impact the Civil Rights?

Purpose Statement The purpose of this paper is to explain the events and leaders that impacted the Civil Rights Movement. I became interested in this idea when I first started learning about it in social studies, I then decided to go very deep into it and It really interested me. The information gained from this paper will help people understand the past and be able to learn from their mistakes. This information can help people grow into better versions of […]

Civil Right Movement the Rise for Social Justice

Racial injustice has marked the United States’ history by being the most captivating issue that persists even until today for African Americans. One of America’s greatest speakers, Martin Luther King Jr. , became the leading voice for this group, enforcing a societal change by making public speeches and peacefully protests. As a result, and in response to the white clergymen’s published criticism of his actions, Dr. King writes the Letter from Birmingham Jail to show them the negative effects segregation […]

Importance of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau: Empowering Citizens for Just Governance

Henry’s essay on civil disobedience was established in 1849 as a form of resistance to poor governance. It is one of the most important works in American history as it deals with the rights as well as the responsibilities of citizens in view of the government. The essay has been used to legalize efforts to peaceful protests and resistance so as to cause a government change in the government policies that are found to be unjust and are at times […]

Civil Disobedience through the Eyes of Non-Violent Protests

To what extent has civil disobedience been morally justified through non-violent protests? In the past, sit-ins have been used as a form of peaceful protest to raise awareness about injustice. Because sit-ins are a form of indirect disobedience, they are a key social change that I argue should be used to build power and effect change. Civil disobedience in some cases can overlap with other forms of dissent. In that way, non-violent resistance is the best strategy that can be […]

Civil Disobedience in Todays World

The definition of civil disobedience given in class was that it is a public, non-violent and conscientious breach of law that attempts to bring about a change in laws. According to this definition, there are a few characteristics that define if an act or protest is considered to be following civil disobedience or not. The act must be conscientious, it must be public, and it must be non-violent. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are the two thinkers I chose […]

Malcolm X: Rights of African Americans

African Americans have come a long way for freedom and civil rights. Because of this, movements have taken place peacefully throughout history to obtain these opportunities. Prominent figures in society have fought for minorities to be free, represented, and understood. Although these privileges are now apparent in the world, for most, they are still presented with trials and tribulations that ultimately prohibit them from prospering in the same way as their counterparts. Malcolm X, an African American activist, and minister […]

Racial Profiling Student Essay Summary

The Civil Rights movement was a success in some aspects. It was an inevitable victory that, after the late 1960’s and 1970’s, changed everything within the United States. One of the biggest victories was the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. This law made it illegal for people to discriminate in public or in the workplace on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or gender [5]. Not only the South, but the entire nation began to desegregate […]

Struggle for Freedom in the Civil War Era

The Civil war era was a chaotic and traumatic time for African Americans, especially those in states that seceded and became part of the confederacy. The African Americans experienced hardships throughout the secession crisis, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Even after slavery was abolished and the civil war ended, the African Americans did not have the same freedoms, it was as though their freedom had an asterisk next to it, which meant that their freedom would have rules and guidelines. […]

Malcolm X – Leader a Black Nationalist Movement

This research paper is about the background of Malcolm X and how he came to lead a black nationalist movement in the 1950’s. He and his family were threatened by racism when he was young. This lead him to feel something less than white people. His father handled it by supporting a black nationalist group, and his mother ultimately broke and was admitted to a mental hospital. Malcolm, similar to his father, became a black nationalist leader. He went through […]

Difference between Magna Carta and Bill of Rights

The Magna Carta is one of the most significant documents of the Medieval Era. This document is considered to be the “sacred text” of liberty in the Western World. It was written as a charter for England in 1215. The document was, “Originally issued by King John of England as a practical solution to the political crisis he faced in 1215, Magna Carta established for the first time the principle that everybody, including the king, was subject to law” . […]

Issues Segregation and Vel Phillips Impact on Milwaukee

Introduction In the mid 20th century, the United States was in a state of racial turmoil and segregation. In particular, African Americans in Milwaukee, Wisconsin faced numerous disadvantages in their day to day lives. Segregation separated blacks from whites in the most public scenes. Areas in the public eye such as schools, restaurants, and bathrooms were kept separate from blacks and whites alike. Additionally, segregation had even made its way into the Milwaukee legislation. Unfair housing laws prevented blacks from […]

America has not been Living up to the Five Ideals Expressed in the Declaration of Independence

