Reading: Women’s America : Danielle L. McGuire, “Sexual Violence and the Long Ci
ID: 368422 • Letter: R
Question
Reading: Women’s America: Danielle L. McGuire, “Sexual Violence and the Long Civil Rights Movement”
Discuss African-American women’s participation in the civil rights movement. Why did African-American women participate in the civil rights movement? In which ways did they participate (what was the role of African-American women in the civil rights movement)? Why?
Which strategies/tactics did female civil rights activists use in their attempt to challenge discrimination? Why did they use these particular strategies/tactics? In your answer, identify specific individuals, groups, and dates.
Explanation / Answer
The American Civil Rights Movement is a brilliant chapter in the history of African Americans’ long-time struggle for freedom. In order to end racial inequalities and segregation, since the 1950s (and even before), African Americans have fought for their equal rights against violence, exploitation, disfranchisement and discrimination. Due to the consistent efforts of African Americans, finally in 1964, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted to eliminate discrimination against people of color in public places like schools and workplaces, and since then the condition of African Americans has been greatly improved
Under historical circumstances, these women suffered greatly, and the cruel oppression exerted on them produced a strong determination to make a difference for their own lives . Also, for black Americans, racial discrimination had a huge influence and they made up their minds to get involved in the movement. They were tired of being treated unequally when searching for jobs and houses and being segregated in public facilities with white people. Also, because of the tradition that black women were leaders of family and had control over the leadership of religion, black women took for granted that it was their responsibility to look after and protect the whole community, so they joined the movement without any hesitation for the sake of all African Americans
The Civil Rights Movement became hugely successful with the support of black women. With the 1964 Civil Rights Act, black women themselves received long-term benefits and rights that they had never dreamed of before. Because of equal rights, some black women entered the professional fields that white women worked in and some well-educated black women gained positions in business and science. Although compared with white men, white women and black men, black women may continue to feel the farthest away from the dominant society, they still actively take part in voting and other political affairs (Wu 5).
Black women provided basic strength, organized different activities and created various new concepts during the Civil Rights Movement. They ignited the torchlight of resistance and struggled for all African American to pursue freedom and liberation (Shen). Black women used their strength to assist the movement wherever necessary. Although because of their race and gender disadvantage they did not have institutional power, their roles as mothers, housewives, workers, movement helpers and organization leaders still made it possible for them to use different forms of resistance to fight for their own benefit and to receive education and obtain more civil rights (Joseph). Without the help of these African American Women, the Civil Rights Movement would never have achieved such huge success.
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