Have modern Americans live up to the five ideals since expressed in the Declaration of Independence? The citizens of American have come a long ways since then and have made an enormous amount of progress of reaching the five ideals which are opportunity, liberty, rights, equality and democracy; but still have some ways to go. Throughout history since the Declaration of Independence, Americans have been seen with great improvement living up to the five Ideals; however, many instances have occurred […]

To Da Duh in Memoriam: Socio-political Commentary through Relationships and Dialogue

For this writing analysis I will be looking at short passages from the semi-autobiographical short story To Da Duh in Memoriam by Paule Marshall. To Da Duh in Memoriam was published in 1966. The author Paule Marshall has written multiple novels and short stories with To Dah Duh in Memoriam being one of her most acclaimed stories. For this analysis I will be looking at the story’s theme and Marshall’s use of character relationship, dialogue, action and voice to deliver […]

The “American Dream” is the Idea of a Liberal and Prosperous America

It has always been around since the 19th century when they discovered the North American continent, the development of the Enlightenment, The establishment Of the Capitalist Economy, along with the Westward Movement. When the Historian James Truslow Adams provided us with an insight of his idea of the American dream, in 1931 he stated “The American Dream is the Dream of the land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each […]

Ethnic Groups in the United States, African Americans are One of the Largest

These are people holding an African ancestry despite the fact that most of them do not know they have African ancestors. The origin of Africans in America is deemed to have been perpetuated by the ancient slave trade. As a matter of fact, these African Americans are mostly descendants of slaves. Slaves are the people that were forced into other countries (new world) to do manual work like farming. These slaves were very constrained in the new world with their […]

Plessy V Ferguson Decision

The United States has had numerous hardships in attempting to be one of the greatest nations, yet perhaps the greatest impediment it has confronted has been discrimination, unlawful inequality, and racial segregation towards minorities. For centuries minorities have had this fight with being treated as an animal due to the color of their skin. This disparity and dehumanized treatment had a major effect towards America by making a change to treat each human with the same equality as any other […]

Self-Presentation Theory is when People Seek to Configure

Self-presentation theory is when people seek to configure how others perceive them. People will make an effort to conduct themselves in a way that is appealing to others. Self-presentation is driven by self-promotion which is the desire to gain higher social status, be economically stable, be admired by others, and be respected by peers. Self-presentation is often intentional, but sometimes it occurs subconsciously, which means that it is involuntary. It is best to express self-presentation in a subtle and effective […]

“Hidden Figures” Directed by Theodore Melfi

The movie we watched in class was Hidden Figures directed by Theodore Melfi. This movie was released on January 6th, 2017, and has earned 78 award nominations and 32 awards including three from the NAACP and more from many pro-women organizations. Hidden Figures has brought in an astonishing $235,956,611 (“Hidden”). The cast of the movie was excellent at portraying the events in the movie in a realistic, but emotional way. The main cast of the movie was Taraji P. Henson […]

Rhetorical Analysis of the Letter from Birmingham Jail

On April 19, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote a letter from Birmingham Jail in reply to eight white clergymen stating that there was racial segregation that should be righted, but that was a job for the courts to handle, not everyday people. King defended the idea that injustice is everywhere, not just in the courts. King made use of ethos, pathos and logos which are directed to have the attention of the audience. By using these various devices, Dr. […]

The American War on Poverty

When advocating for social justice, there is little more that stings than the remains of a broken promise. Four years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson stood in front of our nation and declared an “unconditional” war on poverty in his State of the Union Address, saying, “Our objective is total victory” (Shore). Since then, the optimism surrounding this vow has faded. Economic and social conditions of central cities have declined, while their inner-ghetto areas have become zones of calamity. Black […]

Baldwin’s Dual Perspectives

“Notes of a Native Son” written by African American author James Baldwin during the 1940s and 1950s, gives readers a look at the environment in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement. In the first paragraph of James Baldwin “Notes of a Native Son”, he immediately establishes three events. Firstly, that his father just died, secondly that his little sister was just born, and also that a riot had broken out in Harlem. Explaining the riot seems to be […]

“Sonny’s Blues” the Story of Two Brothers

Race and racial relations are presented in three short stories. “Black Man and White Woman in Dark Green Row Boat by Russell Banks shows the struggle of interracial relationships in the 1960’s, “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin conveys the hardships African Americans faced in regards to racism, and “The Gilded Six-Bits” by Zora Neale Hurston addresses the issue of race through celebrating the integrity and cultural richness of the all-black community. Three different stories present three different racial relations by […]

Essays on Civil Rights Movement